I get asked all the time for the tried-and-true tools that help me run my business efficiently and can help you too, no matter what type of organization you’re running. I’ve compiled a list of the tools I use every single day both in my business and with clients to help them streamline processes and grow their bottom line AND their impact.
Here are my top tools and resources for busy, purpose-driven leaders:
- QuickBooks Online. As a CFO, you knew an accounting system had to be first, right? QBO is the perfect system for small businesses and nonprofits alike. It’s easy to use, intuitive (even if you dread your numbers), and affordable for pretty much everyone. Love it.
- Asana. We use Asana to organize all of our client workflows and I love how it is structured. I can get different views, like a task list or a calendar view, and this is one of the first tabs I open every morning to help plan my day.
- Acuity Scheduling. Every single leader I know is over-scheduled and it seems like half of our lives are spent coordinating meetings. I implemented Acuity years ago and I LOVE sending people my calendar link and letting them choose a meeting time that works. It literally cuts down on dozens of emails a week.
- Boomerang. I am a planner and that includes planning emails ahead of time. For example, I know I want to send an email reminder to a client on Monday but if it just sits in my draft folder, I will probably forget to send it, so then I write myself a note on a Post-It and before you know it, my desk is covered in neon squares. With Boomerang, you can schedule emails in the future and it will remind you if someone hasn’t responded!
- Gusto. Our favorite payroll provider, hands down. They pay your contractors and employees, handle all of the tax and compliance filings that no one wants to deal with, their platform is user friendly, and customer service is top notch. And they’ve also added benefits, time tracking, expense reimbursements, and vacation tracking – they’re truly becoming our HR hub!
- Bill.com. If you pay lots of vendors in different ways, then bill.com is my favorite place to keep it all organized. You can send paper checks or electronic payments and use their platform as a filing hub for vendor invoices too.
- Expensify. Do your team members have company credit cards or lots of expense reimbursements? Expensify has a simple app where they can upload receipts, tell you what the expenses were for, and then import right into QuickBooks.
- Profit First. If you hate numbers but want to learn more about handling your financials with ease and clarity (like, how much should I be saving for taxes? What’s a good profit percentage?), this is an amazing book to read. It’s written so ANYONE can understand and is a practical addition to your bookshelf that you’ll reference for years to come.
- Profit Playbook. Our free template is the best and easiest way to make a plan to hit your revenue, profit, and cash goals. I walk you through how to build a forecast, step by step, so you have a clear vision of your financial future.
- Finance Pro Quiz. If you’ve ever Googled “what’s the difference between a CPA, CFO, CFP” then this quiz is a MUST. In just three minutes, I’ll help you figure out exactly which finance pro you need, no acronyms included!
- AmEx Credit Card. If you’re not using a credit card for your business expenses, to rack up points and rewards, you are missing out. This is my favorite credit card that I try and put everything on, then pay off each month.
Do you have a super fabulous tool or resource I should know about it? Share, so I can share with our community!
PS – We have tons of free webinars, podcast episodes, and other resources dropping practically weekly around here. Do you want to be part of the community to get the first dibs on the new stuff to help you grow your bottom line and your impact?!
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