Anyone running a home-based business knows that setting your own hours and eliminating commute times are two benefits that make it all worthwhile.

In addition, in order to make home-based business run effectively, you must be:

• Self-disciplined
• Well-organized
• Eager to learn.

Productive workers are always on the lookout for ways to streamline their workload and make every minute count.

Below we’ve identified four tools you can use to help you operate a more productive home-based business. If you’re not using them yet, check them out and see how you can make the most of these available technologies.

Four Tools For A Productive Home-Based Business

1. Evernote

Evernote is an amazing program that easily allows you to create “notes” and access them as needed. Whether the note is typed into the program or a screenshot of a web page, Evernote helps you save and access pertinent information that is needed to run your company successfully.

Evernote enables you to organize your business’ data and information into separate notebooks, which enhances organization to the max. Take for example you are a writer and you have five primary clients you are working with. You can create a separate notebook for each client outlining expenses, works produced, invoices, expenses, etc.

One of the most notable features of Evernote is that you download the Evernote camera on a mobile device and use it to scan and save documents, such as receipts and business cards. In doing this, you are able to shred paper documentation and decrease clutter in your office.

YES! Isn’t that amazing. I’m going to repeat that for you!

You are able to shred paper documentation and decrease clutter in your office

Saving information and notes in Evernote makes tax time a cinch and gives you a simple way to access paper documents via an electronic method.

“Anytime I take a client out to dinner, I scan the receipt with my Evernote camera and it automatically uploads to Evernote; this makes tracking expenses very simple.”

2. WordPress

WordPress is an extremely powerful blogging and content management system.

Why does a home-based business need a content management system?
Because you need to reach your customers in the most effective manner possible.

WordPress allows you to reach them via an assortment of content distributed across a variety of platforms. Essentially, WordPress is the home base of your marketing playing field. When sharing content across platforms, WordPress keeps all of it organized and allows you to share it via the click of a single button.

More so, this program helps you gain market intelligence because you can easily access readers’ comments and questions regarding the content that you share.

“WordPress is my go-to content management system. I have increased my brand awareness by more than 60 percent over the past 12 months, and it’s all thanks to the simplification that WordPress gives me when creating and sharing content across Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and LinkedIn.”

3. Canva

As a home-based business, you need to make sure you keep your company looking professional to the public.

With Canva, you can keep up with the big boys when it comes to digital and print marketing. Canva is your go-to source for all things related to professional image building and editing. Whether your home-based company is creating a new website or hosting a conference at a local agency, you need to make sure you market yourself professionally.

Canva enables you to do this. The program allows you to create stunning marketing items, which helps boost your brand awareness and leaves a lasting impression on consumers and clients. Canva was designed specifically in mind for those who don’t know much about the professional graphic design industry. And since the program is online, all of your designs are saved via the cloud, allowing you to access them from anywhere.

What’s the most valuable benefit of Canva? That’s simple — it’s free.

That’s right! You can download and use Canva completely free of charge. Even if you have other employees working for you out of your home-based business, Canva allows up to 10 users per account; this means sharing your graphic design ideas and creations with one another is really easy.

“Canva allowed my home-based business team to create and share graphic design ideas with each other. We created business cards, graphics for our website, and even printed out brochures. All of this led to our company growing by 20 percent over the past six month.”

4. QuickBooks

When it comes to keeping your payroll organized, it is imperative that you don’t make any mistakes. In fact, a single mistake can cost you thousands of dollars (possibly even millions).

QuickBooks is a software solution that helps you organize and manage your payroll. It also provides training solutions, marketing tools, and a variety of merchant services. No matter the industry that your home-based business operates in, QuickBooks can help you stay on top of your income and expenses.

This program is highly recommended because it easily allows you to send customized invoices and helps you perform instant payment acceptance online; this leads to greater cash flow. You can access which invoices have been paid and even send reminders to clients who have yet to make their payments. Some of the most notable features of QuickBooks are:

• Multi-currency capabilities
• Track mileage
• Automatic backup
• Invoices
• Expenses
• Secure data
• Payroll
• Payments
• Send quotes

“QuickBooks helped take my home-based company to the next level of success. I honestly don’t even know how I ran my business before I started using QuickBooks. Now I can go to bed at night resting assured all of my expenses are accounted for and that each client is being billed correctly.”

Know Other Tools?

These four tools are a small selection of hundreds of productive and efficient tools available on the market. Comment below and share what tools you’re using and what works best for you.