5 Free Apps That Will Make Running Your Biz Easier in 2014

By Stefanie Neyland, Small Business Content Developer at BizLaunch.com

We’ve all heard the ubiquitous catchphrase ‘there’s an app for that’; but in today’s constantly growing app marketplace, the idiom has never been more true. In the past, running your business from anywhere other than your office was no easy task. When you’re at a client meeting, that all-important document you need is stored on your work computer; and when you’re at the office, that presentation deck you were working on until god-knows-what-time last night is still sat on your laptop at home.

Not any more.

With a wealth of ingenious apps now available at our fingertips, running our businesses from wherever we may be has become easier than ever. Here are some of our personal favourites that will make running your biz a breeze in 2014.

1. Evernote

Named as one of The New York Times' top 10 must-have apps, Evernote is a valuable tool for any small business owner. Easy-to-use, and best of all, completely free—it helps you remember everything you need to across all the devices you use, helping you stay organized, save your ingenious ideas, and improve your productivity. Take notes, capture photos, record voice reminders and create to-do lists, then make all this information searchable—whether you’re at home, at the office, or chilling at the beach.

2. Google Drive

One of the undisputed leaders of the pack in the app world (Google’s Gmail is currently the trailblazer for small business webmail), Google offers a multitude of user-friendly apps that, put simply, just make life easier. Take Google Drive. Google Drive, building upon Google Docs, allows users to seamlessly access, share and edit files from your PC, tablet or smartphone. Essentially a virtual office suite, the handy software also acts as a cloud drive with an ample free storage space of 5GB. What more could you ask for?

3. SignEasy

Don’t you just hate it when you receive an email attachment that requires your signature? You have more important things to do with your time than print, sign, scan and send that file back to the recipient. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to sign documents electronically? Well, there is an app for that—and it’s called SignEasy. If you do most (or at least some) of your business through your smartphone or tablet, this app will fast become your new best friend by allowing you to sign your name on all of your communications without even having to set foot near a printer or scanner again.

4. Flipboard

Ever wished you could have your very own personalized magazine with all its pages tailored exactly to your likes and interests? You needn’t wish any longer, as Flipboard does just this by bringing together world news and social news in a beautifully displayed magazine. Once you've picked a few industry-related topics, your Flipboard is built, and you can instantly start flipping through the pages of news that’s relevant to your business—as well as stories and photos that friends, clients and customers are sharing.

5. Freshbooks

Make billing clients painless with this user-friendly accounting software by Freshbooks. It’s the fastest way to organize expenses, track time and invoice your clients—all from the palm of your hand. The app offers myriad features displayed in a straightforward and intuitive design; and the best thing about it is that it’s created for entrepreneurs, not accountants. You can also fully integrate it with over 70 of Freshbooks’ cloud partners, including Basecamp, Google Apps, and email marketing software Constant Contact.