Tip of the week: Choose online tools that fit your business and learn them well

There are many apps for sales, accounts, messaging and design, and new ones appear every week. Trying everything wastes time. Choose carefully and learn a few well.

Ask:

• What problem am I solving?
• Is it simple enough for me and my helpers?
• Does it work on my phone and with my data bundle?
• What does it cost, now and later?
• Is my information safe, and can I export it?

Test with a small part of the business first. Use it for two weeks before deciding.

A salon in Dodoma might use a booking tool to reduce missed appointments, and a record-keeping app to track income. LiberLite offers a record-keeping app on Android and the website liberlite.com for tracking sales and expenses.

Avoid paying for features you will not use. Read terms and check reviews from other small business owners.

Teach your helpers properly; a good tool used badly gives poor results.

This week: list the three tasks that take you the most time and look for one simple tool to help with one of them.