Every entrepreneur knows that having the right tools is key to getting a startup off the ground and driving growth. From the basics of accounting to real-time feedback and analysis, the right business tools can help any business become more efficient, successful, and profitable. But with the overwhelming variety of software, systems, and services on the market, it can be hard to decide which business tools are right for you and your business.

Fortunately, there are experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders with experience in the trenches who are happy to share the tools they’ve used that they believe are most beneficial to a business. In this article, we breakdown what four successful entrepreneurs have to say about their favorite business tools and how they’ve used them to build their enterprises.

With this article, you’ll get a better understanding of why these founders value their chosen tools and see if they’re the right fit for your business.

I. Katie Hunt’s business tool of choice: Xero
II. Jacob Moen’s business tool of choice: Harvest
III. Kate O’Neill’s business tool of choice: RescueTime
IV. Jordan Steinberg’s business tool of choice: Slack
V. Final Thoughts

I. Katie Hunt’s business tool of choice: Xero

Katie Hunt is the founder and CEO of Hunt House, a digital marketing and creative services agency based in Los Angeles. For Hunt, the key to success when running a business is having a strong financial foundation and understanding her business’s financial health. And for her, the business tool that has facilitated this for her is the cloud-based accounting software Xero.

Xero can import bank and credit card transactions and has integrations with more than 700 other solutions. This means it’s easy for Hunt to keep track of her business’s finances while on the go, ensuring that her company has a healthy financial foundation. Other key benefits of Xero include:

• Automated daily bank feeds: Xero’s bank feeds automatically import transactions from her accounts and push it into the relevant accounts on the platform. This helps her keep close tabs on her business’s cash flow.

• Automated payments: Xero allows Hunt to set up automatic payments for customers and vendors. This improves cash flow and helps her business stay on top of its accounts receivables and payables.

• Easy to use interface: Xero was designed with ease of use in mind, so Hunt doesn’t have to worry about dealing with complicated accounting processes.

Hunt loves that Xero is a simple software solution, but still offers all of the features she needs to have an effective accounting system.

II. Jacob Moen’s business tool of choice: Harvest

Jacob Moen is the CEO and co-founder of software company Staxx Creative. Moen’s needs for his business are focused on efficiency, streamlining, and simplifying the operations of his business. That’s why he turns to Harvest as his business tool of choice.

Harvest is a cloud-based project management app that enables users to track time easily. It also allows users to generate detailed analytics, reports, and invoices and also to manage their financials. For Moen, this application is key to keeping his business running smoothly and efficiently.

Some of the other major benefits of Harvest include:

• Easy to submit and review timesheets: Harvest makes it easy for Moen’s team to submit and review timesheets accurately and quickly. This speeds up the entire workflow process and ensures that the team is always on track.

• Detailed reports: With detailed reports, Moen is able to monitor the progression of projects and keep tabs on team productivity. This allows him to make sure that all tasks are completed on time and that workflow is optimized.

• GPS tracking: Moen can also use Harvest to track the team’s location with GPS tracking. This helps him ensure that his team is where they need to be and are working on the right tasks.

For Moen, the features of Harvest are the perfect combination for making sure that his business runs efficiently and is on the right track for success.

III. Kate O’Neill’s business tool of choice: RescueTime

Kate O’Neill is the CEO of an online marketing agency and author of the book Entrepreneurial You. Considered a productivity expert, O’Neill stays organized and focused to make sure she accomplishes her goals. That’s why she considers RescueTime to be her favorite business tool.

RescueTime is a productivity-tracking app that helps her better understand how she’s spending her time online. The app runs in the background of her computer and monitors how much time she spends on websites and applications. This in itself is helpful, but the real power of RescueTime lies in its detailed reports.

When she looks at her RescueTime reports, O’Neill can see exactly where her time is being spent and find ways to maximize her productivity. RescueTime has a few key features that make it particularly useful for her:

• Set personal goals: O’Neill is able to set personal goals for herself, whether it’s spending less time on nonproductive sites or finding more time in her day for self-care.

• See email habits: In addition to general online usage, O’Neill is able to use RescueTime to monitor her email habits and make sure she’s responding to emails in a timely fashion.

• Receive alerts: O’Neill can also use RescueTime to set alerts when she’s been spending too much time on a particular website or app or when she should take a break. This gives her the opportunity to stay on task and reach her goals.

For O’Neill, being productive isn’t optional. That’s why she values her tool of choice, RescueTime, to keep her on track.

IV. Jordan Steinberg’s business tool of choice: Slack

Jordan Steinberg is the CEO and co-founder of Ridejoy, an on-demand transportation platform. Steinberg’s business is centered around collaboration, so he aims to foster an environment where communication is priority and fosters results. To do this, he turns to Slack as his go-to business tool.

Slack is a communication platform that enables multiple people to instantly interact with each other, either through direct messages, private groups, or team-wide announcements. Steinberg loves that it allows him to keep in touch with his team no matter where they are. Key features of Slack include:

• Chatbots: Steinberg can use AI-powered chatbots to make sure customer inquiries are answered quickly and accurately. This saves him time and encourages better customer service.

• Unlimited integrations: Steinberg is also able to integrate Slack with all of the tools his company uses, from email to task and project management. This makes it easy to collaborate across multiple platforms.

• Searchable archives: Slack also stores all messages and notifications in a searchable archive, so anyone on the team can go back and find any pertinent information they need to.

For Steinberg, Slack is the perfect business tool to help him and his team collaborate effectively.

The right business tools can be the difference between just surviving and true success. For the entrepreneurs we’ve discussed in this article, the tools they’ve chosen are an integral part of the way they manage their businesses. Whether it’s Xero’s streamlined accounting system, Harvest’s powerful project management capabilities, RescueTime’s productivity tracking, or Slack’s easy-to-use communication platform, each tool offers something unique that helps their business succeed.

Choosing the right business tool for your own business comes down to understanding your needs and goals. To help you make the best decision for your business, look for tools that have the features you need and read customer reviews from real users.

No matter what business tools you choose, making sure your business is equipped with the right tools is essential for a successful enterprise.