ONLINE BUSINESS TOOLBOX: 230+ Tools for Running a Business Online

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Forget useless desktop apps and piles of paperwork: there are now thousands of small and medium-sized businesses managing all their affairs with online applications. After an exhaustive hunt this week, we've rounded up more than 230 of the leading online applications for super-productive companies.

Accounting, Billing, Invoicing, Estimating & Contracts

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

BillingOrchard - Online billing software that maintains hourly billing time as well as flat fee or recurring billing.

Bill My Clients - A hassle-free way to create and print invoices (you can email them too) and send them via the USPS.

Blinksale - Create elegant invoices using professionally designed templates (or create your own) and send them to anyone with an email address.

Cashboard - Estimating, invoicing and time tracking for you, your employees and subcontractors.

DocuSign - Electronic signature services that allow you to get legally binding electronic signatures on your contracts.

EchoSign - A fast & easy way to get electronic contracts signed.

eSignForms - Online signature platform to make getting signed contracts easier.

Fluttervoice - Create invoices and send them to anyone with email.

FreshBooks - Online invoicing and time tracking that's easy to use and free to try.

Honeypitch - A proposal automation solution that combines CRM and business productivity tools to allow you to quickly combine a presentation, proposal, estimate and contract that can be negotiated online.

Invoice Genie - Online invoicing, time tracking, contact management, scheduling and financial management software that's simple and intuitive to use.

Invoices Made Easy - A free invoicing service that allows you to send invoices and have them paid online.

InvoicePlace - Invoicing, payment tracking and quoting from any computer with an internet connection.

invotrak - Track the invoices you send to clients for free.

LessAccounting - Ridiculously simple, intuitive accounting program that is just for accounting and nothing else.

Saasu - Complete online accounting suite with invoices, payroll, purchases, time sheets, inventory, customers, suppliers, prospects & employees.

SantexQ - Time reporting, task management and billing all handled from one place.

Sertifi - Electronic contract delivery and signing.

simplifythis - Invoice your customers and get paid online.

Simplybill - Simplified invoice management without extra features that nobody uses anyway.

Simply Invoices - The simplest way to invoice your time from Basecamp.

The Invoice Machine - Create PDF invoices for free, without having to register or store information (unless you want to).

Time:59 - Web-based billing that includes time and expense tracking, as well as invoicing and accounts receivable.

Vebio - Online accounting designed for freelance professionals, independent contractors, and self-employed people.

Yozons Technology - Electronic signature service.

Xero - Online accounting that's accessible from anywhere 24/7, with free upgrades, automated bank fees, and no minimum subscription period.

Calendars & Scheduling

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Acuity Scheduling - Allow your clients and customers to schedule appointments with you online.

Calendar Hub - Create an online calendar and either keep it private or publish it. You can also search published calendars to find new events to add to your own.

epointment - Online scheduling that can be used by any professional whose business involves appointments, as well as for personal use.

Collaboration & Workgroups

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Campfire - Password protected group chat rooms that can be created in seconds.

CentralDesktop - Simple project collaboration platform for business teams.

Comapping - Create mind maps that you can share with your colleagues using your browser.

Copper - Web-based project and task management that allows for commercial team collaboration.

Coventi Pages - Create documents and invite others to give you feedback.

Cozimo - Online collaboration on digital media, including images and video; archives a complete record of all content related communications, and has the ability to host live online review sessions.

cyn.in - A web platform for building, collaborating, managing and publishing content that offers solutions for knowledge management, document management, secure online file storage, group collaboration, digital asset management and more.

eProject - Project management software that integrates with Outlook.

HiveLive's Hive Community 2.0 Platform - Allows your company or workgroup to manage and share information and allows for quick adaptation as needed.

Huddle - Share documents and ideas, plan projects, collaborate with others and manage multiple projects from one interface.

inventionDB - Project-blogging platform that allows anyone to build an online project portfolio and connect with multiple team members, project resources and more.

itensil - An online process modeler, wiki, document manager, process executer, content manager, collaboration tool, and more with a 100% web-based user interface that requires no plug-ins or desktop components.

Joyent Connector Collaboration Suite - Collaboration application suite that features search, tagging, and RSS feeds.

Kayuda - Allows businesses to collaborate on projects.

letsproveVO - A project management and team collaboration web application.

LooseStitch - Online outliner that allows you to share outlines you create.

mind42 - Collaborative web-based mind mapping.

MindQuarry - On-demand, open-source team collaboration platform.

Netcipia - A blog and wiki package designed for workgroup collaboration.

Octopz - Allows collaboration on a range of document types (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, video, audio, animations, Flash files, and more).

OpenTeams - Online hosted collaborative wiki aimed at creating a more entrepreneurial spirit at your company.

Pytagor - Online desktop and web collaboration platform that allows you to access your documents, bookmarks and more online from anywhere.

Synthetron - Brainstorming tool for large organizations that lets up to 1000 participants take part in structured collaborative sessions.

Teamspinner - Online collaboration platform that allows you to create a custom environment for your projects.

TeamWork Live - Secure web-based project management and collaboration that's intuitive and promotes accountability among team members.

TheOpenDoc - An online collaboration space that allows registered users to create multiple workspaces (each can contain multiple text documents) and then invite multiple users to work on those documents.

TotoExpress - Online content delivery for creative professionals that enables collaboration on documents with clients.

Uhuroo - Online application for teams to share information and collaborate while keeping information secure but still available.

Vyew - A next-generation collaboration and web conferencing service.

WhoDo.es - Online project management that includes a workspace, document repository and journal.

wridea - Create categories to organize your ideas and create online brainstorming sessions.

Conferences, Presentations & Meetings

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

authorSTREAM - Share your PowerPoint presentation online, and discover presentations that others have created.

Confabb - Confabb is a huge online database of conferences all over the world that allows you to search, track, discuss and review any conference, speaker or session.

Demofuse - Create website tours online, with seamless integration into your site.

Dimdim - Free open source web conferencing platform that allows you to show presentations, applications and your desktop to others over the internet.

Gaboogie - A conference call platform that calls you and your attendees so no one is late again.

PPTExchange - A marketplace where all of your PowerPoint presentations can be shared, exchanged and sold.

PreZentit - Create presentations online and then share and show them.

Screencast-o-Matic - Create a video recording of your screen and host it for free (great for website or software demonstrations).

Slide Aware - PowerPoint presentation lifecycle management.

SlideBurner - Online slideshow sharing.

SlideShare - Publish your slideshows for the world to see, and find & download other people's slideshows that are of interest to you.

Spresent - Free alternative to PowerPoint that's web-based and built with Flash.

Thumbstacks.com! - Make and share presentations online.

Viewbook - Online platform for hosting slideshows, presentations, photo albums and portfolios.

Yugma - Free online collaboration with real-time desktop sharing, virtual meetings and more.

Zentation - Upload your presentation videos as well as the accompanying PowerPoint presentations.

Crowdsourcing, Networking, & Community

Credit:

companyloop - Professional networking service that's only open to people at your company; use it to share ideas and information with your co-workers.

IconnectE - Network with start-ups, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and others to create more business opportunities for yourself.

introNetworks - Create and manage private business communities with world-class, easy-to-use tools that display relationships between people, companies and products visually.

PartnerUp - Find potential business partners, employees or employers; network with other business people; and find resources for your business and your career.

Referral Key - Create your own referral network of trusted business associates that can provide each other with qualified customer referrals.

Spoke - An open network for business people with access to over 35 million people at more than 900,000 companies; allows you to discover other business people and leverage your professional network to reach your targets.

Visible Path - Search for things you have in common with the people you want to meet in order to form stronger relationships.

Customer Relationship Management & Contact Management

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

24SevenOffice - The #1 CRM in Europe featuring sales management, group calendaring, document management and reports.

BigContacts - A web-based contact manager that's ideal for small teams and features a shared calendar, shared contacts, notes, history and more.

ClientScribe - Keep track of all the activity between you and your clients, from phone calls to faxes, proposals and email.

Entellium - CRM software with award-winning design, free support, no annual contracts and 99.7% uptime guaranteed.

Heap - A simple CRM system with messaging, calendars and contacts that works well with email.

Highrise - Track communication and conversations with customers, prospects and others; also has integrated email and allows you to share contact information with co-workers.

Keepm - Create, manage and search an unlimited number of contacts, share contacts and export information about your contacts for free.

Pipeline Deals - A CRM tool with an easy-to-use notebook format that allows you to organize your files, notes, documents and more as well as manage your deals and prospects.

Plaxo - Plaxo offers toolbars for major email clients and web browsers (at least in Beta release) to keep your address book updated across all the applications that you use.

ProjectStat.us - Keep your customers updated on their project status and allow them to see updates at their convenience.

Relationals - The leading CRM and sales force automation tool for the media industry that's easy to use and increases productivity.

Relenta CRM - A CRM with full email integration that's easy to use and also has group calendar and newsletter marketing features.

SalesForce - On-demand customer relationship management that's very full-featured and scalable to your organization's size.

SalesGenius - Allows salespeople to track how prospects are responding to email with no programming required.

SugarCRM - Commercial open source CRM application that helps drive sales performance and marketing effectiveness.

vtiger - An open source CRM that's focused mainly on small to medium sized businesses and features sales force automation, customer support & service, marketing automation, inventory management, and more.

Zoho CRM - An easily customizable on-demand customer relationship management application.

Database, File Storage and Information Management

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Bubbl.us - Brainstorm online, create colorful mind maps, and even share and work with others.

Cebase - A database featuring point-and-click form design and easy data entry, plus sharing and other features you'd expect in a web-based application.

cogmap - Organization chart wiki that lets you create company organization charts online.

Confluence - An enterprise wiki platform that's made for sharing knowledge and collaboration.

DabbleDB - Easy to use, flexible, and powerful database builder and hosting.

Domain Log Book - Keep track of the domains you own and view their Google Rank, Alexa Rank and more.

eUnifyDB - Create databases for whatever your company needs, whether it's inventory tracking, customer management, development tracking or project management.

File123 - Keep records of all of your electronic and paper files by faxing, scanning, uploading or emailing.

FLEXlists - Create simple databases and lists with all the fields you need.

Fluxiom - Digital asset management for your company that allows you to host your media assets, marketing materials, contracts, images and more.

iOutliner - Online outlining program for managing your tasks, ideas, projects and more in structured lists.

Lazybase - An online database that's easy to use and doesn't require a login (instead they give you a "secret URL" to access your database).

MyownDB - Another online database that's multi-user, easy to configure & use, and has an integrated help feature.

OrgPlus Live - Create online organizational charts for your company.

QuickBase - A web-based database solution from Intuit that you can use for project management, sales management and other applications.

ShareMethods - Centralized document creation and sharing that's secure and available from anywhere, anytime.

SocialText - Another enterprise level wiki platform that's built to be secure, scalable and easy to use.

StarterBase - Easy to use database that allows you to create your own web applications and also allows sharing of your data via XML or RSS.

TeamDesk - Hosted web-based database application system that comes with predefined solutions.

Trackivia - A powerful, easy-to-use database that includes starter databases, filtering & search capability, and one-click Excel export.

TrueShare - Secure online file sharing and file backup.

Email

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

9cays - Group email that creates a conversation between people, and archives that conversation on an easy to read web page.

BlueTie - Free and pro plans available; offers web-based email (with domain support), calendaring and file sharing.

DropSend - Send files up to 1GB in size, and back up all your files online.

Breeze - Create and send email campaigns and then track their results.

iContact - Email marketing application that allows for the creation, publishing and tracking of newsletters, surveys, autoresponders and more.

mailbigfile - Send email attachments of up to 100MB.

Send6 - Send large files in a branded system with delivery tracking.

Sproutit Mailroom - Simple email management that allows teams to manage customer inquiries that come in through your website.

Employee Management, Payroll and Human Resources

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

1time - Timesheet recording that also includes email reminders for employers who haven't entered their timesheets, as well as project management with Basecamp integration.

CATS - A free, open source applicant tracking system that helps streamline your hiring process.

ClickTime - Timesheet and expense tracking accessible from anywhere (including your mobile device) with flexible reports and exportable data.

Clockspot - Web based time clock that allows employees to clock in and out from the internet or phone.

Harvest - Track what your employees are doing with their time and get graphical reports, all from a simple and usable interface.

Kudos - An employee recognition system that helps you recognize, reward, and retain good employees.

mindsalt - Easy to use time tracking and expense tracking online.

Pacific Timesheet - Web-based timesheets with an array of features to meet your requirements.

PayCycle - Paycheck calculations, instant checks, direct deposit, taxes, and more are all handled from one place.

Perquest - Easy to use payroll system that's simple to learn and is ideal for small to medium sized businesses.

TeleTimecard - Call-in timecard system for employees that can be managed in real-time online.

timeXchange - Manage the entire time-reporting process for your company online.

WhosOff - Free online staff vacation scheduler.

Zed Office - Online time sheet and expense report tracking that's built to work with QuickBooks.

Mail Handling

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

eSnailer - Write a letter and have it sent via the U.S. Postal Service free of charge; you just have to accept one of their free offers (ads).

Stenographr - Write a letter online and they'll mail it to whoever you want for only $2.

EasyPost.ca - A mail service that will send to any address in Canada, and it's free for a limited time.

Postful - Send letters using email for only $.99 (for one full-color page).

Marketing & Publicity

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

ClearSMS - Web-based application for sending bulk SMS messages to your customers and contacts.

ConfirmIt - Survey software for feedback management and market research (including community panels).

embracemobile - Enables you to create market research surveys that can be presented over mobile phones.

Headlight - Define, plan, execute and measure how effective your marketing efforts are online and offline.

Marketo - Pay per click advertising management software that helps increase revenue and accountability. Also landing page testing and optimization.

Mobivity - Affordable mobile marketing solutions.

MyMediaRoom - A platform that allows organizations to publish their press releases, event announcements, blog and more on a dedicated website.

vflyer - Create a standardized classified ad that can be used online or in print.

Zoomerang - Create online surveys, invite people to participate and analyze the results to improve your marketing efforts.

Money Making & eCommerce Solutions

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

blinkcart - Shopping cart software that allows you to put a shopping cart on any page that supports html links or javascript code.

E-Junkie - Shopping cart & buy it now buttons that can be put on any website for selling downloads or tangible goods.

FlyingCart - Online store hosting that's free, accepts all major credit cards, and is search engine optimized.

Kagi - A complete set of services for online business transactions.

Near-Time Premium - Set up commercial collaboration spaces, set your price, and then invite new members to pay for your knowledge and expertise.

uShops - Online channel for selling creative and niche products.

Vendio - Complete multi-channel online merchandising solution for eCommerce success.

Volusion - Complete ecommerce solution that includes product management and administration, shipping tools, credit card processing, live updates, and more.

WeSquare - Use Skype to market your time and make money with your knowledge.

Zazzle - Create your own online store and sell your own unique designs for T-Shirts, mugs, and more.

Office Applications

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Approver - Create documents and then invite colleagues to view them and provide feedback; you receive an alert whenever the document is edited.

Docly - An online word processor that has built-in copyright protection, and lets you set a price for others to purchase your work.

BuzzWord - Buzzword is a new full-featured online word processor.

GreenDOC - A simple online text editor with an environmental slant.

iNetWord - Another full-featured online word processor.

SmartSheet - Combination spreadsheet, email and file sharing platform with task assignment, history tracking, and more.

Solodox - Collaborative document creation and editing as well as project management.

Writeboard - Sharable web-based text documents that allow you to roll back to previous edits and compare changes.

writewith - Group writing online that also features chat, task assignment and tracking.

xcellery - Allows multiple people to edit the same Excel file simultaneously for free.

YourDraft - An online word processor that allows you to create and share drafts without the need for registration.

Organization & Management

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

FlowChart - Create flowcharts online with no software or plugins to install.

foldera - Create, organize, and share your documents from anywhere, anytime.

FunctionFox - Time and project tracking for creative professionals.

My Milemarker - Keep track of your mileage by telling them whenever you fuel up your car. You can also input your data from your phone of with Twitter.

sendPO - Purchase order tracking for any accounting system that provides confirmation that your PO was received.

Side Job Track - Job tracking, invoicing, project management and reporting that's completely web-based and made specifically for part-time independent contractors.

Skemma - Business Process Management tool that allows companies to automate communications between departments and others, along with other tools.

Phone & Voicemail

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Callwave - Have your voicemail converted to text without changing your phone number.

Gizmo Call - Free browser-based phone service.

GrandCentral - One phone number that will ring all of your phone lines and organize all of your voicemail into one mailbox.

Jajah - Save up to 98% on your long distance, and calls between members are free.

Packet8 - Offers a complete hosted business phone system.

SKY-click - Create a call center for your business to take orders for only $10 per operator per month.

via:talk - Internet phone service that features e911, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding and more.

Planning

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

PlanHQ - Business plan collaboration application that allows you to create, update and track your business plan.

Startup Business School - Online business planning tool that includes video tutorials, easy-to-update sections and an exportable format.

Time Management & Tracking and Project Management

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

88 Miles - Unobtrusive time tracking that allows you to punch in and out of projects as you're working, and includes on-screen timers that show you how much time you've clocked.

ActionThis - Web-based team management app that includes a centralized project management system as well as a way to keep track of work assignments and key business information.

Celoxis - Task tracking, scheduling, project management, business process tracking, time & expense tracking, and collaboration.

Clarizen - Collaborative project management.

Clocking IT - Time and task tracking in one, with tagging, search, milestones, an integrated wiki, and activity log.

Emergent Task Timer - The Emergent Task Timer that follows David Seah's The Printable CEO; includes a timer and breaks down tasks into fifteen minute bubbles.

fourteenDayz - Time tracking for teams that includes project management and reports.

intervals - Time tracking with the ability to centralize projects and manage tasks.

Project Insight - Mid-range web based project management and collaboration software that's intuitive and easy to use.

ProWorkflow - Web based project management, time tracking, and task management to increase efficiency and individual accountability.

PunchyTime - Time tracking tool for creative companies that allows time tracking as you work instead of after the fact.

RescueTime - Increase your own productivity by seeing exactly how you spend your time.

Rotaboard - Organize and track employee work schedules.

SlimTimer - Create tasks and track your time on each one, and then share them with coworkers or your boss.

Tiktrac - Time management that also includes the ability for clients to login and view how the time they're paying for is being used.

Timepost - A project timer that will automatically get all your projects and to-dos from different web project managers, saving you the hassle of having to re-enter things.

Time IQ - Track internal project, freelance & contractor time, and get daily, weekly & monthly reports.

TimmyOnTime - IM-based time management tool that works with MSN, AIM, GoogleTalk, and others and features reminders (it'll even nudge you if you're not working when you're supposed to be).

Toggl - A free online timetracker that allows you to track your time anywhere and create team projects.

Virtual Office Platforms

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

Actionize - Contact management and project management rolled into one that includes an address book, tasks, networking, milestones, task & action tracking, and file management.

Averiware - A business management application suite that includes customer relationship management, sales force automation, accounting & financial management, ecommerce, supply chain management, and human resources.

Business IT Online - Free online small business applications including CalendarOnline, CashflowOnline, ContactsOnline, DocumentsOnline, and MarketingOnline.

clevertools - Project management, invoices & estimates, timesheets, lead management, bug tracking and a whiteboard system rolled into one.

ContactOffice - Complete office data management, including email, contacts, documents, tasks, meetings, and more, in one centralized location.

CreativePro Office - Online office management tools including a client manager, project manager, time tracker, invoicing & expense tracking, and calendar.

MyQuire - Networking and project tools in one environment that also includes online file storage, task management, group sharing, calendar and chat.

NetSuite - An integrated system for managing your entire business that includes accounting & back-office applications, customer relationship management and an ecommerce solution.

OvoSuite - An online office suite that includes a calendar, document management, forums, user audits, file audits, voting, content management, RSS feeds and more.

Panthius eBusiness Suite - A full-service business suite that includes accounting, customer relationship management, ecommerce solutions, task management, tracking, calendar management, inventory & supply planning and more.

SynapseLife - A suite of five free web-based applications that includes a calendar, contact manager, feed reader, bookmarking and lists & ledger program.

Veetro - A very full-featured office suite that includes billing & invoices, document management, sales & lead management, email marketing, electronic timesheets, project & task management, blog publishing, customer help desk and real-time reporting.

WebAsyst - File management, photo management, a simple CRM, email marketing and newsletters, project management, issue tracker, notes & memos and pages for tutorials, manuals, etc. all in one centralized place.

WebOffice - WebOffice from WebEx provides an entire platform for running your business, including a document manager, online calendar, meeting platform, email, task manager, database, discussion forum, contact list, expense reports, opinion polls, and more.

Industry-Specific

Credit:

Barracuda Suite - Retail management suite that handles inventory, order fulfillment, and more and allows you to manage your business from anywhere.

ProposalPath from Bluebuzzard - Hospitality sales management application that allows you to send, organize, and track your customer communications.

Flyinside - A free online platform for creating real estate virtual tours using your own digital photos.

Pawtracker - Dog kennel management system that's completely web-based with real-time information, accounting, and more.

Propertize - Rental property management app that keeps your information in an easy to use format.

Miscellaneous

[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]

koolwire - Create PDF files via email.

Lightspoke - Create customized business applications in 15 minutes, including project management, sales automation, contact management, web forms, asset management and more.

PDFescape - An online PDF creator and editor.

Shipwire - Complete product fulfillment application that will receive, store, and ship your products for you.

uShip - List the items you need to ship and get bids from different shipping companies for the best price.