Last Updated on March 28, 2025 by Owen McGab Enaohwo
Running a business is hard work. At first, handling documents, responding to customers, and managing day-to-day operations manually might seem doable. But as your business grows, it becomes harder to do so. You’re faced with endless paperwork, unstructured processes, missed deadlines, and frustrated customers. Suddenly, what used to work just fine becomes an overwhelming mess.
Imagine a world where your processes run smoothly, repetitive tasks are automated, and your team collaborates effortlessly. That’s exactly what business management software does. It gives you the power to streamline operations, boost productivity, and focus on what truly matters: growing your business.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about business management software, from must-have features to the best tools for your business. Let’s get started.
Looking for a great business management software? Look no further. Try out the amazing features of SweetProcess now for free.
Table of Contents
What Is Business Management Software?
Types of Business Management Software
11 Best Business Management Software & Tools
7 Core Features of Business Management Software
How To Manage Your Business Operations With SweetProcess
4 Things To Consider Before Choosing a Business Management Software for Your Company
Which Business Management Software Is Right for Your Company?
What Is Business Management Software?
Business management software (BMS) is a tool that helps businesses automate and manage their main business processes, such as project management, sales, accounting, HR, and customer relationship management.
In essence, it streamlines and simplifies your business’s day-to-day operations for better overall productivity, improving collaboration, data accuracy, customer satisfaction, and decision-making.
Because of its versatility, small businesses, and large enterprises can use this tool to manage different aspects of their operations.
You need business management software to build a business with optimized processes and improved productivity.
Types of Business Management Software
The first step to choosing the right business management software is knowing the different types to decide which fits your business needs. Here are some:
1. Document Management Systems
These systems make it easy to create, store, manage, and track electronic documents. Instead of getting lost in endless paper documents, you can easily capture and digitize them.
2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
This helps businesses manage interactions with their customers. You can track customer information, sales activity, campaign engagement, and other important details.
3. Project Management Software
This helps businesses plan and manage projects. You can schedule tasks, organize resources, track progress, collaborate with team members, and much more. This improves employee productivity and saves your business time and money.
4. Marketing and Sales Automation Software
Just like the name suggests, this helps you automate marketing and sales tasks like creating email campaigns, scheduling social media posts, and retargeting ads to improve productivity.
5. Workplace Communication Tools
By providing businesses with a means to engage with internal teams and stakeholders, these tools enable employees to collaborate seamlessly at work, thereby increasing productivity.
6. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software
ERP software streamlines workflows and automates routine processes. It integrates business processes like inventory, accounting, and customer relationship management.
Now that you know the different types of business management software tools, it’s time to go shopping. To make this process swift and easy, we compiled a list of the best business management software just for you.
11 Best Business Management Software & Tools
These are the top business management software and tools for growing your business and streamlining your operations:
1. SweetProcess: Best for Process Documentation and Management
SweetProcess is the business management software. From properly documenting your procedures and processes to managing tasks, collaborating with teams, tracking progress, creating a knowledge base, and streamlining your processes, SweetProcess does it all.
It also has an AI tool, SweetAI, that helps you create your policies and processes in less than a minute. And the best part is this: It has one of the most affordable pricing plans, with only one plan giving you access to all its features.
Core Features of SweetProcess
SweetProcess’s extensive suite of features provides you with everything you need to streamline your business operations. With SweetProcess, you can:
- Document step-by-step procedures and processes.
- Combine multiple procedures to make an overarching workflow.
- Create process maps to visually explore every step in your process.
- Turn your procedures into actionable tasks for your team members.
- Import videos, images, and files into your documents.
- Turn your procedures into an offline manual that can be exported.
- Create a centralized knowledge base (both public and private).
- Enjoy account security with two-factor authentication.
- Collaborate in real time with your team.
- Access support via email and phone calls.
- Connect with over 1,000 integrated apps.
These features are just the tip of the iceberg. You can access all these and more for free. Take advantage of the 14-day free trial period now.
SweetProcess Pricing
For the comprehensive features it provides, SweetProcess pricing is one of the best you’ll ever find. It has just one plan, which gives you access to all its features.
SweetProcess costs $99 per month for a team with active team members and $5 per month for each additional active member. You only pay for active members.
2. Monday.com: Best for Project Management
Image credit: monday.com
Monday is a project management platform that allows teams to manage their documents, workloads, and dashboards in one place. It brings your project to life with features like kanban boards, charts, and Gantt views. With Monday, you can manage your projects, create a customizable workspace, and manage tasks and documents. It offers a comprehensive project management experience.
Features of Monday.com
- Activity dashboard
- Collaboration
- Workflow management
- Integrations
- Apps
- Customer relationship management
- Bid management
- Reporting and analytics
Pros of Monday.com
- It has a forever-free plan and free trial periods for paid plans.
- It has an intuitive and visually appealing interface.
- It is suitable for all kinds of businesses and can be used by any team within an organization.
- It seamlessly integrates with third-party tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Microsoft Teams.
Cons of Monday.com
- The per-seat pricing structure makes it expensive for companies with large teams.
- You cannot upgrade to a paid plan with less than three users. You have to pay for three seats.
- Some new users might find the platform’s features, templates, and customization options overwhelming.
Monday.com Pricing
Monday has five pricing plans.
- Free plan: free forever
- Basic: $9 per seat per month
- Standard: $12 per seat per month
- Pro: $19 per seat per month
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
3. ClickUp: Best for Business Productivity
Image credit: clickup.com
ClickUp is a task management and productivity platform. It is filled with workflow management tools and real-time collaboration features, making managing projects and tasks easy. You can create, assign, and track the progress of your tasks on ClickUp. It is the go-to software to handle all your company’s work in one place.
Features of ClickUp
- Automation
- Templates
- Collaborations
- ClickApps
- Integrations
- AI tool
- Kanban board
- Customization
Pros of ClickUp
- It has a 100% money-back guarantee.
- It has a free forever plan.
- It offers an AI tool that helps teams improve productivity.
- It is suitable for teams using agile frameworks and traditional methods.
Cons of ClickUp
- Some advanced features have a steep learning curve.
- It does not have payroll or invoicing integrations.
- Support is only available via email or chat. It has no phone support.
ClickUp Pricing
ClickUp has four pricing plans.
- Free plan: free forever
- Unlimited plan: $10 per user per month
- Business plan: $19 per user per month
- Enterprise plan: Contact sales for pricing.
4. QuickBooks: Best for Accounting Management
Image credit: quickbooks.intuit.com
QuickBooks is a cloud-based accounting software that allows businesses to manage their finances through premium accounting features like expense tracking, invoicing, bank reconciliation, and reporting. It integrates with other Intuit software like TurboTax and ProConnect. This tool is great for small businesses.
Features of QuickBooks
- Accounting
- Inventory management
- Customer payments
- Employee payroll
- Multicurrency accounts
- Tax deductions
- Business insights and analytics
Pros of QuickBooks
- Users have the option of a free guided setup.
- It offers a free 30-day trial period.
- It has a mobile app for easy access on the go.
- It has a user-friendly interface.
Cons of QuickBooks
- A user complained that subscriptions get pricey fast, especially if you work with multiple currencies.
- Others complained about bugs that prevent credit cards or bank accounts from syncing.
- Some of its advanced features may require a learning curve.
QuickBooks Pricing
QuickBooks has three pricing plans.
- Simple Start plan: $35 per user per month.
- Essentials plan: $65 per user per month.
- Plus plan: $99 per user per month.
- Advanced plan: $235 per user per month.
As a new user, you get 50% off for three months.
5. Salesforce: Best for Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Image credit: tech.co
Salesforce is leading customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps businesses build and improve customer relationships. It provides you with the tools to find prospects, close more deals, and provide a higher level of service to your customers. You can track customer activity, access detailed reports, market to customers, and personalize your interactions with customers.
Features of Salesforce
- Lead and opportunity management
- Contact and account management
- Workflow automation
- Sales collaboration
- Sales forecasting
- Reports and dashboard
- Pipeline management
- Campaign management
Pros of Salesforce
- It can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
- It seamlessly integrates with third-party tools.
- You can customize the system to fit your unique workflows and industry requirements.
- It has iOS and Android mobile apps.
Cons of Salesforce
- Some users complained that it was too clunky and complicated.
- Another user complained that it can be difficult to use.
- It can feel a bit overwhelming for new users with so many features and customizable options.
Salesforce Pricing
Salesforce has different pricing plans for each of its products. The price is dependent on the product you choose.
6. Vcita: Best All-in-One Small Business Management Software
Image credit: vcita.com
Vcita is an all-in-one business management software for service-based macro and small businesses. It has everything you need to organize and grow your business, from scheduling appointments to collecting payments, managing clients, marketing, and so much more. With Vcita, you can discover growth opportunities and scale your brand.
Features of Vcita
- Email marketing
- Customer support
- Confirmations & reminders
- Appointment follow up
- Time zone detection
- Personalized branding
- Integrations
Pros of Vcita
- It provides a 14-day free trial period where users can access all its features.
- It has an intuitive interface.
- It can be used across various devices.
- It seamlessly integrates with other popular software.
Cons of Vcita
- Its credit card payments are limited to PayPal or Stripe.
- Many features are not included in the first plan, even though it is a paid plan.
- Users in the first plan have to pay $150 per session for a set-up and installation session.
- It has no free plan.
Vcita Pricing
Vcita has three pricing plans.
- Starting small plan: $35 per seat per month
- Business plan: $65 per seat per month
- Platinum plan: $110 per seat per month
7. Smartsheet: Best for Project Analytics and Reporting
Image credit: smartsheet.com
Smartsheet is a cloud-based project management software. It provides the familiarity of a spreadsheet-like interface to organize tasks. However, it has more features than the typical spreadsheet. This tool helps you take a project from inception to completion by assigning tasks, organizing calendars, collaborating with teams, tracking progress, and lots more.
Features of Smartsheet
- Project management
- Task tracking
- Collaboration
- Automation
- Reporting
- Integrations
- Customizability
Pros of Smartsheet
- It has a 30-day free trial period.
- It has multiple project views from which to choose.
- It has collaborative work management features.
- It supports automation and formulas to streamline processes.
Cons of Smartsheet
- It does not have a free plan.
- There is a learning curve for its more advanced features like formulas and complex reporting.
- It might be too simple for people looking for an enterprise solution.
- It focuses too much on spreadsheets.
Smartsheet Pricing
Smartsheet has four pricing plans.
- Pro plan: $12 per member per month
- Business plan: $24 per member per month
- Enterprise plan: Contact team for custom pricing.
- Advanced work management: Contact the team for custom pricing.
8. Wrike: Best for Task Tracking and Invoicing
Image credit: wrike.com
If you are looking for business management software that is great for tracking tasks and invoicing, Wrike is the tool you need. It helps businesses and project owners organize projects, collaborate with teams, and track work progress. It offers features like Gantt charts and advanced reporting that make planning and tracking projects a breeze.
Features of Wrike
- Time tracking
- Work schedules
- Task management
- Project views
- Workflows and automation
- Integrations
Pros of Wrike
- It has a free plan and free trial periods for paid plans.
- It has an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
- It is integrated with over 400 third-party apps.
- It has web, desktop, and mobile app versions.
Cons of Wrike
- Seats in the paid plan must be purchased in groups of five.
- It has storage limits for each user across all plans.
- Its paid plans might be pricey for small teams and startups.
Wrike Pricing
Wrike has 5 pricing plans.
- Free plan: Free
- Team plan: $10 per user per month
- Business plan: $25 per user per month
- Enterprise plan: Contact the team for pricing.
- Pinnacle plan: Contact the team for pricing.
9. Odoo: Best for E-Commerce Business Management
Image credit: odoo.com
Odoo is an all-in-one ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution that covers different parts of business operations. It offers several apps that incorporate key business functions such as human resources, accounting, sales, inventory, purchases, and a lot more. Thanks to its open-source nature, businesses can customize the software to suit their needs and unique workflows.
Features of Odoo
- Modern user interface
- Lead nurturing
- URL trackers
- Lead mining
- Customize stages
- Schedule meetings
- Emails templates
- Custom alerts
- CRM dashboard
Pros of Odoo
- Odoo offers a free trial period.
- It is highly customizable, which allows you to tailor the tool to your unique needs.
- It has a comprehensive suite of applications, providing a unified environment for managing various business operations.
- It has a community of developers, users, and enthusiasts where you can access resources and updates.
Cons of Odoo
- Complex customizations in the software may require expert development skills.
- It requires a learning curve for employees. They’ll need time to adapt to the software.
- The free plan gives you access to just one app.
Odoo Pricing
Odoo has three pricing plans:
- One app free plan: Free for one app only.
- Standard plan: $11.20 per user per month
- Custom plan: $17 per user per month
New users get a discount valid for 12 months.
10. NetSuite: Best for Enterprise Resource Management
Image credit: netsuite.com
NetSuite is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software equipped with modules for CRM, financials, marketing, e-commerce, HR, inventory, and many others. These modules can be configured and customized to your specific business needs, and they cater to different industry domains. With NetSuite, you can streamline your business processes and improve efficiency.
Features of NetSuite
- Customer relationship management
- E-commerce and retail management
- Financial management and accounting
- Professional services automation
- Business intelligence and reporting
- Human capital management
Pros of NetSuite
- It is cloud-based, so you can access the platform from anywhere.
- It has customizable dashboards for a personalized view.
- It integrates seamlessly with third-party applications.
- You can access various financing tools all in one platform.
Cons of NetSuite
- New users may require extensive training to navigate the software.
- Upgrades and training attract additional fees.
- Specific functions will require you to add more modules. Each module has its own pricing structure.
NetSuite Pricing
NetSuite does not have a set pricing plan like other software. Pricing depends on the modules you use and your industry requirements.
- Implementation cost: $25,000–$100,000
- Customization cost: $150–$250
- Integration cost: $0–$1,000
There are other fees included beyond these.
11. PracticePanther: Best for Law Practice
Image credit: practicepanther.com
PracticePanther is business management software for legal professionals. It helps single lawyers and big law firms alike track billable hours. With features like billing, expense management, payment processing, and time tracking, you can easily automate and manage your processes. If you are a legal practitioner looking to scale your business, this is for you.
Features of PracticePanther
- Trust accounting
- Mobile apps
- Payment processing
- Zapier integration
- UTBMS coding & LEDES billing
- Secure client portal
- Unlimited data storage
- Real-time notifications
Pros of PracticePanther
- It integrates seamlessly with LawPay, QuickBooks, and other relevant tools.
- It offers an online payment option.
- It is intuitive and simple to use.
- It’s easy to retrieve client information and edit it.
Cons of PracticePanther
- It can be expensive for smaller firms.
- It is niched down to only legal firms.
- A user complained about not being able to batch invoices.
PracticePanther Pricing
PracticePanther has three pricing plans.
- Solo plan: $59 per user per month
- Essential plan: $79 per user per month
- Business plan: $99 per user per month
7 Core Features of Business Management Software
We’ve given you an extensive list from which to choose. Before you make your pick, ensure your business management software has the features below.
1. User-Friendly Interface
A user-friendly interface is important. It makes it easy for your employees to navigate the software, regardless of their technical know-how. Everyone should be able to use the tool without extensive training.
2. Cloud-Based Technology
A cloud-based software allows you to safely store all your information in one place. This ensures your team can access important information anytime and anywhere via any device with an internet connection.
3. Reporting and Analytics
Your business management software is not complete without robust reporting and real-time analytics. You should be able to make informed business decisions based on the data you get from your tool.
4. Integration Capabilities
Good business management software integrates seamlessly with other business tools. This helps you manage all your operations in one place instead of moving from one tool to another to complete basic processes.
5. Collaboration Features
Business management software without collaboration features is no good for your company. It should have features like a shared workspace, real-time editing, task assignment, and version control to help your team work on tasks together.
6. Affordability
If you have to pay through your nose for business management software, then it defeats the purpose of having it. Create a budget and pick a solution that is within those parameters.
7. Reliable Customer Support
Reliable customer support helps you access help instantly if you have any issues, with no delay to the task at hand. It is a must for any BMS software you choose.
How To Manage Your Business Operations With SweetProcess
When you think of business management software, SweetProcess should be the first tool you think of. It not only has all the features we listed above, but it also helps you manage your business operations seamlessly.
3rd Arm Admin, for example, enhanced its payroll delivery and employee performance with SweetProcess. They struggled to fill payroll efficiently, but with tools like Sheets and Excel, all efforts were in vain. They switched to SweetProcess, and the story changed. They seamlessly documented their processes, created a reference guide for workers, fast-tracked employee training, and streamlined their processes.
Let’s explore the different things you can do with SweetProcess. Before we start, create a free SweetProcess account so you can try out these features yourself.
Create Company Procedures and Processes Automatically Using AI
Creating policies and procedures has never been easier. With SweetAI, the SweetProcess AI tool, you can create procedures in less than a minute.
Write out the procedure title, and SweetAI will create a detailed procedure document for you. If you don’t know what procedures you need, SweetAI will create suggestions based on your industry.
This is what a customer onboarding procedure created by SweetAI looks like:
After creating the procedure, you can edit it until you are okay with the document. There is a chat box where you can chat with SweetAI to make these changes.
Image of Sweet AI’s chat box in SweetProcess
You can also add images, videos, and other existing procedures to your document. You have the option to either approve yourself or request approval once you are done. It’s that simple.
It’s also easy to create policies and processes with SweetAI.
Creating effective business processes with SweetProcess helped Aizer Group facilitate remote work and empower its employees. They were able to map out processes, create reference documents for employees, and increase employee learning speed, thereby saving time and money.
Build an Internal Knowledge Base for Your Employees
SweetProcess does not stop at creating procedures; you can also use it to create an internal knowledge base for your employees.
This knowledge base houses all the important information your employees need to stay productive and execute tasks effectively. With the option to create categories, you can categorize your articles based on topics. This makes them easily findable. The best part is the customizable features for display and appearance, control access, employee feedback, and domain.
Not only can you select a theme that fits your brand identity, but you can also customize your brand URL to match your brand, customize text blocks to fit your brand voice, determine if your knowledge base will be accessed by the public or a select few, choose whether to create a contact form or get feedback on any document in the knowledge base, and so much more.
Here is a sample knowledge base created in SweetProcess:
Collaborate Seamlessly With Your Team Members
SweetProcess makes team collaboration seamless. Team members can work on a document together. They can leave comments on tasks and steps within a document.
You can also assign specific tasks to team members, setting deadlines and priorities to manage workflow effectively. Check the image below.
SweetProcess can be accessed by team members anytime, from anywhere in the world, so your team members can work together regardless of distance or time zone.
With knowledge bases, your team members can easily access all important files in one place. When it comes to collaboration, SweetProcess is the ultimate tool.
Manage Your Company’s Procedures, Processes, and Policies in One Place
SweetProcess allows you to manage your company’s policies, processes, and procedures in one place. Not only can you create any of these easily with the help of SweetAI, but you can also import existing documents and manage them in SweetProcess.
You can track changes made to a document with revision history, set up approval processes for new or updated procedures, quickly search for specific information within your documents using keywords, structure your documents using folders and subfolders to group related procedures, and create a knowledge base so your policies and processes are easily accessible.
Here are some visual representations of these actions in SweetProcess:
Manage your process, procedures and policies in one place
Track changes with version history
Set up approval processes
Assign and manage all tasks in one place
These are just a few samples. When it comes to managing your company’s procedures and processes, SweetProcess does it better than any business management software.
4 Things To Consider Before Choosing a Business Management Software for Your Company
Before you make your final decision, let’s talk about the important things you need to consider. If you do the following, you are sure to make the right pick. Here’s a list of things to consider:
1. Know your company’s business needs
Why does your business need business management software? Do you need help with customer relations, invoicing, accounting, or project management? Your answer will determine what type to get and ensure your pick provides the exact solutions your business needs.
2. Consider the technical knowledge of your team members
Your team’s technical know-how goes a long way in determining if you will spend even more time and money implementing your business software. Make sure the software is easy for your team to navigate without additional training.
3. Consider the tool’s interface and mobile accessibility
If the software’s interface is intuitive, then navigating it will be easy for your team. A visually appealing interface is an added bonus. Also, make sure it is accessible on mobile so your team can use it on the go.
4. Have an estimated budget
You must have a budget. A business management tool should not eat deep into your business finances. If you search properly, you will always find business software within your budget that caters to your needs. Check out SweetProcess’s affordable pricing here.
Which Business Management Software Is Right for Your Company?
At this point, you have all the information you need to choose the right business management software for your company. It’s time to make a decision.
If you’ve been reading along, then you realize what we already know: No business management software comes close to SweetProcess.
If you’re looking for business management software that has all the essential features, including an intuitive interface, task assignment and management, knowledge base creation, documentation of processes and procedures, revision control, collaboration, progress tracking, notifications, and access across devices, then SweetProcess is the tool.
It is one of the few business management tools that gives you access to all its features in one very affordable plan. You can try these features for free with the 14-day trial offer. You don’t need to make a commitment.
Get the right business management tool for your business now. Click here to explore its extensive features for free.
