Top Tools For Entrepreneurs

[selfemploymentcoach]

A mentor or coach is a great resource to help you build your business... Also, As a coach, I help people develope a business plan (a process that I recommend no one passes by)... You can and may still be successful, but it can take away from using your time where it is needed the most... Everyone needs a plan of action. Another great resource I have found is OneWebHosting - It has "how-to" movies to build your own website and is only $9.95 per month. Check it out here:
Web Hosting by OneWebHosting.com | Web Hosting for Small Business

[Huntingtax]

I would say QuickBooks (but I'm a bookkeeper) and my online google calendar. I'd be lost without it!

-Huntingtax Accounting Services
"Helping Small Businesses where it COUNTS!"
Bookkeeping in Mesa, AZ

[millionaire]

i use off line data base to keep a fast record and review....
put data on excel consist pass and username
never learn quick bookk so far

[Jay Brass]

I could not live without my BlackBerry. I do everything by mobile - email, texting, calling, IMing, PINing, surfing, everything.

[aslamc]

A lot of the earlier posts sum it up but here's how mine goes!

#1. Start of with motivational book and refer back every time you need a little boost up

#2. A small notepad and a pen. No todo list on a computer can compete with a notepad and a pen

#3. you computer ofcourse as a information source

#4. Business plan (using a IBP is helpful)

#5. List of goals (having each timed out will boost your performace)

#6. Burning Desire!

[niaz11]

It is a particular book that you read? A business plan template? A search engine optimization resource? A CRM tool? A new productivity software release?

[absolutetoner]

I thought that it would be a great enhancement to let the readers know
of a recent results poll from the YoungEntrepreneur.com/blog on the Top
tool for Entrepreneurs.

The results are in! After getting entrepreneurial members feedback on
what's in their entrepreneur toolbox, here is the list of the top tools
for entrepreneurs.

#1: Books / Magazines
"My books on management principles, project management, to auto
biographies such as Redstone Sumner's, and Thomas Friedman's last
edition of "The World is Flat"...granted I need to get the books that
recently contested his book. And, of course, Rich Dad Poor Dad.
Reading material: BRW (Business Review Weekly) magazine, How to Win
Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie), A New Earth (Earkhart
Tolle), Loosing my Virginity (Richard Branson)
Rich Dad Poor Dad and Who Moved My Cheese? books for personal
development before I'll picture out and plan something for my business.
To be very specific, I recommend reading some classic books such as
Competitive Strategy - By Michael Porter, Blue Ocean Strategy - by Chan
Kim, Gentleman, A Timeless Fashion - by Roetzel, Market Based
Management - by Roger Best
I like Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point" because it shows me
how time and time again very little changes have large consequences (I
work in marketing, btw, so my answers might be different from others).
To add to your books: E-myth by Michael Gerber is a MUST, How to Stop
Worrying & Start Living by Dale Carnegie is just as critical as How
to Win Friends."

#2: Websites
"I really like the Interactive Business Planner. IBP: New User
Registration It's a really good business plan wizard. Each section is
broken down into bite-size pieces, has clear explanations and an
example excerpt from a business plan. It's provided by the Government
of Canada but I don't think there is any reason it wouldn't be useful
to anyone else.
My #1 tool is Young Entrepreneur Forums - An entrepreneurial and small
business site , if i need help, best friendly people here, if i need
information I can get it, if I need anything someone is always willing
to help. its really the only tool any entrepreneur needs ;] (i sound
like a person writing a testimonial)
A few tools I like that I think others might find useful:

* Management Methods | Management Models | Management Theories - I find it useful as a quick reference/refresher tool.
* Docstoc.com free legal forms and business templates - It's a great
repository to quickly find free templates for business documents (e.g.
b-plans, legal templates, etc.).
* Online Project Management, Group Collaboration and Document Sharing
~ Huddle - Have found it useful for collaborating on projects.
* Scan, copy and fax with your camera phone or digital camera - Sort
of an odd tool, but can be useful for digitizing information you put on
a whiteboard.

A few sites that are useful for finding news tools:

* Business Hacks | BNET - Mix of new useful apps and general business tips.
* Free Small Business Tools & Resources - Mix of free business tools, apps, freebies.
* Webware : Cool Web apps for everyone - CNET - Profiles new online apps.

Its an really good business wizard. Every entrepreneur not only new but
old also needs a tool to set them apart in the field. I too know about
this IBP tool, It is the best among all the other tools available in
the market today."

#3: Pen and Paper
"Pen, Paper, A imaginative brain, A product you are passionate about.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
A blank notebook and colorful pens to note down ideas as they come"

#4: Business Cards
"Every Entrepreneur needs tools to set them apart. Those of us who have
a business card, compete for business and have a need to set themselves
apart from the rest (which includes every single one of us)must have a
tool that tells their story; lists their attributes; their
accomplishments; their special designations; their charity work and
hobbies; awards and accolades. A paper business card does none of that!
The Fully Customized Multimedia Business Card and Way To Wealth
Marketing System does all of that for you and more!
Business cards!!! (Why am I meeting so many people at networking events that do not bring business cards? Crazy!)"

#5: Network / Peers
"My most valuable tool I believe to be my network. Being successful in
anything is not so much what you know but who you know. Everyone should
keep an email list of people that they need to look to for certain
things for example when ever I have a legal question I have a lawyer
that I have built a relationship with and he is part of my network. I
have the same thing for a tax guy, mortgage guy, and so on. So you have
a network of resources and that is key. Then you need a network of test
customers, have a list of people who might always be interested in
investing in an idea you have or might even purchase what ever it is
that your are offering or what ever service you provide. One of the
best networks I have is a network of veteran business owners and or
investors, its a group of people that I can email when ever I have a
question or concern very similar to S.C.O.R.E. (Sales core of retired
executives) they are great because they lived it and can give you real
world exp. The most important tool any business man or woman can have
is without question their network, build it big build it smart make it
work. NETWORK
My peers. Surround yourself with a diversity of people, in completely
inconclusive environments. Share, debate, and exchange ideas.
Mega-successful entrepreneurs are multi-disciplinary and
interdisciplinary individuals."

#6: Mentors
"My Mentors. All of them have found vast success in their fields, and
have obtained a wealth of knowledge. Surround yourself with winners,
and your chances at winning are greater.
Having a mentor can also make a huge difference to your results.
Ideally make it someone you can meet with in person a regular basis
which helps keep you under pressure to achieve. As a second choice try
email or telephone contact with someone who is already where you want
to be."

#7: RSS Readers
"Its important to stay in the know. Blogs are my personal favorite way
to keep up to date and a blog reader (like google reader) keeps all the
blog sites you frequent in one place for easy reading.
Google Reader for quickly skimming through industry news and events."

#8: Blogs
"My blog for presenting myself as a thought leader in my industry.
Now that you mentioned it, a blog has become an important tool for the entrepreneur. Especially in this age of the internet."

Other answers that made the list were:
· Computers

· Media

· Internet

· Energy drinks

· The phone

· Microsoft Office

· Google

· Espresso machines

· Virtual assistants

[gowriter]

a cheap web designer

[smsmamster]

I have found that Forums are an amazing resource. I have found sources of new information, new products, new advice, new tools etc...

Cheers!
Robert

[millionaire]

hopefully it will provide me and us good info...
.don't you think so robert?

[Dus10]

lol last time I checked online tools weren't violent

Obviously you haven't witnessed the online hunting sites... you get access to real firearms control via the web.

[mapguy]

Submit Your Killer Startup

MyKillerStartup.com

[Mxpxer7]

this is all very helpful

[businesgoonline]

very nice info

[myemployee]

One great tool I have used is the Just-In-Time Offshore Outsourcing Model for small to medium-sized businesses. It worked for my business pretty well that I've started offering the same service, which I enjoyed and profit from, to the market. No longer should BPO be enjoyed only by Fortune 500 companies!

Bruce