Small Business Development

Any business undergoes the process of business development. However, if you are a small business owner, you are directly involved, if not completely responsible for, every aspect of business development. It can be a big job.

That's why many small business owners have started taking advantage of business development tools - from software programs to outsourcing. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get help - but these tools can free up your time and give your company the ability to grow and prosper much more quickly.

I know from personal experience that it's difficult to delegate jobs to others and give up control. In fact, this is a common problem among entrepreneurs. However, it's likely that a single person is excellent in all three areas of planning, marketing and financial management. Stick with what you do best - and outsource the rest, even if it's using a simple piece of software.

Especially in today's business world, it's not how great your idea is - but how quickly you can take advantage of a timely opportunity. There is lots of competition, and time moves fast. If you want to be flexible enough to be able to jump on an opportunity before everyone else does, you need all the help you can get. Translation: You can't take on all jobs yourself.

Business Planning Software

So, you have a wonderful business idea. Now what? Don't get caught up in its greatness until you understand exactly what your target market wants.

A business plan will help you verify that your idea is viable and provide you with a roadmap to reach success. Writing a business plan can be a daunting task, but with business plan software, the job becomes much easier to take on yourself. You can also check out sample business plans online for free at Bplans.com.

Accounting/Bookkeeping Software

You can manage your company's finances yourself by using accounting software like Quickbooks Pro. There are also some online programs that are easy to use for small  businesses.

You can manage your information securely online and access it from anywhere. Some programs allow you to import data directly from your bank. Convenient.

- Outright.com
- Xero.com
- LessAccounting.com

Marketing is essential to any business, but as a business owner, you probably don't have the time to do it all yourself. You can outsource the work or hire additional staff - but you can also take on the task yourself with marketing software that helps you plan and integrate your marketing activities like a pro.

Many will say that this gives you better control over your promotions and can save you a significant amount of money. If you think about it, no one knows your products and services better than you.

Find out how to put together your own marketing plan - plus see sample marketing plans for free.

Payroll Software

Two easy-to-use and affordable payroll solutions, RUN from ADP and Intuit Online Payroll were designed to work well for small businesses. You can create and print paychecks online, and you can pay your employees - without having to pay a payroll company to do it for you.

Outsourcing, Using Freelance Websites

You can start getting familiar with outsourcing by hiring independent contractors or freelancers for short-term projects. Once you find people whom you trust and enjoy working with, you can contract with them for longer periods of time.

If you have never outsourced work before, ease into it gradually, and you won't feel like you are giving up control. Eventually, you will have a team of people that can handle all sorts of tasks, and it will feel natural to you. You can get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time.

With online outsourcing companies, you can find workers in different states or different countries who can complete your projects remotely - which can be ideal for a home-based business. See a list of freelance websites and jobs you can outsource.