Best Tools and Apps for Managing a Side Hustle
Managing a side hustle can often feel like you’re performing an incredible balancing act – it’s like spinning plates while trying to maintain the rhythm. Speaking from my numerous experiences over the last decade, crafting an online business toolkit has had its fair share of ups and downs.
In this blog post, we’re about to navigate through the best tools and apps for managing your side hustle together – be it wrangling emails, storing files securely, locking in schedules, enhancing productivity levels or keeping up with social media management..
even generating extra income! So buckle up; let’s embark on this journey towards a seamlessly-run side hustle. After all, your success story begins here!
Key Takeaways
- Tools and apps are essential for managing a side hustle because they save time and help you focus on important tasks to grow your business or earn more money.
- Some of the best tools and apps for managing a side hustle include Gmail, Google Drive, Trello, Zapier, Freshbooks, LastPass, Dropbox, Google Calendar, Facebook Groups, Group Leads, DoorDash, and Fiverr.
- These tools and apps can help with email management, calendaring and scheduling tasks efficiently, collaboration and team management, increasing productivity levels, file sharing and storage solutions as well as social media management. They also offer opportunities to earn extra income through side hustle apps like DoorDash or Fiverr.
Importance of Tools and Apps in Managing a Side Hustle
Tools and apps help a lot in running a side hustle. They can do many tasks you don’t have time to do. Saving time lets you work on important things to grow your business or earn more money.
You need tools for email, schedule, teamwork, getting more done, sharing files and social media. Some good ones are Gmail and Google Drive. You might also use Freshbooks, LastPass and Trello.
There are even some apps that let you earn extra money like DoorDash or Rover.
Using the right tool depends on what works best for you. Also think about cost, how easy it is to use and if it can grow with your business.
Don’t forget this: A good tool makes hard jobs easier!
Best Email Management Tools
When it comes to managing your side hustle, having effective email management tools is essential. Two of the best options are Gmail and Sanebox.
Gmail
Gmail is a great tool for your side hustle. It’s easy to use and has features that make email management simple. You can sort emails into folders, search for old messages, and even talk to people through video calls.
Many other tools work well with Gmail too.
The good thing about Gmail is that it’s trusted by many people. This means you don’t have to worry about losing important emails or not receiving messages on time. You can rely on Gmail to help manage your online business and keep everything in order.
Sanebox
Sanebox is a tool I use to keep my email in check. It sorts important emails from less crucial ones, so I never miss what’s vital. Plus, it has a “Snooze” feature for emails you can’t attend to right away but need to come back later.
You can say goodbye to an overflowing inbox!
Best Calendaring and Scheduling Apps
Some of the best calendaring and scheduling apps include:
– Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a popular choice for its user-friendly interface and integration with other Google services. It allows you to easily schedule appointments, set reminders, and share calendars with others.
– Todoist: Todoist is a powerful task management app that also includes robust calendaring features. You can schedule tasks directly on your calendar, set due dates and reminders, and track your progress.
By using these apps, you can stay organized and manage your time effectively while juggling your side hustle responsibilities.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a top tool for setting up a side hustle. You can access it from any gadget. This is handy for staying on top of your tasks wherever you are. One neat feature? It lets you color-code and sort out all your work duties.
Using Google Calendar will help keep your side hustle in order!
Todoist
Todoist is one of the best calendaring and scheduling apps for managing a side hustle. It’s a tool that helps you stay organized and on top of your tasks. With Todoist, you can create to-do lists, set deadlines, and even track your progress.
It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners. You can access it from anywhere, whether on your computer or mobile device. Todoist also allows you to collaborate with others by sharing tasks and assigning them to different team members.
Overall, Todoist is a helpful app for staying organized and managing your side hustle effectively.
Best Collaboration and Team Management Tools
Two top collaboration and team management tools that can greatly enhance productivity and communication are Trello and Zapier. Trello offers a user-friendly interface for organizing tasks, assigning responsibilities, and tracking progress, while Zapier allows for seamless integration between different apps and automates repetitive tasks, saving time and effort.
Trello
Trello is an amazing tool for managing your side hustle. It’s free and easy to use, making it perfect for organizing projects and tasks in a visual way. With Trello, you can create cards for each task or project and add links, conversations, and checklists to stay organized.
It helps improve personal profitability and productivity by keeping everything in one place. Plus, it’s mentioned as one of the best collaboration and team management tools out there.
So if you’re looking for a tool that will help you stay on top of your side hustle, definitely give Trello a try!
Zapier
Zapier is an awesome tool that can help me manage my side hustle and improve my personal profitability. It’s a great collaboration and team management tool that allows me to automate tasks like data entry, email notifications, social media posting, and updates to my CRM.
With Zapier, I can save time and effort by connecting different apps together, creating workflows that streamline my work processes. By using Zapier alongside other tools like LastPass, OkayRelax, and Mint Mobile, I can stay organized and focused on growing my side hustle.
In the side hustle community, Zapier is recognized as one of the most valuable tools available.
Best Productivity Tools
When it comes to managing a side hustle, having the right productivity tools can make all the difference in staying organized and efficient. Here are some of the best productivity tools that can help you streamline your tasks and maximize your time: Freshbooks and LastPass.
Freshbooks
Freshbooks is an important tool in my online business toolkit for managing my side hustle. It’s a cloud-based accounting software that helps me with tasks like invoicing and expense tracking.
With Freshbooks, I can easily send professional invoices to clients and keep track of all my financial transactions. This saves me a lot of time and ensures that I have a clear picture of my business finances.
Freshbooks is popular among small businesses and independent contractors because it simplifies bookkeeping and allows us to focus on growing our side hustles.
LastPass
LastPass is a valuable tool for managing your side hustle. As a password management app, it helps you generate and store secure passwords, reducing the risk of hacking. LastPass works well with other team collaboration tools like Zapier, OkayRelax, and Mint Mobile.
It’s mentioned along with popular email tools such as Gmail, Sanebox, and Nudgemail. With its trusted reputation in password management, LastPass is an essential tool to keep your side hustle safe and organized.
Best File Sharing and Storage Apps
When it comes to file sharing and storage for your side hustle, you can’t go wrong with Dropbox and Google Drive. These apps provide seamless syncing across devices and offer ample storage space to keep all of your important documents, images, and files easily accessible.
Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the best file sharing and storage apps for managing a side hustle. It’s an online platform that allows you to securely store and share your files in the cloud. With its user-friendly interface, Dropbox makes it easy to organize and access your files from anywhere with an internet connection.
Whether you’re working on documents, images, or videos, Dropbox ensures that your files are safe and accessible whenever you need them. It’s a popular choice among individuals and businesses because of its reliability and efficient file storage capabilities.
Plus, Dropbox offers both free and paid plans with additional storage options available in the paid plans.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a useful tool for managing files and documents for your side hustle. It’s a free app that allows you to easily store and share files with others. With Google Drive, you can organize all your important documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more in one place.
Plus, it offers 15 GB of storage space for free. One great feature of Google Drive is that it works offline, so you can access and edit your files even without an internet connection.
Whether you need to collaborate with team members or keep your files organized and accessible, Google Drive is a reliable option for managing your side hustle efficiently.
Best Social Media Management Tools
Two of the best social media management tools for managing your side hustle are Facebook Groups and Group Leads.
Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups are one of the best social media management tools for side hustlers. They provide a platform for you to connect and engage with your target audience, share valuable content, and build a community around your business.
With Facebook Groups, you can easily communicate with your members, receive feedback, and promote your products or services. It’s a great way to increase visibility and grow your side hustle online.
Plus, it’s free to create and join groups on Facebook, making it an accessible tool for any budget-conscious entrepreneur. So if you’re looking for an effective way to manage your social media presence, consider leveraging the power of Facebook Groups.
Group Leads
Group Leads is one of the best social media management tools for managing a side hustle. It works with popular email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and AWeber. With Group Leads, you can automate the process of adding Facebook group members to your email list.
It helps you capture leads from Facebook groups and build your email list. This tool also offers advanced targeting options and provides analytics and reports to measure how effective your campaigns are.
So if you’re looking for a way to streamline your social media management and grow your email list, Group Leads is definitely worth considering.
Best Side Hustle Apps for Extra Income
Looking to make some extra money through a side hustle? These top apps, including DoorDash and Fiverr, can help you get started on your journey to financial success.
DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps, controlling almost 60% of the market in the U.S. It offers great flexibility for drivers, which is why many people choose to work with them.
To sign up for DoorDash, you need to be at least 18 years old, have a reliable vehicle, and pass a background check. One advantage of DoorDash is that it pays more during busy shifts and has fewer restrictions on transportation options.
However, drivers are required to schedule shifts in advance and they only get paid when they complete a delivery.
Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the best side hustle apps for earning extra income. With Fiverr, you can offer a variety of services online, from graphic design to writing to voiceover work. It’s all done through the app, so you can work from anywhere with an internet connection.
While Fiverr offers a wide range of gigs, it’s important to note that rates can be low for some services. Setting up your profile on Fiverr may take some time, but once you’re established, it can be a great way to make money on the side.
Airbnb
As a side hustle app, Airbnb allows you to earn extra cash by renting out your home or spare rooms. It’s a popular choice among hosts who want to make money from their properties. In 2021, the average Airbnb host earned $13,800 for the year.
With Airbnb, you can control your availability and pricing, communicate with guests through the platform’s messaging system, and receive secure payments. It’s a great way to monetize your space and connect with travelers looking for accommodations in your area.
Whether you have a spare room or an entire property available, Airbnb provides a user-friendly platform for listing and managing your rentals while earning some additional income.
Rover
Rover is a side hustle app for dog walking and pet sitting services. With Rover, you can earn extra money by taking care of people’s pets. It’s a great way to make $500 to $1,000+ per month.
The app allows you to set your own rates and schedule, giving you the flexibility to work when it fits into your busy life. Plus, Rover provides insurance coverage for all pet services, so you don’t have to worry about any mishaps.
They also offer 24/7 support to both pet owners and sitters, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. So if you love animals and want to make some extra income on the side, Rover is definitely worth checking out!
How to Choose the Right Tools and Apps for Your Side Hustle
When selecting tools and apps for your side hustle, consider factors such as compatibility with your workflow, cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and scalability.
Compatibility with your workflow
When choosing the right tools and apps for your side hustle, it is important to consider their compatibility with your workflow. This means thinking about how well they integrate into the way you work and whether they align with your specific needs and preferences.
You want tools that are easy to use and fit seamlessly into your existing processes, rather than causing disruptions or requiring a lot of effort to adapt to. By selecting tools that work well with your workflow, you can increase productivity and efficiency in managing your side hustle.
Cost-effectiveness
When choosing the right tools and apps for your side hustle, cost-effectiveness is an important factor to consider. You want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck while still meeting your needs.
Many of the side hustle tools mentioned in this blog are either free or offer a free version, which is great if you’re just starting out or on a tight budget. It’s also worth mentioning that investing in paid tools can sometimes be worthwhile if they provide added value and help streamline your workflow.
Ultimately, finding a balance between cost and functionality will ensure that you make the most of your side hustle without breaking the bank.
Ease of use
When choosing tools and apps for managing a side hustle, ease of use is crucial. You want tools that are simple and intuitive, so you can start using them right away without a steep learning curve.
Many of the mentioned side hustle tools and apps are designed with user-friendly interfaces, making it easy to navigate and understand their features. Whether it’s an email management tool like Gmail or a collaboration tool like Trello, these tools have been created to be accessible for users of all levels of technological expertise.
Additionally, most of these tools offer tutorials, guides, and customer support to help you get started quickly if you encounter any difficulties. With their straightforward design and helpful resources available, using these tools will be a breeze as you manage your side hustle efficiently.
Scalability
When managing a side hustle, it’s important to choose tools and apps that have scalability. This means that they should be able to grow with your business as it expands. Scalable tools can handle increased workloads and accommodate new team members or customers without causing issues or requiring frequent upgrades.
By choosing scalable tools, you can save time and money in the long run by avoiding the need for constant changes and transitions as your side hustle grows.
What are the Best Tips for Scaling a Side Hustle into a Main Hustle?
Scaling your side hustle into a main hustle requires strategic planning and a focused approach. Firstly, streamline your operations by identifying tasks that can be outsourced or automated. Secondly, leverage technology to reach a wider audience and streamline your sales process. Lastly, cultivate a strong support network and seek advice from mentors to navigate the challenges of scaling your side hustle effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having the right tools and apps can greatly benefit your side hustle by increasing productivity, efficiency, and organization. From email management to calendaring and scheduling, collaboration and team management to productivity tools, file sharing and storage to social media management, there are a variety of tools available to suit your specific needs.
Additionally, there are side hustle apps that can help you earn extra income. When choosing the right tools and apps for your side hustle, consider compatibility with your workflow, cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and scalability.
Start building your online business toolkit today!
