As a small business, do you know how to get the most out of the software that’s out there? In this presentation our partner, Fit Small Business, will give actionable tips on how to select a VoIP provider, CRM software, website builder and point-of-sale system.

1. Identifying the Right Software
for Your Small Business
With Marc Prosser, Fit Small Business

2. Meet the Speakers…
#KabbageKam
Andres Thomas
Customer Success
Kabbage, Inc.
Moderator
Marc Prosser
Co-founder & Managing Partner
Fit Small Business

3. Co-founder & Managing Partner
Fit Small Business
Marc Prosser

4. About Us
• I founded Fit Small Business alongside David Waring in 2013.
• We evaluate software and services aimed at small businesses,
in areas ranging from CRM to accounting software.
• We do the research, so you don’t have to.
• You can read more about us here:
http://fitsmallbusiness.com/about-us/
#KabbageKam

5. Which Software Is Right for
My Small Business?
• Tons of small business software on the market.
• So how do you pick the best for your business?
• We’ll go over the process and apply the process to a few
specific buying decisions.
• We’ll consider features, pricing, ease of use, reliability, and
customer support.
#KabbageKam

6. First Things First:
What Do You Need in the Service?
#KabbageKam
• Before you dive into specific products, take a step
back and pin down what you’re really looking
for. Write it down!
• Define the main problem you’re trying to fix. Are
you trying to save money, do you need a specific
feature to work better, are you looking for better
customer support – or something else?
• Don’t get seduced by features you won’t use or a
product you don’t need.
What is the core
function you need from
the software?
What peripheral
features are and aren’t
important?
Once you buy the
software, which
features will you
actually use?
Cost aside, what is the
software worth to your
business?

7. Features First
• What features are crucial to you?
• Why are you looking to buy?
• Extras can be exciting, but not as
important as what you need the
product to handle.
#KabbageKam

8. Ease-of-Use:
Whenever Possible, Try It Out
• Can you use it right away, or will it take time to get it working?
• Whenever possible, try a demo or monthly trial.
• Customer impressions can be very helpful. Easier to find for
established products.
• Too many features can make things difficult. Bells and whistles
often come with a steep learning curve.
#KabbageKam

9. Support:
How Much Do You Need?
• For something your business relies on,
you’ll want to be able to talk to someone
and quickly resolve issues.
• Phone support is one of the most common
areas that get skimped on.
• Otherwise comes down to how much time
& technical knowledge you can commit.
#KabbageKam

10. Pricing:
When to Prioritize
• Don’t skimp on the features you need.
Price should not be your top priority when
it gets in the way of having a reliable,
functional product you can use.
• Look beyond the sticker price: it’s
common to charge more for ‘bonus’
features or add ons, even when those
features are essential to your business.
#KabbageKam

11. Example 1:
VoIP Phone Systems
• First, what are you looking for?
• How reliant on phones is your business?
• What happens if the phones don’t work?
• Desk phones or mobile?
• Pricing is secondary. Consider what your
business needs first.
#KabbageKam

12. Why VoIP?
• Traditional landlines are much more
expensive than VoIP systems, and
typically include fewer features.
• Just make sure your internet can handle
VoIP calls before you make the jump.
• Our VoIP speed test
#KabbageKam

13. Nextiva:
Our Top Recommendation
• Reliable service.
• Strong customer support.
• Easy to set up and use.
• Reasonable pricing: $40-$53/month
per user.
• Includes features such as auto attendant,
call routing, and a mobile app.
#KabbageKam

14. RingCentral:
A High-End VoIP System
• Slightly more expensive for small
businesses: $60-$72/month per user.
• Excellent interface, features, and plenty
of integrations.
• Customer service is focused on larger
businesses. No phone support if you
have fewer than 20 users.
#KabbageKam

15. Phone.com:
Entry Level VoIP Software
• Low price, starting at $43/month for 1
user, or lower via pay-per-minute.
• Easy to scale with your business.
• Great low cost option, especially if
you’re more focused on the mobile app
than desk phones.
#KabbageKam

16. Other VoIP Providers
#KabbageKam

17. #KabbageKam
Don’t get
overwhelmed by
features! Know what
you’re looking for.
The purpose of
CRM is to manage
your sales process.
That doesn’t have to
be complicated.
Example 2:
CRM Software

18. #KabbageKam
Easy to use.
Inexpensive:
$12/month per user.
Insightly:
Our #1 Recommendation
Great for managing the
sales process.
Not as customizable or
as specialized as some
of the alternatives.

19. #KabbageKam
Customizable and
feature-rich.
More expensive than
Insightly, but much
cheaper than
Salesforce.
Zoho:
A Salesforce Alternative
Not as easy-to-use as
Insightly.

20. Other CRM Options
#KabbageKam
Strong social media integrations
Good for online storesGreat mobile app
Expensive, but customizable

21. Website Builders
• A lot of small business owners find running a website intimidating.
But it doesn’t have to be difficult.
• In 2016, it's easier than ever to set up a website using a website
builder.
• More tech-savvy business owners can also consider using a
platform such as Wordpress.
• Price estimates here don’t include domain costs, which usually
range from $10-$15/year.
#KabbageKam

22. Weebly:
Our #1 Recommendation
#KabbageKam
Easy-to-use. Drag &
Drop interface.
Inexpensive.
$10/month pro
plan.
Responsive customer
support.
Not quite as
customizable as
WordPress.

23. Wix:
Another Easy Website Builder
#KabbageKam
Easy-to-use and flexible.
Very similar to
Weebly in price and
functionality.
Some issues with
SEO and load times.

24. WordPress:
Using a Web Platform
#KabbageKam
More customizable, but
requires more tech-
savvy person to
manage.
WordPress is free,
but hosting runs
$7-8/month.
We recommend
building a theme
with Themify for
$49.

25. For eCommerce Sites
• Website builders can handle online sales, but if eCommerce is
your main business, we recommend using Shopify, BigCommerce,
or another eCommerce platform.
• These platforms aren’t quite as easy to use as a basic site builder.
• Plans range from $29/month to $179/month.
• You can read more in our Best eCommerce Platform Buyer’s
Guide.
#KabbageKam

26. Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems
• POS systems have come a long way in the past few years.
• Modern systems offer a complete package to retailers, including
tools for managing inventory, employees, and customers. Don't
let these distract from the core POS feature: handling payments.
• The big question: Do you want a basic POS or one with more
robust features beyond just handling payments?
#KabbageKam

27. #KabbageKam
Feature-rich, but
easy-to-use.
Reasonably priced,
starting at $89/month.
Registers range from
$1100-$1700.
Lightspeed:
Our #1 Recommendation
Excellent inventory and
purchase management
tools.

28. #KabbageKam
Inexpensive, easy-to-
use, and reliable.
No monthly charge,
but 3% processing fee.
Registers from $1000-
$1400.
Square Register:
An Entry POS System
A great basic POS
system for small
retailers.

29. Other POS Options
#KabbageKam

30. Takeaways
• Buying decisions are rarely straightforward. Software providers
will woo you with fancy features and charge extra for essentials.
• For key functions for your business, prioritize reliability and
customer support.
• Ease-of-use – if you don't have the technical skills and the time to
commit to learning a software, you're not going to take full
advantage of it.
• Lower prices are always a plus, but not at the expense of key
features or reliability.
#KabbageKam

31. We Do the Research.
So You Don’t Have To.
#KabbageKam
Best VoIP Provider
Best CRM Software
Best Website Builder
• Vetting dozens of software options can be time-
consuming. We know: our writers often spend 2-
3 weeks researching our buyer’s guides.
• Our site offers small businesses research on
everything from CRM software to which job
boards to use.
• You can read more about us on our About page,
or take a look around FitSmallBusiness.com.
Guides Referenced
In This Webinar:
Best eCommerce
Platform
Best POS System

32. Get Small Business Content
#KabbageKam
http://kabb.ag/40toolsguide

33. Thank you!
From us @KabbageInc