5 Universal Tech Tools To Have On Hand As A New Business Owner

Starting a new business equates to juggling countless responsibilities while operating on tight budgets and even tighter timelines. With over 20% of small businesses failing within their first year and around 45% failing within five years according to Forbes, entrepreneurs face daunting odds. However, in today’s digital landscape, the right technology tools can dramatically improve these survival rates. Research shows that 71% of businesses are also increasing their IT budgets. 

These five universal tech tools outlined below can be used as foundations that can help bridge the gap between startup struggles and sustainable success. Each tool addresses core operational challenges while providing professional-grade functionality that scales with growing companies.

For those who desire additional digital safety or may be working in digitally unsecured public locations such as hotels or cafes, YubiKeys are physical security devices that serve as unhackable multi-factor authentication tools for protecting email, social media, banking, and other online accounts. Unlike vulnerable SMS codes or authentication apps, these hardware keys provide seamless, interception-proof security across hundreds of services. 

Available at major retailers including Amazon, Staples, and Best Buy, these affordable security solutions start at $25 with no subscription fees required. They also come in a range of varying forms, so they’re compatible with most devices. 

Zapier is an automation platform that connects over 6,000 apps and services such as Calendly and DropBox without requiring coding knowledge to streamline the workflow and have it all in one place.

For new business owners, Zapier eliminates repetitive manual tasks by creating automated workflows called “Zaps” that trigger actions between different applications. Whether it’s automatically adding new email subscribers to your CRM, posting social media updates across multiple platforms, or syncing customer data between your e-commerce store and accounting software, Zapier handles it without having to outsource other platforms or hire new team members. 

The software essentially acts as a virtual assistant that works 24/7, reducing human error and ensuring consistent processes across all business operations.

Carbonite Safe is a cloud backup solution designed to protect business-critical data from loss, corruption, or cyberattacks. For new business owners, data protection is essential as it may be  more prone to attacks in the early stages of the company. 

The service automatically backs up files, documents, emails, and system configurations to secure cloud servers, ensuring business continuity even if hardware fails, ransomware attacks occur, or natural disasters damage physical locations. Unlike manual backup methods that are often forgotten or inconsistently performed, the program also runs continuously in the background to provide real time protection. 

1Password Business is an enterprise-grade password management solution that secures and streamlines access to all business accounts and sensitive information. New business owners may juggle dozens of online accounts across various platforms, from social media and banking to vendor portals and customer management systems. 

This platform eliminates the security risks of weak, reused, or forgotten passwords by generating and storing unique, complex passwords for every account. It also enables secure password sharing among team members, provides audit trails for compliance, and offers secure document storage for sensitive business information like contracts and licenses. This tool allows for controlled access to new employees as the company grows.   

Notion is an all-in-one workspace that combines note-taking, project management, database functionality, and team collaboration into a single, customizable platform. For new business owners wearing multiple hats, Notion can serve as a digital headquarters where every aspect of the business can be organized, tracked, and managed efficiently. 

From creating business plans and maintaining customer databases to managing inventory, tracking expenses, and coordinating team projects, the platform’s flexible structure adapts to several business models or workflows.