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The 11 best websites for small business owners

If you’re a small business owner looking for the best websites to help you start or manage your business, check out our list of the top 11 sites.
By Caitlin McCormack  on 
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Our Top 11 Picks

Bplans (opens in a new tab)

Best For Those Just Starting Out

Bplans has plenty of sample business plans, including templates, to help you get started in business.

The Good

  • No cost
  • Hundreds of templates
  • Educational guides

The Bad

  • Overwhelming amount of information

The Bottom Line

For practical advice about starting and running a business, including plans and templates, Bplans has you covered.
Pros & Cons

Squarespace (opens in a new tab)

Best For Building And Hosting A Website

Squarespace offers an all-in-one solution for those wanting to create a customizable website or online store.

The Good

  • Free unlimited hosting
  • Integrated security features
  • Flexible templates

The Bad

  • No phone support

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for a customizable website or online store, Squarespace has plenty of options.
Pros & Cons

HubSpot (opens in a new tab)

Best For Customer Relationship Management

HubSpot offers a sales, marketing, and service hub all in one spot so you can keep track of important customer information and interactions.

The Good

  • Free version
  • Contact management and website activity
  • Integrates with Gmail and Outlook

The Bad

  • It can get expensive quickly, depending on features

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a free CRM tool to keep track of your business contacts, HubSpot is a great choice.
Pros & Cons

Shopify (opens in a new tab)

Best For eCommerce Businesses

Shopify lets small business owners quickly and easily set up an eCommerce business.

The Good

  • Free 14-day trial
  • Business encyclopedia
  • 24/7 customer support

The Bad

  • Ongoing monthly cost

The Bottom Line

If you’re planning on starting an eCommerce business, Shopify is a great website to start with.
Pros & Cons

QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)

Best For Accounting And Financial Knowledge

QuickBooks lets you easily create invoices, track your cash flow, accept payments, and more.

The Good

  • Easy to track cash flow
  • Invoice integration and creation
  • Compatible with many other apps

The Bad

  • No e-Commerce or barcode scanning

The Bottom Line

QuickBooks offers an easy to use accounting solution geared specifically towards SMBs, and offers unlimited support.
Pros & Cons

Entrepreneur (opens in a new tab)

Best For Deep Business Knowledge

Entrepreneur’s website offers a great deal of articles and practical information for setting up a business and making it prosper.

The Good

  • Many resources are free
  • Lots of actionable advice
  • More than 30 years experience

The Bad

  • Some information may be out of date

The Bottom Line

If you want to know what it take to be a successful entrepreneur, this website has a deep well of information.
Pros & Cons

LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Best For Business Networking

LinkedIn is a great tool for small business owners who want to network with others in their industry.

The Good

  • Free version
  • Easy to search
  • Post jobs and find leads

The Bad

  • Limited tools and insights on the free version

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to network in your industry, LinkedIn is an excellent tool.
Pros & Cons

NFIB (opens in a new tab)

Best For Those Who Want To Join A Collective

NFIB organizates and advocates for small and independent business owners nationwide.

The Good

  • Advocacy work
  • Focused solely on small business
  • Timely webinars and conference calls

The Bad

  • Cost of minimum dues

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to join an organization advocating for small and independent business owners nationwide, NFIB is it.
Pros & Cons

Canva (opens in a new tab)

Best For Designing Professional Graphics And Images

Canva is a free online graphic design tool that allows users to create engaging visual content without hiring a professional graphic designer.

The Good

  • Free option
  • Thousands of templates
  • Free courses and tutorials

The Bad

  • Export settings are limited

The Bottom Line

If you want your brand to look professional, Canva makes it easy with thousands of free templates to choose from.
Pros & Cons

LegalZoom (opens in a new tab)

Best For Preparing Legal Documents

LegalZoom lets you create legal documents without having to hire a lawyer.

The Good

  • No hourly charges, documents based on a flat fee
  • Information resources
  • Easy to use online platform

The Bad

  • Slow turnaround time

The Bottom Line

Whether you need to form a company, apply for licenses and permits, or get a tax ID, LegalZoom sets your business up for success, without the hefty legal fees.
Pros & Cons

Business Owners Idea Cafe (opens in a new tab)

Best For Peer Advice And Support

Business Owners Idea Cafe lets small business owners share ideas, opinions, and look for guidance.

The Good

  • Completely free
  • Information on funding sources
  • Access to sample business plans

The Bad

  • Website is very low-tech

The Bottom Line

If you want to share ideas, opinions, and look for guidance from like-minded entrepreneurs, Business Owners Idea Cafe is the forum for you.
Pros & Cons

Starting a business isn’t easy, which is why it’s important to educate yourself before diving into the world of entrepreneurship. And it appears that more and more of us are making the plunge from the 9-5 to going into business for ourselves

According to Google’s Year in Search 2021(opens in a new tab), last year, more people searched for "how to start a business" than "how to find a job." During the Covid-19 pandemic, business applications in the U.S. surged. While new business formation numbers appear to be leveling off recently, numbers overall remain consistently higher than in the years before, according to Census Bureau data(opens in a new tab)

Small business owners need to execute a variety of tasks, from project management to accounting. Whether you’re unsure of where to begin, are looking for information to help you scale and grow, or want access to online tools to help you more efficiently manage your business, there are plenty of resources out there for businesses of all kinds. But not all of them are created equal. We've broken them down by category, so you can get right to what you need.

Online tools will be your new best friend

One of the most popular types of websites for small business owners are for tools. These are things such as accounting software, website building, etc. These websites are useful at filling the practical aspects of starting and running a business. While many require a paid subscription in order to access full features, there are often free options that let you try the product before you buy, or offer basic functionality. Many of these tools have information centers that describe not only how to use the product, but also how to tackle certain areas of business ownership. 

The internet can be your biggest teacher

Another common type of website for small business owners is the informational website, usually best thought of as an educational resource. These websites are vast repositories of information about nearly any aspect of starting and running a small business. That said, they frequently center around one particular topic, although generalist websites are also common. A lot of these websites are 100% free, making them appealing to those working with a limited budget. Because of this, however, they can sometimes be difficult to navigate. The same goes for websites with a deep well of content – it can be easy to get distracted or become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. Take things one step at a time, and stay focused on whatever it is you’re working on in order to be successful. 

Invest in building your community

Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely road, especially if you’re going down the solopreneur path. Having access to a community of other small business owners can provide you with the opportunity to discuss challenges and successes with those who get it. It also provides business connections that you might not otherwise have. This type of community can be a source of support, inspiration, and practical business connections that is invaluable for small business owners. 

With the above information in mind, if you’re one of those people who has a business idea they want to run with, and are looking for the best websites to glean insights from to start your business, check out our list below. 

Best For Those Just Starting Out
Credit: Bplans
Specs
  • Free templates and guides take you through all aspects of starting and running a business
  • Tips from business planning expert Tim Berry
  • Access to pitch deck examples for various industries
  • Price: Free

Once you’ve settled on an idea for your business, you’re going to want to flesh out a business plan to help keep you focused. A good business plan will help you chart your progress, and remind you of why you started your business in the first place when times are tough. Bplans has sample business plans, including templates, to help you get started. The website also includes access to plenty of practical advice about starting and running a business written by entrepreneurial guru Tim Berry.

Best For Building And Hosting A Website
Credit: Squarespace
Specs
  • Integration for e-commerce and appointment scheduling
  • Access to Experts who can help at any stage of development
  • Free custom domain with unlimited bandwidth
  • Personal plan: $19 per month
  • Business plan: $33 per month
  • Commerce plan: $36 per month
  • Advanced Commerce plan: $65 per month

If you want to get the word out about your new business, you’re going to need a snappy website. A website builder site like Squarespace makes it easy to get started with a DIY solution, or, you can hire one of their experts who’ll handle the nitty gritty for you. When you create a website with Squarespace, you get free unlimited hosting, security, and 24/7 support, along with access to their extensive library of resources to help you be successful. If you're building your site yourself, check out our roundups of the best Squarespace templates overall and for mobile sites.

Best For Customer Relationship Management
Credit: HubSpot
Specs
  • Knowledge bank via HubSpot blogs and Academy
  • Plenty of free tools to help organize your data
  • Connect your favorite apps to HubSpot
  • Free plan: Free
  • Starter plan: $45 per month
  • Professional plan: $800 per month
  • Enterprise plan: $3,200 per month

If you aren’t familiar with a CRM, or customer relationship management tool, you’ll soon become very familiar after you decide to start a business. A CRM like HubSpot offers a sales, marketing, and service hub all in one spot so you can keep track of important customer information and interactions. There are both free and paid versions of the software available, both of which include access to award-winning customer support. You can also learn more about the tool and business in general on the HubSpot blogs and Academy.

Best For eCommerce Businesses
Credit: Shopify
Specs
  • Free resources on branding and store setup
  • Access to business courses and guides
  • Customer segmentation and marketing automation
  • Basic plan: $29 per month
  • Shopify plan: $79 per month
  • Advanced plan: $299 per month

Shopify lets you sell, ship, and process payments all in one place, and can have you up and running in a day. There’s a 14-day free trial if you want to try before you buy, with monthly plans starting at $29/month. The website also offers plenty of resources dedicated to branding, store setup, and creating an online presence that are helpful for those looking to start their own business. Their learning section contains access to business courses and guides, as well as a business encyclopedia.

Best For Accounting And Financial Knowledge
Credit: QuickBooks
Specs
  • Desktop and mobile apps
  • Free unlimited support
  • Capture and organize receipts
  • Easy Start plan: $22 per month
  • Essentials plan: $44 per month
  • Plus plan: $66 per month
  • Advanced plan: $140 per month

If you’re looking for a website to track income and expenses, accept credit cards and ACH, and learn about growing your business, Quickbooks is it. They offer plans for business of all sizes, for those who are starting out and plan to DIY, to those who need the most comprehensive tools. You can even access a live bookkeeper (for a fee) to help set your books straight at any time. In addition, there’s a resource section and tutorials to help you get the most out of the software, as well as launch and grow your business.

Best For Deep Business Knowledge
Credit: Entrepreneur
Specs
  • Companion magazine available
  • Access to free webinars
  • Business book recommendations
  • Monthly subscription: $5 per month
  • Annual subscription: $49 per year

Entrepreneur has been writing about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur for more than 30 years. While the magazine itself focuses on inspiring entrepreneurs, the website offers a great deal of articles and practical information for setting up a business and making it prosper.

Best For Business Networking
Credit: LinkedIn
Specs
  • Comprehensive learning platform 
  • Free 1-month trial of premium membership
  • Specialized LinkedIn Business Services
  • Career Premium plan: $29.99 per month
  • Business Premium plan: $47.99 per month
  • Sales Premium plan: $64.99 per month
  • Hiring Premium plan: $99.95 per month

You may have used LinkedIn in your corporate work life, but it’s also a great tool for when you’re looking to start your own business. Aside from networking with those in your industry, LinkedIn offers a comprehensive learning platform through its LinkedIn Learning section. There are courses on every aspect of business from creating a content strategy, to SEO foundations, and Wordpress essentials.

Best For Those Who Want To Join A Collective
Specs
  • Access to reports and guides on what’s trending in government
  • Legal experts available by phone or email
  • Stay compliant with changing workplace requirements
  • Minimum dues: $195 per year

The NFIB is the National Federation of Independent Business, and advocates in every state and in Washington, D.C. to give members a voice in public policy debates on the local, state, and national level. They also hold events where small business owners have access to bipartisan legislative panels to share their story, hear from lawmakers, and ask questions. Their featured articles provide updates on important topics small business owners need to know about, and their legal center assists small businesses confronting legal issues by helping them create a road map to resolving them. Minimum dues are $195 for the year.

Best For Designing Professional Graphics And Images
Credit: Canva
Specs
  • Social media publishing integration
  • Hundreds of thousands of free photos
  • Easily save and apply custom brand colors
  • Free plan: Free
  • Pro plan for 1-5 people: $12.99 per month
  • Pro plan for 10 people: $47.99 per month
  • Pro plan for 25 people: $152.99 per month
  • Pro plan for 50 people: $327.99 per month
  • Enterprise plan under 25 people: $30 per month
  • Enterprise plan for 25 people: $750 per month
  • Enterprise plan for 50 people: $1,500 per month

Canva is a free website that lets you create visually engaging social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos, and more. There are thousands of professional templates, images, and other content to choose from – ideal for a budding business with a tight marketing budget. There’s even a free version which is great for those just starting their business. The learning section offers a lot of actionable advice on personal branding, social media mastery, and graphic design mastery. Learn how to use it with our in-depth guide to Canva.

Best For Preparing Legal Documents
Credit: LegalZoom
Specs
  • Money-back guarantee
  • Legally recognized in all 50 states
  • Extensive service offerings
  • Plans: Customizable to your business

Protect your new business by putting contracts in place with a website like LegalZoom. Not only does the website allow you to create legal documents without having to hire a lawyer, it also keeps all your startup documentation stored nice and neatly. You can create documents such as business formation documents, copyright registrations, trademark applications, and more. Documents are priced according to a flat fee depending on complexity, plus any filing fees. Their resource section has lots of info about the business of launching a business, such as starting your LLC, registering a trademark, and what you need to know about hiring independent contractors.

Best For Peer Advice And Support
Credit: Business Owners Idea Cafe
Specs
  • Various small business forums
  • Advice from experts
  • List your small business
  • Payment plan: Free

Business Owners Idea Cafe provides a forum for small business owners to share their ideas, opinions, and look for guidance from like-minded entrepreneurs in an informal, humorous atmosphere. There’s a bunch of info about how to run your business, as well as information on grants, sample business plans, and business financing advice. Membership is free.

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