If there’s one universal truth in the business world, it’s that start-ups need all the help they can get. The first few months of a company’s life are critical, and it never seems like there are enough resources to accomplish everything that needs to be done.

Fortunately, apps have opened the door a little bit more and given start-up companies some breathing room. With any of these apps, a company smartphone or laptop can be transformed into something even more valuable than it already is. Here are some of the best apps for a start-up.

Square Card Reader

For companies that don’t conduct business solely over the Internet, Square Card Reader is a terrific app and hardware combination. All a company has to do in order to begin using Square is download the app to an iPhone, Android smartphone or tablet. Square will then issue a free card reader with no annual fees, allowing new companies to begin taking credit and debit card payments. A percentage of revenues are taken off the top by Square, but having this kind of versatility is well worth it to most new organizations.

Google Drive and Docs

Being able to access documents and files from anywhere is a functionality that used to be restricted to big businesses with large IT staffs. With Google Drive and Google Docs, accessible from any computer or smartphone, start-ups can now have that same luxury. Google Drive functions as a cloud storage solution, while Google Docs serves as collaborative software so that anyone within the organization can make changes to documents, presentations or spread sheets.

Timewerks: Mobile Billing

One of the biggest obstacles for new companies to overcome is properly billing clients. Manually keeping track of hours and expenses can lead to errors and looks unprofessional. With Timewerks: Mobile Billing, companies have access to a professional-grade piece of software that tracks hours. The app can be used to generate and send invoices in a PDF format as well, taking the hassle out of billing individual clients.

Splashtop Remote Desktop

This is by far one of the most fantastic apps on this list. Even though smartphones and tablets have started to perform many of the same functions as computers do, the fact is that they don’t do everything. At some point computer access will be necessary, but it might not always be possible. With Splashtop Remote Desktop, anyone who’s running their own start-up can access their laptop or desktop directly from their phone. Splashtop provides a quick and easy-to-use interface that’s as close as anyone will get to putting Windows 7 or OS X on a phone.

There is no denying that launching a new company is difficult. What these apps intend to do is ease some of that difficulty. By improving efficiency and working to streamline tasks that used to required dedicated equipment, these apps can help a start-up out considerably. Maximization of resources is critical, and these apps accomplish just that.

Image Courtesy: wired.com