Editor's note: This article first appeared at NerdWallet.com.
Don't be deceived by the name: owning a small business is a massive undertaking. Fortunately, there are numerous apps that can make your life a lot easier.
In order to help you navigate the seemingly endless sea of apps out there, we've compiled a list of the best ones.
These 20 apps should help you stay organized and on-top of your many duties as a small business owner.
Communication
Addappt: Addappt lets your business associates (and friends and family, of course) update their contact information in your address book. The app's developers say that their product lets your social network "maintain itself." So say, for example, that your supplier also uses Addappt and just got a new cell phone number — they'd be able to make that update in your address book. You can also organize contacts into different groups and send messages via Addappt, which is free for both iOS and Android users.
Fuze: If you're looking for a new video conferencing app, consider getting Fuze. This app hosts online meetings for all devices and operating systems, including new versions added for iPads and tablets like the Samsung Galaxy. This app offers high definition video and crisp audio, and is easy to set up. You can do a free trial before purchasing Fuze for your small business.
Mailbox: Mailbox is an award-winning app that aims to help you "put email in its place." Mailbox makes it easy to mark mail as read, organize it into lists, and delay reading emails to a later date. Dropbox purchased Mailbox in 2013, which led to a wave of expansion: Mailbox now supports Gmail, Yahoo, me.com, and mac.com email accounts. This app is free, and works on both iPhones and Androids.
Pushover: Pushover is a game-changing app for those of us with more than one phone. This app will organize all your messages from all your devices in one common space. The system sends push messages to any smartphone, and places messages in one unified inbox. The app lets you send 7,500 messages each month, making it ideal for the most connected small business owner. The app costs $4.99, and works for Androids, iPhones and all desktops.
Skype: Although several competitors have made valiant efforts to knock Skype off its video conferencing throne, this app remains incredibly effective, not to mention popular. Whether speaking with telecommuting colleagues or overseas business partners, Skype is a great tool to help everyone feel connected to your company. The basic version of Skype is free. Better yet, Skype just recently decided to make group video calls free for everyone. International calls might carry a fee depending on where you live, so check out the prices for those. This app works on all devices and operating systems.
Time management
Clear: Clear is a slick, gesture-based task management app for iOS and Mac devices. Clear prides itself on its ease-of-use, and for good reason: Items can be adjusted easily by pulling down a task, pinching a task, and finally swiping it off the screen once it is completed. You can create multiple lists and schedules with Clear, which can be synced between your Mac desktop, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Clear costs $4.99 for iPhones and $9.99 for desktops. Android users can check out Koalcat for a similar app.
Couple: Even if you haven't quite reached Jay Z and Beyoncé's level of power coupledom, Couple can help you maintain a healthy relationship in spite of your and your partner's hectic schedules. Couple lets you save pictures, notes, and even inside jokes as "Moments," which you can look back at during your down time. You can also schedule dates or important events (e.g. Valentine's Day) on Couple, which will send you a reminder so you won't forget to grab a card and some chocolate. This free app works on all devices and operating systems.
Mynd: As a small business owner, you may find yourself running from one meeting or event to the next. Mynd makes sure you are — surprise, surprise — never late. The app tracks the time and location of all your meetings and events, plus it recommends a time for when you need to leave your office depending on the current traffic situation. You can even sync your Mynd account with your LinkedIn account, allowing you to keep track of relevant contacts attending the same meeting or event as you. The app works on iPhones and Androids and is free.
OmniFocus: OmniFocus is another excellent task management and scheduling app for iPhones and desktops. The app shows users what's due when, reviews completed tasks, and syncs between your phone and desktop. It's on the pricey side though, so make sure to test it out before purchasing it. The iPhone version costs $19.99, and the Mac desktop application costs $39.99. AndroidFocus is an OmniFocus client app for Android users.
