The Best Business Management Software to Support Business Growth

When you’re building a business, the right business management software can make or break your momentum. The right tools unlock clarity, boost execution, and keep your team aligned. The wrong ones can drain time, distract teams, and create needless layers of complexity.

The Best Business Management Software

The best business management software solves real problems across key functions: sales, finance, operations, and team collaboration. What matters most is choosing tools that fit your business.

In the following sections, we break down top-rated platforms by function so you can find the best-fit tools for managing customer relationships, running smooth operations, keeping your finances in check, and aligning your team. Whether you're just getting started or scaling fast, these tools help you move forward with clarity and control.

Project Management Software

Ninety

Ninety is a cloud-based business operating system (BOS) designed to help teams focus, align, and thrive. It brings together essential tools — like Vision planning, Org Charts, Scorecards, Rocks, Meetings, and more — into one unified platform built to support real-world execution. Whether you’re running on the Entrepreneurial Operating System® or another framework, Ninety offers customizable workflows that help teams clarify goals, stay accountable, and grow with intention. More than just software, Ninety embeds proven frameworks into everyday operations, helping organizations master the 9 Core Competencies and move confidently through the Stages of Development. It’s ideal for leadership teams ready to stop guessing and start building a great company — on purpose.

Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is a collaboration-centric platform designed for businesses seeking integrated project management, CRM, and communication tools. It centralizes communication with live chat, video calls, and an internal social network, making it easier to connect distributed teams. Its task tracking tools, Gantt charts, and workload management features promote visibility and accountability. Built-in accounting and invoicing simplify financial operations, while its CRM supports lead and deal tracking. Bitrix24 stands out as a unified hub for teams managing multiple users across various departments.

Monday.com

Monday.com enables teams to coordinate projects through highly visual and customizable boards and dashboards. It supports a wide variety of workflows with time-saving automations and templates for teams in sales, HR, marketing, and more. With integrations to tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and Zoom, it brings cross-functional alignment into a central platform. Teams benefit from built-in time tracking, file sharing, and workload views that ensure everyone stays focused on priorities. It’s a go-to solution for companies looking to organize all their projects in one collaborative space.

ClickUp

ClickUp is a versatile platform designed for managing tasks, projects, and team collaboration. It supports a wide range of views including task lists, Gantt charts, mind maps, and calendars. Teams can collaborate in real time with comments, mentions, and file sharing, tracking time directly within the platform. With automation, goal setting, and custom views for different departments, ClickUp adapts well to marketing, development, sales, and HR teams. Its flexible pricing makes it accessible to startups and scaling companies alike.

Trello

Trello offers a simple, visual way to manage tasks using kanban-style boards. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create task cards with due dates, checklists, and labels. Power-ups like calendar views and app integrations expand its capabilities, making it great for solo entrepreneurs and small teams. Trello is lightweight, customizable, and a user-friendly way to manage workflows without unnecessary complexity.

Sales and Customer Relationship Software

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a user-friendly platform that provides robust tools for managing customer relationships and sales pipelines. It includes features like contact and pipeline management, sales automation, email templates, scheduling, and engagement tracking. Businesses can also use its live chat and chatbot builder to streamline lead capture and qualification. The free tier offers unlimited users and core CRM functionality, while advanced users benefit from strong email marketing and analytics tools. It’s a smart fit for companies focused on improving pipeline visibility and customer engagement.

Zoho One

Zoho One is an all-in-one suite that brings together over 45 integrated business applications, covering everything from CRM and HR to finance, help desk, and marketing. It’s built for scalability, making it an ideal solution for businesses with diverse operational needs. With strong project management features, automation tools, and built-in time tracking and reporting, Zoho One helps teams streamline operations. Its customizable dashboards and workflows allow companies to tailor the platform to their structure and strategy, creating a flexible and cohesive work environment.

Accounting and Finance Software

QuickBooks + QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks and QuickBooks Payroll are a powerful duo for managing accounting and payroll needs. Quickbooks features industry-standard double-entry bookkeeping, automated payroll processing, tax filing, and direct deposit. Businesses can forecast cash flow and generate detailed financial reports while leveraging a mobile app for on-the-go finance management. Integrated banking and payment tools simplify cash management, making it a scalable solution for both small businesses and growing companies seeking efficiency and control.

BILL

BILL is a cloud-based platform built to simplify and automate accounts payable and receivable for growing businesses. It streamlines the entire payment workflow — from invoice capture and approval to payments and reconciliation — all in one system. With features like automated bill entry, customizable approval workflows, and built-in ACH and international payments, teams can reduce manual tasks and minimize errors. BILL integrates with major accounting platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, ensuring financial data stays accurate and up to date. It’s especially valuable for finance teams seeking better visibility, faster approvals, and scalable cash flow control.

Wave Accounting

Wave Accounting delivers a free yet professional solution for small business accounting and invoicing. It includes features like receipt scanning, payment tracking, and basic financial reporting — all at no cost. The dashboard is clean and beginner-friendly with no monthly fees, making it especially attractive for freelancers, consultants, and micro-businesses. Wave also integrates with payroll and payment services, providing a complete tool set for financial management on a budget.

How to Select the Best Software to Help Grow Your Business

So how do you choose the best software to support business growth? Let’s walk through a framework to help you decide what matters most and make confident software decisions. By looking at your Stage of Development and immediate and future business needs, you can find the best software to support your team, your vision, and your business growth as a whole.

Start With Your Stage of Development

Every business goes through unavoidable Stages of Development. Where you are in that journey should influence what kind of software you choose, so determine the stage you’re in:

• Stage 1 (Survive): Focus on finding product-market fit. Tools that help with customer insights, lean finance, and early team communication are most useful here.

• Stage 2 (Sustain): Now that your product works, you need help with consistent execution. Prioritize tools that support goal tracking, accountability, and structure.

• Stage 3 (Scale): As your business matures, integration becomes key. Look for platforms that unify your data, teams, and workflows into a single source of truth.
• Stage 4 (Succeed): As your team develops competencies and structure, your business can shift from a founder-led to team-led structure.

• Stage 5 (Steward): Now that a successful structure is in place, the founder is free to completely focus on where the company needs to be in 5–10 years.

As you explore your small business management software options, ask yourself: Is our software helping us operate better at our current stage, or is it holding us back?

Align Your Software Needs With the 9 Core Competencies

No matter what stage your business is in, growth isn’t just about checking off goals or adding tools. It’s about building strength in the right areas — at the right time. That’s where Ninety’s 9 Core Competencies come in. These aren’t generic business skills. They’re the foundational disciplines that every great company develops over time. Mastering them helps teams stay focused, aligned, and resilient — even as complexity grows.

Here’s a quick overview:

1. Vision: Are we clear on who we are, where we’re going, and why it matters?
2. Customer: Do we understand and consistently serve our Ideal Customer?
3. Goals: Are we setting and hitting the right goals at the right altitude (10-year, 1-year, 90-day)?
4. People: Do we have the right people in the right seats, guided by shared values and accountability?
5. Structure: Is our Org Chart clear and built to scale?
6. Data: Are we measuring what matters and using it to drive smart decisions?
7. Meetings: Are our meetings aligned, efficient, and designed to solve real issues?
8. Process: Do we document and follow processes that create consistency and clarity?
9. Exit: Are we building an organization that can thrive with or without the founder?

Most companies aren’t strong in all nine — and that’s okay. Growth comes from focusing on the few that matter most right now. Want to assess your strengths? Use our 9 Core Competencies Brief to identify your opportunities and take the next step with intention.

Outline Major Problems and Possible Solutions

A common trap that small businesses fall into is choosing software based on features, not problems. But real growth comes when you solve for your business’s actual constraints. Instead of asking “What can this tool do?” ask “What is slowing us down right now?” 

Open conversations with different teams to learn what slows them down, what causes friction, and where processes are missed or overlooked. Then match those answers to software designed to fix these unique issues. You’re not just looking to add another dashboard, you’re searching for clarity that can help take your business to the next level. 

Prioritize Ease of Use and Scalability

If software slows your team down, it’s not helping you grow. Period. Look for tools that are intuitive to use, designed for growing teams, and built with a clear operating model so workflows match how real businesses run. You want tools that create clarity, not noise. 

Your business won’t look the same in two years — and your software shouldn’t create friction as you evolve. Before choosing a tool, ask “Will this scale with my team size and complexity?” and “Will it help us build repeatable, teachable processes?” Growth-stage leaders don’t just need software that solves today’s problems. They need systems that help them grow with discipline.

Ready to Level Up Your Business Management Software?

Choosing software isn’t just about solving today’s problems — it’s about building the kind of business that can thrive tomorrow. The best tools don’t just manage tasks. They create clarity, foster accountability, and give your team the structure they need to focus and grow. Whether you’re clarifying your vision, aligning your team, or scaling operations, the right system helps you do it all with intention. That’s what Ninety was built for. Start your free trial today and see how thousands of leadership teams are using Ninety to focus, align, and thrive.