Anjiz is the app I’d point most home businesses to — inventory, invoicing, orders, CRM, tasks, and a website builder in one app that runs from your phone. I founded it, so weigh that accordingly. But the honest answer is that the best app depends on what stage your business is at, not what kind of business it is.

The most expensive mistake

Choosing stage-three software while you’re at stage one.

It happens constantly: someone starts a home business, subscribes to full accounting software, spends two weeks setting it up, finds it confusing, abandons it, and goes back to the notebook. The tool wasn’t bad. It was early.

The rule: pick the tool that solves the problem you have now. You’ll move to something else later, and that isn’t a failure.

Signs you’ve outgrown your current setup

• You need to check stock while away from home
• You keep re-typing the same customer’s details
• You know total revenue but not which product actually makes money
• You’ve forgotten an unpaid invoice more than once
• Someone started helping you and can’t see what you see

One of these is enough to move to the next stage.

Common questions

Can I run the whole business from my phone? Yes, with a tool built for it. Most accounting software has a limited mobile companion to its desktop version, which is a different thing entirely.

What’s the cheapest way to start? A spreadsheet, then the free tiers most of these tools offer, including Anjiz.

Should I migrate my data when I switch tools? Move your stock list and customers only. Leave the old financial records where they are — migrating them takes more time than it’s worth.