5 business apps every entrepreneur should have

(Editor’s note: Shannon Suetos is a writer who specializes in business security systems. She submitted this story to VentureBeat.)

By now, we’ve all heard the phrase “there’s an app for that”. The problem is: There’s an app for virtually everything. Figuring out what’s truly useful for you can be an incredibly frustrating affair. 

You already know your smartphone can double as a virtual assistant. And if you’re shoestringing a startup or between funding rounds, using it in this capacity can be a great moneysaver. But first, you’ll need the right apps. Here are five that no entrepreneur should be without.

Google Voice – Need to keep your telecom costs down? Google Voice can help. This Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) program, like its slightly better-known competitor Skype, transfers conversations over the Internet instead of phone lines. It won’t eliminate your monthly bill to AT&T, of course, but it will ensure you don’t run over on your minutes.

Among the free app’s other benefits are:

• call forwarding from your personal phone number
• Voicemails can be rendered to text and sent to your email account
• Conference calling abilities
• Call blocking
• Anyone associated with your account can send and receive text messages for free

Scan2PDF Mobile – This is a lifesaver when you need a PDF file in a hurry.  This app allows you to scan a document and convert it to the popular Adobe format.  It’s currently available for iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile users and offers a free trial, but it will cost you $14.99 for the full version.

TextPlus – This app allows you to text up to 100 people at a time from your iPhone or iPad – and it’s completely free.  INC. Magazine recently named it one of the best apps for business.

Evernote – This app seems to make just about any app list these days—but it should.  It’s a good way to keep organized and allows you to take notes and pictures as well. Another potentially useful benefit of this free app is the ability to archive your tweets. For frequent travelers, this is a great way to keep everything organized and in one spot.

SurePayroll Mobile Payroll – Need some help crunching numbers? This app can calculate wages and deductions, manage payroll taxes, issue checks or direct deposit funds to your employees, provide 24/7 online access to files, send alerts, and provide labor law information. It can also be integrated with other payroll programs such as QuickBooks, Peachtree and MYOB.  The cost varies depending on the size of your company and your payroll needs.