12 tools and resources that prove there’s never been a better time to start your own business

Selina Ife is living her dream working for a tech company in Melbourne, Australia. In recent years, she has focused on optimizing communication within teams spanning multiple timezones. She loves meeting and talking with interesting people, and is happily in a career where that can be put to good use.

This coming year, make starting a business one New Year’s resolution you can keep.

Top-notch advice and high quality assets are important for any business, but employing specialists, designers, and developers can be costly. Fortunately, more apps, tools, and resources are being built specifically to help budding entrepreneurs overcome roadblocks. These are higher quality than ever and cover a wide variety of businesses.

Here are 12 fantastic tools and resources that could be what you need to make your latest great business idea a reality.

Freelance designers and developers

Envato Studio, Freelancer, and Elance-oDesk comprise various communities of talented freelancers who provide a host of services. Working with a freelancer online can pose communication challenges but will ultimately deliver quality goods at a fraction of the cost of hiring a designer directly.

DIY graphic design

Canva is an Australia-based start-up that aims to put design into the hands of everyday people. It’s easy to use and affordable. However, those without an eye for aesthetics might have better results going with a hired professional.

Marketing and social media

Social Media Examiner offers tips and explanations for business owners and marketers looking to get the most out of social media. Not all of the advice will be relevant for all businesses, but it’s a good resource for those looking to keep up to date on trends.

Social media management

Apps like Buffer allow users to schedule social media posts around the clock, which is particularly useful if your business has customers or community members across time zones. This is great to maintain visibility, but unless your social media team works 24/7, some of your responses may be delayed until you wake up.

Email marketing