We know how difficult it can be to manage a small to medium sized business Especially when you’re starting out. every penny counts. our goal at Peopleish is always providing great resources for small businesses. while our area of expertise is human resources, we have tried to provide a variety of resources that can be helpful to your small business. none of the Information provided here should interpreted as legal advice and offerings and Availability of free Resources are subject to change. as most of these resources are not managed directly by Peopleish. please consult a trusted appropriate legal, financial, tax or human resource advisor with questions regarding implementing any of these tools into your unique company. Feel free to CONTACT US if we can be of any assistance.
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Free Employment & Compliance Resources
Free General Business Resources
Our blog, The Peopleish Perspective, offers insights on common HR topics and various perspectives on a variety of scenarios. We also collaborate with a network of expert partners who share our commitment to helping small businesses succeed. These trusted professionals specialize in areas that complement HR, such as legal compliance, payroll, benefits administration, and workplace culture. If you’re looking for additional support beyond our services, we’re happy to connect you with the right experts. Our goal is to ensure you have access to the knowledge and resources needed to manage your business with confidence.
Free Employment and Compliance Resources
The free employment and compliance resources shared by Peopleish include links to official government websites and agencies responsible for managing these programs and regulations. While we provide these links as a helpful reference, legal and regulatory requirements can change frequently. Businesses are encouraged to review the official agency websites directly for the most current and accurate information. Peopleish does not control or manage these external sites and cannot guarantee the ongoing availability, accuracy, or applicability of the resources provided. Consulting legal or compliance professionals is recommended for specific business needs.
free! free! free! Because to every small business, every penny counts!
free! free! free! Because to every small business, every penny counts!
Free General Business Resources
The general small business resources listed by Peopleish are provided as a helpful starting point based on recommendations from clients, industry experts, and small business owners. While we strive to keep this list relevant and up-to-date, tools and services may change over time. Businesses should review each resource carefully to ensure it aligns with their current needs, industry standards, and operational goals. Peopleish does not manage, endorse, or guarantee the effectiveness of these resources and encourages businesses to perform their own due diligence before use.
Free Technology Resources
The free technology resources listed by Peopleish are not developed, controlled, or managed by Peopleish. These tools are shared based on recommendations from clients and small businesses as potentially helpful solutions. Businesses should independently evaluate each resource to ensure it meets their unique security, data protection, and compliance requirements. Peopleish does not guarantee the suitability, reliability, or performance of these tools and encourages businesses to conduct thorough research before implementation.
Free HRIS Systems for Small Businesses
An HRIS (Human Resource Information System) is a digital tool that helps businesses manage employee data, streamline HR tasks, and maintain essential records—all in one central platform. From tracking time off and payroll to organizing employee files and managing compliance, an HRIS can save small businesses countless administrative hours while reducing errors. Choosing the right HRIS early can set the stage for smoother operations as your business grows.
When selecting a free HRIS system, consider how long your business plans to stay on the free plan. If rapid growth is on the horizon, investing time in setting up a scalable platform now can prevent the headache of switching systems later. Look for features like data export options, integration capabilities, and upgrade paths that align with your long-term goals. A thoughtfully chosen HRIS can evolve with your business while keeping essential HR processes organized, efficient, and compliant.
Deel
Deel offers a free HRIS platform (Deel HR) that includes features like employee onboarding, document management, and time-off tracking. It's particularly beneficial for companies with global teams, as it integrates seamlessly with Deel's global payroll services
Homebase
Ideal for small businesses, Homebase provides free tools for scheduling, time tracking, and hiring. The free plan supports unlimited employees but is limited to a single location.
Zoho People
Zoho People's free version supports up to five users and offers features such as employee database management, time and attendance tracking, and leave management. It's suitable for small teams seeking basic HR functionalities.
OrangeHRM
An open-source HRIS solution, OrangeHRM provides modules for personnel information management, leave management, and time and attendance tracking. It's a flexible option for organizations that prefer self-hosted solutions.
Bitrix24
Bitrix24 offers a free plan with unlimited users, featuring tools for HR management, document sharing, and communication. It's designed to enhance collaboration within organizations.
Sentrifugo
Sentrifugo is a free and open-source HR software that provides modules for performance appraisal, employee self-service, and analytics. It's highly customizable, making it suitable for organizations that require tailored HR solutions.
WebHR
WebHR offers a free plan for organizations with up to five employees, including features like time and attendance tracking, payroll integration, and employee self-service portals. It's designed to facilitate HR processes for small businesses.
Odoo
Odoo’s free Community Edition includes essential HR features like employee records management, leave tracking, and recruitment tools. It’s modular, meaning businesses can add features as they grow. Suitable for small to mid-sized companies looking for an integrated business management platform.
FREE ATS for Small Businesses
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a digital tool that helps businesses manage their hiring process, from posting job openings and tracking applicants to scheduling interviews and storing candidate information. Using an ATS can streamline recruitment efforts, reduce administrative workload, and ensure a more organized hiring process—all while helping businesses find the best talent quickly and efficiently.
When choosing a free ATS, think about your business’s current and future hiring needs. If you expect steady growth, consider an ATS with scalable features and affordable upgrade options to avoid switching platforms later. Look for tools that offer integrations with job boards, resume parsing, and custom workflows that fit your hiring strategy. A well-chosen ATS can make recruiting faster, easier, and more effective, helping your business build a strong team from day one.
Zoho Recruit
Zoho Recruit offers a free plan for one user, including job posting management, candidate sourcing, resume parsing, and basic applicant tracking. It’s ideal for small businesses hiring occasionally.
Odoo Recruitment
Odoo’s free recruitment module includes job posting, applicant tracking, resume parsing, and custom hiring stages. It’s part of Odoo’s suite of business management tools.
OpenCATS
OpenCATS is a free, open-source ATS designed for recruiters. It offers resume parsing, job posting management, and a customizable hiring process for tech-savvy businesses.
Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent)
Wellfound offers a free platform for startups to post jobs, manage applicants, and source talent directly from its startup-focused job board. It’s designed for small businesses and tech startups looking to build early teams.
Free CRM Systems for Small Businesses
A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is a tool that helps businesses manage customer interactions, track sales leads, and organize important client data. By keeping all customer information in one central platform, a CRM system can improve customer service, boost sales efficiency, and help businesses make data-driven decisions. For small businesses, a free CRM can provide a solid foundation for managing client relationships without breaking the budget.
When selecting a free CRM, consider how long you plan to stay on the free plan and how scalable the platform is. If rapid growth is expected, choose a CRM that offers affordable upgrades and integrates with other tools your business might adopt in the future. Look for features like contact management, sales pipeline tracking, and marketing automation to streamline your customer engagement efforts. Investing time in the right CRM now can save you from the hassle of migrating data later while supporting your business’s long-term success.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM offers a free plan with unlimited users and up to 1 million contacts. Features include contact management, deal tracking, email marketing, and reporting dashboards, making it ideal for growing businesses looking for a comprehensive CRM.
Zoho CRM Free Edition
Zoho CRM’s free plan supports up to three users and includes features like lead management, contact organization, and task automation. It’s designed for small teams managing customer interactions and sales pipelines.
Bitrix24
Bitrix24 provides a free CRM with unlimited users, covering contact management, project collaboration, and sales automation. It also includes marketing tools and integration with email and phone systems.
Freshsales (Free Plan)
Freshsales offers a free plan with built-in email tracking, contact management, and basic reporting. It supports unlimited contacts and is ideal for small teams focused on sales and lead nurturing.
Agile CRM Free Plan
Agile CRM’s free plan supports up to 10 users and includes sales tracking, marketing automation, and customer service management. It’s perfect for small businesses looking for an all-in-one CRM.
Spotler CRM
Spotler offers a free plan for up to two users with essential features like contact management, sales automation, and reporting. It’s best suited for small businesses just starting with CRM tools.
Capsule CRM Free Plan
Capsule CRM’s free plan supports up to two users and 250 contacts. It includes contact management, sales pipeline tracking, and task management, making it ideal for freelancers and very small teams.
eWay-CRM Free Plan
eWay-CRM offers a free CRM as an Outlook add-on, allowing businesses to manage customer relationships directly from their email. It includes contact management, deal tracking, and task management.
Flowlu Free Plan
Flowlu’s free CRM plan supports up to two users and includes project management, sales pipeline tracking, and task management. It’s suitable for small teams needing both CRM and project management features.
Free Accounting software
Managing finances is one of the most critical aspects of running a business, and the right accounting software can make the process much easier. Free accounting tools help businesses track expenses, manage invoices, generate reports, and stay on top of tax compliance—all without upfront costs. These solutions can save time, reduce human error, and simplify bookkeeping tasks, allowing business owners to focus on growth.
While free accounting software is a great starting point, we highly recommend partnering early on with a reputable bookkeeping firm or CPA to ensure your financial records remain accurate and compliant as your business grows. Peopleish is happy to recommend one of our trusted partner firms to support your financial management needs. Choosing the right system now—one with scalable features and paid upgrade options—can prevent the hassle of switching platforms later while keeping your business organized and prepared for future success.
Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting provides a free plan ideal for small businesses, offering features like invoicing, expense tracking, and basic accounting reports. Its user-friendly platform helps entrepreneurs manage their finances, connect bank accounts, and generate essential financial statements—all at no cost.
Zoho Books
Zoho Books offers a free plan for businesses with revenue under $50K/year. Features include invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting.
Akaunting
An open-source accounting software that offers free invoicing, expense tracking, and client management. It's self-hosted, making it ideal for tech-savvy business owners.
GnuCash
GnuCash is free, open-source accounting software suitable for small businesses, offering double-entry bookkeeping, invoicing, and financial statement generation.
Manager.io
Manager.io is free desktop accounting software that supports essential functions like invoicing, payroll, and inventory tracking
HR Resources
Homebase offers a free plan that includes time tracking, scheduling, and team communication features. It's particularly beneficial for businesses with hourly employees, providing tools to manage timesheets, shift planning, and labor cost reporting. The free plan supports unlimited employees at a single location.
The Peopleish HR Glossary of Terms
We know that there can be a lot of common terms and acronyms used in Human Resources. We built a tool to help!
HR comes with its fair share of surprises, challenges, and the occasional need for a well-timed soundtrack. Whether you're handling workplace chaos or just trying to make it through another meeting that should've been an email, this playlist has you covered.
HR is full of problem-solving, but here’s a puzzle you might actually enjoy. Test your HR knowledge (or just take a break from your inbox) with this crossword—because sometimes, the only thing harder than handling workplace drama is finding a five-letter word for ‘compliance.’
operational & leadership resources
This assessment, based on the Trust Equation developed by Trusted Advisor Associates, helps you evaluate key trust-building qualities. You'll need to provide your email and some demographic details to access the assessment. Once completed, your results are displayed instantly in your browser, highlighting your strengths and areas for growth. You'll also receive actionable steps to enhance trust in your professional relationships, along with links to additional resources. If you're interested in a more in-depth analysis, a full report is available for purchase.
The "Assess It, Work It" guide from USC Dornsife helps with career self-assessment and planning. The key highlight is the set of practical PDFs at the end, including worksheets for identifying strengths, interests, values, and career options. These resources provide structured tools to help individuals reflect on their skills and make informed career decisions.
Icebreaker Questions by Range.co
Looking for an easy way to spark conversation in team meetings? Range.co offers 300+ thoughtfully curated icebreaker questions tailored for different team dynamics, including new teams, close-knit groups, and deeper discussions. Whether you’re building rapport or strengthening existing connections, these prompts help create a more engaging and open team environment.
The Leadership Compass is a tool designed to help individuals and teams understand different leadership styles, improve collaboration, and enhance self-awareness. It categorizes leadership tendencies into four primary directional types—North, South, East, and West—each representing a distinct approach to decision-making, communication, and problem-solving.
MindMeister is an intuitive online mind-mapping tool that helps you brainstorm, organize ideas, and collaborate visually in real time. Perfect for strategic planning, project management, and creative thinking, it offers a free forever plan with easy-to-use features for individuals and teams. Whether mapping out workflows or capturing big ideas, MindMeister keeps your thoughts structured and accessible anywhere.
IHHP Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Quiz
This quick, free EQ quiz from the Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP) helps you assess your emotional intelligence and understand how you handle pressure, communication, and decision-making. Get instant feedback on your EQ strengths and areas for growth, along with insights to improve your leadership and interpersonal skills.
ClickUp is a powerful, all-in-one project management tool designed to streamline operations, improve collaboration, and boost productivity. With a free forever plan, it offers task tracking, goal setting, document management, and automation features—perfect for leadership and operations teams looking for a flexible, scalable solution to manage projects, workflows, and communication in one place.
Harvard Implicit Association Test (IAT)
Developed by Harvard researchers, the Implicit Association Test (IAT) helps uncover unconscious biases in areas like race, gender, disability, and more. This free online tool provides insight into implicit preferences and attitudes, offering a valuable starting point for self-awareness and personal growth.
This free SWOT Analysis Worksheet from SCORE helps businesses identify their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Designed for strategic planning, it’s a simple yet effective tool for assessing your business’s position and making informed decisions for growth. Perfect for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and leadership teams looking to refine their strategy.
Rockefeller Habits Checklist – Scaling Up
The Rockefeller Habits Checklist is a powerful tool for business leaders looking to improve execution, alignment, and growth. Developed as part of Scaling Up, this checklist helps companies assess their strengths and gaps in areas like strategic planning, team communication, and accountability. By consistently applying these habits, businesses can build a strong operational foundation for sustainable scaling. You can also explore more Scaling Up resources like the One-Page Strategic Plan and Scaling Up Growth Tools to refine your business strategy.
Niagara Institute Team Alignment Worksheet
This interactive worksheet is a practical tool for strengthening team alignment by fostering open discussions on key areas like goals, strengths, values, milestones, and challenges. Designed for collaboration, it helps teams identify barriers, improve connectivity, and create a shared vision for success. With its editable format, it’s easy to tailor to your team’s unique needs, making it a valuable resource for leaders looking to enhance cohesion and focus.
free! free! free! Because to every small business, every penny counts!
free! free! free! Because to every small business, every penny counts!
“Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.”
Coco Chanel
