Best Apps For Traveling Entrepreneurs

How did entrepreneurs survive before cell phones, laptops and iPads? We are so fortunate to exist in a time when we can still run our businesses effectively even when we are away from the office. Need to access your files, manage your travel plans, or process payments while sitting in an airport? Well luckily… there’s an app for that! Every day, new apps are created with you and your specific need in mind. Before you embark on your next business trip, stop to see which mobile apps can make your busy life easier to manage.

What are the best apps for traveling entrepreneurs? Glad you asked! Here are a few that really stand out…

HotelTonight - is a free iPhone app for same-day hotel deals at great hotels. Whether flights get canceled, meetings run late or the boss asks you to stay longer, entrepreneurs especially need an easy, mobile resource to book hotels at the last minute and not get stuck with no options. And, they can book hotels until 2 a.m., hours after the big booking sites close for the night. -Julia Stemerman

TripIt - the best way to stay up to date on your travel plans.  Just forward your confirmation emails and they show up in the app.  You can also see other people in your network that are in the city which facilitates the impromptu meetings that are so important for entrepreneurs trying to get their businesses going. -Garrett Dodge

LinkedIn’s mobile app - this app enables professionals to have their LinkedIn network with them wherever they go - a useful tool for getting some business intel on people you may be meeting with, or a quick way to connect with folks you recently met (at a conference or other event). -Lainie DeCoursy

TeamViewer is a free app that you can install onto your iPhone, iPad or Android device that allows you to access and control remote computers to get files or collaborate. This is perfect for the entrepreneur that is constantly on the go. You would no longer have to worry about forgetting important documents for a presentation on your home desktop. You could simply use your iPhone to access those files as if you were sitting right in front of your computer. -Magdalena Brzakala

Banjo - is a brand new smart phone app that aggregates all your Tweets, Facebook Posts, Foursquare check-ins, Instagram Pics, etc. telling you where your friends are located near you. Stuck at LAX for a layover? Experiencing a delayed flight? See what friends or business associates might be near you so you can knock out some more networking and meetings during the hold up! Don’t miss a possible crucial connection ever again. -Kinsey Schofield

SkyGrid - is a great content curation app that saves you time by allowing you to stay on top of the news and topics that are important to you. You can curate only the content you want to see, or follow the sources you want to see (e.g. New York Times, CNN etc.). You can create a query for a topic you want to follow (e.g. Google and privacy) and SkyGrid will gather the sources for you. It’s more user friendly than Google Reader, and it integrates with all your social media outlets so you share your content too. -Toby Danylchuk

Gist - is like a personal CRM system that connect with all your social media accounts.  With Gist you can see the latest posts and news on companies and people before you walk into that important meeting.  It is a must have for entrepreneurs running any type of business but especially those working with tech or social media. -Garrett Dodge

Localmind - allows you to ask questions of users checked-in at any location, thus giving you the ability to know whats happening at this very moment at any place you care about. Find out how crowded the bar is, what specials at the restaurant are, or whether the coffee shops wifi is up. Mobile real-time omniscience at your fingertips. 
-Lenny Rachitsky

My Receipt Manager - is the Smartphone and Smart device app that provides you a quick and easy way to manage your expenses, by storing digital/watermarked copies of your receipts, invoices, purchase orders, contracts, and/or other accounting related documents. With this handy app, you are able to categorize your stored images and extrapolate time driven reports, sorted by category or organized for purposes of regular submission to an accountant, bookkeeper, tax preparer, or company supervisors. -Theresa Masnik

Intuit Online Payroll Mobile - is an iPhone application that enables accounting professionals and small businesses to efficiently pay their employees or their clients’ employees anytime, anywhere. With just a few taps, IOP Mobile app users can enter employee hours and instantly pay their employees. -Nora Denzel

What other mobile apps are traveling entrepreneurs raving about? That’s another good question! Here’s what entrepreneurs shared with us…

Mint.com - and my mobile banking app allow me to keep track of my personal and business finances in just seconds. I don’t have to spend minutes on the phone waiting to be connected to a representative. I don’t have to wait until I find myself sitting in front of a computer. It’s with me, whenever and wherever I find the time. -Brandon L. Griffin

Invoice2go - allows me to create invoices quickly and send via email and give the client the ability to pay with paypal embedded in the invoice. -Chris Robinson

Keynote App - because ALL of my business presentations are there so I can effectively communicate our vision in an efficient, eco-friendly and modern way. -Angela Ford

Hootsuite - manages my personal, business twitter accounts, facebook, and even foursquare.  
-H. Jude Boudreaux

Sign n send - no more printing documents then scanning then sending. With this app I just open the doc, sign with my finger and send it right back to sender. -Chris Robinson

Did we forget to mention your favorite app? Darn it! That happens sometimes, but we don’t want to leave out any incredible apps. What other iPhone or iPad apps are most helpful for traveling entrepreneurs? Add your best apps below… and tell us how they keep you connected to your business when you’re away.

Thanks to all the entrepreneurs above for their input. And, safe travels to you all!

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