November 15, 2023
As a small business owner, it can often feel like you’re carrying the weight of the entire company on your shoulders.
From chasing contracts to creating invoices (and triple-checking them!), designing promotional materials, and managing important documents, your to-do list never seems to end — and we haven’t even touched on your actual product or service.
You’re not alone: a recent FSB survey revealed that 55% of small businesses in the UK “felt their ability to grow was hindered by admin tasks.” But that’s not even the most surprising takeaway: those same businesses spent more than 70 days a year just on administrative work.
Imagine how much time you could save if you streamlined these tasks!
The good news is many of these challenges can be solved with PDFs, and more specifically, online PDF tools. Simple, affordable, and easy to use, these tools require no technical expertise and can transform your entire workflow.
Keep reading to learn the most common PDF challenges for SMEs, the benefits of PDF editors, and how they can help you.
Key Takeaways On Online PDF Editors for Small Business Owners
What’s eating up your time, money, and bandwidth as a small business? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, the answer is in plain sight: your PDFs.
Yes, these seemingly innocuous files may be quietly sabotaging your business without you even realising it. Let’s take a look at how…
One of the biggest administrative hurdles for small businesses is managing the cost and upkeep of software. Traditional tools, such as Adobe Acrobat DC, require a monthly subscription, staff training, and regular updates, which can be a financial strain on small enterprises — especially if employees use it a few times per month.
For businesses already juggling costs like inventory, marketing, and operations, spending money on software just to make minor edits to a PDF can feel excessive.
Time is another limited resource that many small businesses definitely can’t afford to waste. From printing PDFs to scanning physical invoices, combining multiple files, and manually reformatting documents (even for minor edits!), all of this can quickly add up.
These time-consuming activities not only consume bandwidth but also distract your employees from the bigger picture, such as growing the company or collaborating with important clients.
The last issue with PDFs is uneven branding, which can damage your company's reputation and alienate potential customers.
As marketing experts often emphasise, strong branding is key to building trust and credibility with your audience. Unfortunately, PDFs with mismatched fonts, poorly placed logos, or inconsistent formatting can make your materials look unprofessional and ultimately undermine your efforts.
Now that you’ve seen how PDFs can hinder your business, let’s see how online PDF editors turn these problems into solutions.
PDF editing tools give small businesses an affordable and efficient way to simplify their document management.
From creating polished invoices to managing compliance records, these tools are specifically designed to simplify your operations, save time, and enhance your branding.
Here are some practical ways small businesses can use PDFs (and PDF tools) to their advantage.
Custom invoices and documents are essential for businesses that want to maintain a professional image. Besides reinforcing your company’s branding, a well-designed document communicates professionalism and trustworthiness, offering a strong first impression.
Let’s take the example of Mia, a florist in Manchester, who recently introduced bespoke wedding bouquets to her product lineup.
After potential customers fill out a form, Mia can use PDF tools to quickly add her logo, contact details, and tailored pricing to an invoice. As a result, each of her clients receives a polished and personalised document.
PDFs are also a game-changer for managing contracts. A boutique recruitment agency in London, for instance, can use e-signature features to finalise employment contracts with clients or candidates in minutes — without the need for printing or scanning. Bonus: It’s eco-friendly!
They can also make quick updates to contracts, like adjusting terms or correcting errors, without starting from scratch.
Compliance and record-keeping are key when it comes to meeting UK regulatory standards.
A local accounting firm in Birmingham can use PDF conversion tools to prepare and archive client tax documents in secure, long-term formats, ensuring they meet all compliance requirements while still keeping records easily accessible.
For anyone who values efficiency, batching is a must — and PDF tools can take it to the next level.
Batch-processing PDF tools can help reorder pages or apply watermarks across multiple client proposals in one go, which saves you and your employees valuable time.
Similarly, file compression tools are an absolute must for small businesses that frequently work with large documents. Compression ensures faster email delivery and easier sharing with clients or team members by reducing the file size of PDFs — without compromising quality.
