Comparing Costs & Communication Tools for Small Business Teams

Clear internal communication is critical for productivity, especially in today’s fast-moving, hybrid work environments. Whether you’re running a start-up, managing tradespeople, or scaling a professional services firm, choosing the right tool for your team — Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, or others — can impact efficiency, staff morale, and even profitability.

But with so many tools on the market, what’s the best fit for your small business in Australia?

Let’s break it down — by cost, team size, industry, and purpose.

Slack: Flexible and Familiar

• Best for: Start-ups, creative agencies, tech teams, remote-first businesses

• Cost (AUD):

  • Free: Up to 90 days of message history

  • Pro: ~A$12.75/user/month

  • Business+: ~A$22.50/user/month

Pros:
Slack is known for its user-friendly interface and channel-based chat structure. It integrates with over 2,000 apps (like Google Drive, Trello and Zoom), making it a hub for task management and quick decision-making.

Cons:
Free tier is limited. Can become noisy or unstructured without strong internal policies.

Microsoft Teams: All-in-One for Microsoft Users

• Best for: Legal, accounting, consulting firms, larger teams with document-heavy workflows

• Cost (AUD):

  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic: ~A$8.20/user/month

  • Business Standard: ~A$17.20/user/month

Pros:
Deeply integrated with Office apps (Word, Excel, Outlook). Great for document collaboration, structured team chats, and video meetings. Includes OneDrive cloud storage.

Cons:
Interface can feel clunky for non-technical users. Best value only if you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Google Chat (with Google Workspace)

• Best for: Small teams already using Gmail or Google Drive

• Cost (AUD):

  • Business Starter: ~A$8.40/user/month

  • Business Standard: ~A$16.80/user/month

Pros:
Simple chat and video features via Google Meet. Best for minimalists or Gmail-centric teams.

Cons:
Fewer advanced features than Slack or Teams. Not ideal for businesses with complex communication needs.

WhatsApp Business / Signal / Telegram

• Best for: Trades, hospitality, retail, or field teams (1–10 staff)

• Cost: Free

Pros:
Easy to use on mobile, instant notifications, fast adoption. Great for shift workers or contractors who don’t sit at desks.

Cons:
No integrations, task tracking or admin control. Risk of unstructured communication and data privacy concerns.

Zoom or Google Meet (Supplementary Tools)

• Best for: Scheduled meetings, training, or remote client calls

• Cost (AUD):

  • Zoom Pro: ~A$21/user/month

  • Google Meet: Included in Workspace plans

Use these tools in addition to a primary chat app — not instead of one.

Summary: Best by Team Size & Type

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