Guides that get things done
Practical guides for PDFs, documents, forms, invoices, websites, slides and spreadsheets, plus notes on how OfficeBats works.
A free office suite for small business, and what free really includes
What a free office suite should cover for a small business, what the OfficeBats Free plan includes in each app, and when it is worth paying.
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One Drive for all your office files
Every Bats app saves to one shared Drive. Where files come from, opening them in the right app, share links, the trash and storage per plan.
Real time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets and slides
How live co-editing, presence, comments and sharing work across the OfficeBats apps, what each app shares live, and the limits worth knowing.
Small business paperwork, from quote to payment
A practical small business workflow: intake form, proposal, signed contract, quote, invoice and payment, plus a website with a booking form.
Share a file with a view only link that expires
Send a PDF, spreadsheet or document as a private link that works for 1 day to a year, see views and downloads, and turn it off at any time.
How to @mention someone in a comment and get a reply faster
Use @mentions in document comments to ask the right person, notify them by bell and email, and close the loop. Works across the OfficeBats apps.
One account for every tool: why we built OfficeBats
Separate apps used to mean separate logins and plans. OfficeBats brings them under one account, one plan and one AI wallet. Here is what changes.
How to co-edit a spreadsheet in real time, for free
Share a spreadsheet, edit it together live, see who is where, comment on cells and roll back mistakes. A step by step guide on the free SheetsBat plan.
How to use presenter view with speaker notes in the browser
Present from your browser with speaker notes only you can see: write notes, open presenter view, use the timer and run the show from a phone.
How to add an editable chart to a presentation
Add a chart to your slides that stays editable: pick from 24 chart types, paste data from a spreadsheet or import a CSV, style it and export to PowerPoint.
Make a loan amortization schedule with the PMT function
Build a month by month loan schedule with PMT, IPMT and PPMT, then see how extra payments change your payoff date and interest. Free template included.
Make a presentation from a Word document with AI
Turn a Word document, PDF or notes into an editable slide deck with AI: upload the file, review the outline, pick a theme, then export to PowerPoint.
One suite or separate tools? A fair way to decide
A fair comparison of an all in one suite and separate specialist tools, including when separate tools are the better choice, and how to decide.
How to make a pivot table, step by step
Turn a long list of sales into a clear summary by region and quarter. A beginner friendly pivot table walkthrough with grouping, totals and percentages.
Sell event tickets on your own website, with QR check in
Sell event tickets and take free RSVPs on your own website: ticket types, QR tickets by email, a waitlist for sold out nights and check in at the door.
How to build a job board website with AI, salaries on every listing
Build a niche job board with AI: employer accounts, moderated listings, salary filters, CV applications, an applicant pipeline and paid featured jobs.
XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP, explained with real examples
XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP side by side on one sales sheet: exact matches, looking left, missing values and the latest match, with formulas you can copy.
Build an online course website with AI and sell your own courses
Plan and build your own online course website with AI: video lessons, paid enrolment, progress, quizzes, certificates and lesson questions on your domain.
How to write a one page memo with a letterhead
Write a clear one page business memo with a professional letterhead: the right structure, an AI first draft, your logo, and PDF or Word export.
AI credits explained: how one wallet works across seven apps
How OfficeBats AI credits work: monthly allowances, credit packs, which credits are used first, why costs vary by task, and how to make them go further.
Build a salon booking website with AI, deposits included
How to build a salon or spa website with AI where clients pick a treatment, a stylist and a free time, pay a deposit and manage their own bookings.
How to give your accountant access to your books (safely)
Share your accounting with your accountant or bookkeeper without sharing a password. Roles, review only access, comments, audit log and closing the books.
How to make an online quiz that scores itself
Build a self grading quiz with an answer key, points per question and results that change with the score. Respondents never see the answers.
From website to web app: bookings, memberships, courses and stores
When a small business site should become a web app, what bookings, memberships, courses and stores need behind the scenes, and how to build them in steps.
How to read a profit and loss statement (small business guide)
A plain English guide to the profit and loss statement: income, cost of goods sold, gross profit, expenses and net income, with a real example.
How to share a form with a QR code, a link or your own domain
Turn any online form into a QR code for posters and front desks, share the link, embed it on your site or show it on your own domain. Step by step.
How to set up recurring invoices for retainer clients
Bill retainers and subscriptions on a schedule. Set up recurring invoices that send themselves weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly, or wait as drafts.
Bank reconciliation for small businesses, explained simply
What bank reconciliation is, why it matters, and a step by step monthly routine to match your books to your bank statement and fix the differences.
How to make an online form with a signature field
Build an online form people can sign on any device: a drawn or typed signature, initials and date signed, or a full e-signature with a sealed PDF.
How to convert a quote into an invoice (without retyping it)
Send a quote your client accepts online, then turn it into an invoice with one click or automatically. Items, taxes and prices carry over.
How to show or hide form questions based on earlier answers
Add conditional logic to an online form so questions, whole pages and thank you screens change with each answer. A step by step guide with examples.
Forms that finish the paperwork: turn every response into a signed document
Turn each form response into a finished, signed document automatically. Templates, Word placeholders, e-signature, approvals and storage, step by step.
How to add a table of contents to a Word document online
Build a table of contents with page numbers from your headings, keep it up to date as you edit, and save it as a real Word field. No desktop Word needed.
How to write a business proposal in Word with AI
Turn a short brief into an editable Word proposal with AI, then fix the facts, tighten the scope and send it as a PDF. A practical, honest workflow.
How to co-edit a Word document in real time without Microsoft 365
Edit the same .docx with your team at the same time in the browser: invite people, see their cursors, comment with @mentions and keep a real Word file.
Merge, split and organize PDFs like a pro
Combine files into one tidy PDF, split big documents into parts, and reorder, rotate and number pages. Practical workflows for everyday PDF housekeeping.
How to accept all tracked changes and remove comments in a Word document online
Turn a reviewed Word file into a clean final copy in your browser: accept every tracked change, delete comments and switch off Track Changes.
How to summarize a long PDF with AI and check every point
Turn a long report, contract or scan into a summary with page numbers, then ask follow up questions. Step by step, with tips for checking the result.
How to password protect a PDF for free
Lock a PDF with AES 256 encryption so only people with the password can open it, choose what they may print or copy, and share the password safely.
Protect your account with two-factor authentication
Turn on two-factor authentication for your OfficeBats account, keep your recovery codes safe, and protect files, invoices and signatures in all seven apps.
How to fill out a PDF form online and save it
Type into PDF form fields, tick boxes, pick from dropdowns, sign and date, then save a copy that keeps your answers. Works for flat forms too.
How to edit text in a PDF without converting it to Word
Change the words already in a PDF, right in your browser, with no round trip through Word. Steps, font tips, scanned pages and checks before you send.
Word to PDF without breaking your formatting
Why Word files shift when converted to PDF, how to keep fonts, tables, headers and page numbers in place, and a quick checklist to run before you send.
What an AI website builder should never make up
Fake reviews, invented prices and made up contact details can hurt a small business. Here is what AI should never invent on your site, and how to check.
Make scanned PDFs searchable with OCR
Turn scanned PDFs into searchable, copyable documents with OCR. Learn how to scan well, pick languages, handle mixed text and check the result for errors.
Get paid faster: online payments, reminders and clear terms
Practical ways to shorten the wait between sending an invoice and getting paid, from clear terms and deposits to online payments and polite reminders.
How to write a survey people finish
Write surveys people complete: pick one goal, ask fewer and clearer questions, use the right question types and logic, and act on the answers.
Sending documents for e-signature: signing order, reminders and audit trails
How to send a PDF for e-signature the right way: choose a signing order, set reminders and expiry, verify identity, and keep an audit trail you can trust.
AI writing help you can check: drafts, summaries and answers with citations
How to use AI on your own documents without trusting it blindly: ask with page citations, summarize, draft and extract data, then verify.
How to track expenses as a freelancer without hating it
A simple, low effort system for tracking freelance expenses: separate accounts, quick receipt capture, clear categories and a short monthly review.
Build a website for your cafe with AI in an afternoon
A practical plan for building a cafe website with AI in one afternoon: what to prepare, which pages matter, what to check, and how to publish it.
How to convert a PDF to Word and keep it editable
Turn a PDF into an editable Word file, fix the usual layout problems, and learn when it is smarter to edit the PDF directly instead of converting it.
How to build a payment form that people actually complete
Take payments for bookings, deposits, classes and orders with a simple online form. Practical design tips, setup steps and mistakes that make people quit.
How to sign a PDF online, on any device
Sign a PDF in your browser on a laptop or phone: draw, type or upload a signature, fill real form fields, add dates and initials, then flatten and send.
How to create a professional invoice (with a checklist)
What a professional invoice needs, how to word it, which mistakes slow payment, and a checklist you can run before every invoice you send out.
How to edit Word documents online without installing anything
Open, edit and save .docx files in your browser on any computer or phone. What works well, what to check first, and when a desktop app still makes sense.
How to compress a PDF without losing quality
Learn why PDFs get big, which compression level to pick, and how to shrink files for email and uploads while keeping text sharp and images clear.