Must have business tools for new business owners

Knowing which tools to use in your business can be overwhelming especially if you're just getting started. So that's why in this video i wanted to share the seven must-have tools in that you need in order for your business to run smoothly.

Psst, some of the links in this blog posts are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase using one of those links, I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. My chips and salsa fund thanks you from the bottom of its heart… er… stomach?

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7 Must-Have Business Tools For New Business Owners

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1. Website Platform

So let’s start with the first tool you need in your business: your website platform. This is one of the most important tools for your business and there are certainly many platforms to choose from. I’ve tried a whole bunch of them, from WordPress to Wix to Shopify to Showit, and more.

But, I’ve settled on Squarespace for both myself and my clients because Squarespace is easy to use and I believe it’s the best platform for beginners and new business owners.

There are several reasons for that. First of all, Squarespace is easy to use. Secondly, it has all the functionality and features that you need in order to run your business. You can add a blog, you can schedule appointments, you can add a shop, you can even have a members area. And, you can even collect email addresses and email your subscribers using the same platform that you use to host your website. It's really a powerful all-in-one platform and if you're new to business I definitely recommend checking out Squarespace. Their plans start at $14 per month and they do offer a 14-day free trial.

If you're looking for more help with building your Squarespace website, I have a free website roadmap that walks you through every step of signing up and gettting started with Squarespace. Download it below 😉

2. Email Marketing Platform

Once you have your website taken care of, my next recommendation would be to invest in an email marketing platform. That's because 98% of website visitors will not be ready to buy from you when they first land on your website. But, if you have a way to collect their email addresses, then you can stay in touch with them. You can build trust and you can establish that know, like, and trust factor that they need before they buy from you.

Now, there are many email marketing platforms to choose from. If you're looking for a free solution, I wholeheartedly recommend MailerLite. It’s free for up to 1000 subscribers and that's more than enough for any beginner. It also makes it easy to not only collect email addresses but you can also segment them into groups and organize them so that you know which of your subscribers downloaded which of your freebies. This allows you to send more targeted email campaigns to them.

You can also set up a welcome sequence and you can send regular emails to your subscribers. Basically, it's a great solution for anybody who's just getting started with email marketing and wants an easy to use tool that is powerful but not overwhelming.

If you're looking for something a little more robust, then I would recommend ConvertKit. It also has a free plan for up to 300 subscribers but it's limited in the sense that it doesn't allow you to send automated email sequences.

However, if you want to start with a powerful tool right from the get-go so you don't have to migrate later on and you need something that has robust capabilities such as visual automations, the ability to tag your subscribers, and really fine tune how you send your campaigns… then I'd recommend ConvertKit. Their paid plan starts at $15 per month so it's super affordable.

3. Graphics Software

Next up, running a business also means that you're going to need to create a lot of graphics for your business. This includes documents social media graphics, Pinterest graphics, lead magnets, and more.

In other words, you're going to need a tool that allows you to easily create those. Now, there are powerful tools out there like Photoshop but I recommend Canva because it’s beginner-friendly and you can create any type of graphic that you need for your business, including the ones I mentioned above.

Canva also offers premium stock photos that you can get for as low as one dollar if you need something more unique and they also have a huge library of free and paid elements that you can use in your designs. I'm talking shapes, illustrations, photos, frames, and more. Plus, they have thousands and thousands of templates that you can use as a starting point so you don't have to start creating your design from scratch.

4. File Storage

Another tool that you need in your business is a tool to help you organize all the files that you're going to need — whether that's tax documents, spreadsheets, course outlines, blog post outlines, podcast episode outlines… really any type of document and file that you need to run your business.

That's why I recommend Google Workspace. It basically comes with 30GB of storage space but it also includes Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Gmail, and more. You have more granular file sharing permissions and you can also limit your files only to be available within your organization. And if you sign up for annual plan with Squarespace, you can get a free year of Google Workspace.

5. Appointment Scheduler

Now, this next tool that I'm going to recommend is more for service-based businesses so if you have a product-based business then I recommend you skip to the next tool on the list. But, if you have a service-based business where you need to take calls and schedule appointments then you definitely need an appointment scheduler or an online calendar. This eliminates the constant back and forth emails trying to find a time that works best for the both of you.

Again, there are many options available but I’d recommend using Squarespace Scheduling. Squarespace actually bought Acuity Scheduling and the tool is now integrated into Squarespace platform itself. It is a separate fee but you’ll have a lot of flexibility in creating different appointment schedules and it’s super easy to add a scheduling calendar to your website. If you don’t use Squarespace, you can still use Acuity Scheduling as a standalone platform but Calendly is also a nice alternative. 

6. Project Management App

Next, running a business has a lot of moving parts and you need a way to stay on top of all those parts and different tasks. Now, I have a confession to make — I am obsessed with different to-do list and project management apps. I’ve tried them all, from Remember The Milk, Wunderlist, and Todoist, to Trello, Clickup, Asana… you name it, chances are I’ve probably tried it at some point in time. 

My favorite and the one I keep coming back to is Asana. It somehow offers all the features I need without being too overwhelming with all the different options and possibilities. 

7. Accounting Software

And lastly, you need a way to stay on top of your finances and keep track of all your invoices and payments. My recommendation for that is FreshBooks as they are easy to use and allow you to send invoices and estimates and accept payments online. 

Final Thoughts

So those are the top 7 tools I'd recommend to new business owners. A website platform, an email marketing platform, a tool to create marketing graphics, a project management platform, an appointment schedule, a platform to organize your files, and an accounting platform. 

And if you want to fast-track your website launch, I highly recommend checking out my Squarespace templates. 😉

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