As a business and career coach of more than five years, I’ve seen firsthand how using the right business tools can create confidence in business owners, streamline communication between team members, and enhance customer service. And at the same time, I’ve also witnessed a few clients get caught in a state of overwhelm trying to find the perfect cocktail of free trials and fancy project management tools that they hope will finally get their business organized.
With so many tools for small business owners available, I thought I’d share the behind the scenes of my own business and offer you simple guidance for the best tools to save you real time while running your business.
Business Tools I Actually Use
Note: This section includes some affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you use one of these links to purchase a new business tool.
From accounting software to email marketing, these are the tools my team and I use everyday to streamline our client experience, stay organized while sharing files, and create quality content on and off social media.
Podcast Management Tools
My Color Your Dreams Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast for women of color and allies who are running a business or creating a career. These are my favorite podcast resources that help keep everything running smoothly.
- Fusebox: Simple and reliable podcast hosting with powerful features.
- Stephanie Judice Podcast Production: A podcast production agency for coaches and consultants who are ready to build brand awareness and turn their listeners into buyers. Feel free to tell her I sent you!
Financial Business Tools
- Thrivecart: ThriveCart is a page creation platform designed to help create cart pages and funnels for businesses, as well as manage the pricing structure, tracking and reporting of sales through those pages.
- Gusto: Gusto’s people platform helps growing businesses onboard, pay, insure, and support their hardworking teams with payroll, benefits, and more.
- Quickbooks: QuickBooks helps you track income, expenses, and stay ready for taxes.
- Evolved Finance – Evolved Finance is a bookkeeping and business education company dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs create profitable and healthy businesses. When scheduling a call, let them know that I referred you!
Website Management Tools
- WP Engine: WP Engine provides the fastest, most reliable WordPress hosting for 1.5M+ websites
- Hover: Hover is a domain registrar that’s passionate about helping people have the best domain experience ever, with easy to use UX, simple but powerful tools, and incredible customer support
- Andres at Strategy Interactive Agency: A data-driven SEO marketing agency located in Anaheim, CA. When scheduling a call, let him know I referred you!
Project and Client Management Tools
- Monday: Monday is an open platform where anyone can create the tools they need to run every aspect of their work.
- Google Drive and Google Docs: Create and share your work online and access your documents from anywhere. I actually ended using an online course platform cause I realize NONE of my clients were logging in and use Google Docs and my Google Drive.
- Dubsado: Dubsado is an all-in-one system that streamlines the necessary, but normally time-consuming, tasks for small business owners.
- Active Campaign: The email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM tools you need to create incredible customer experiences.
- Zoom: Zoom helps consolidate communications, connect people, and collaborate better together in the boardroom, classroom, operating room, and everywhere in between.
- Acuity: Acuity is an online appointment scheduling software where clients schedule appointments, pay, and complete intake forms online.
Legal
- Hiscox Business Insurance: Protect your business, plan for the unexpected, and help your business grow.
- Andrea Sager at The Legalprenuer: They simplify legal for entrepreneurs and become their biggest champions, so they can make their positive impact in the world.
A Reminder: Tools Should Help, Not Hinder
Using the right tools and small business software can help you take your business and work/life balance to the next level. However, it’s important to remember that tools should help support your business, but can’t replace quality customer support. And while you may think paying for another CRM system will push your client journey to the next level, it’s good to remind yourself that sometimes simple free tools or the free plan is just as good.
My advice for staying on track of your time and expenses? Do a quarterly audit of the systems, softwares, and tools that you are paying for to run your business and determine if
a) you’re still utilizing the tool effectively and/or
b) your clients are still utilizing the tool effectively
If not, relieve your credit card and cancel that subscription–essentially, always simplify where you can.
You can learn more about how to simplify your business by listening to this episode of the Color Your Dreams Podcast: Less is More: How to Simplify Your Business to Have the Life You Want.
If you would like further support in your career, business, or leadership, my team and I would love to support you in creating a sustainable life! You can schedule a 30-minute legacy business or career review call with me to see if it’s a good fit to work together, and you’ll receive 3 action-items from me.
