Running a small business is easier when you have the right tools in your corner. The best small business tools can help you automate tasks, save money, and stay organized—no matter what kind of online business you run.
In this guide, I’m sharing my personal tech stack — the best tools for small business owners, freelancers, and online entrepreneurs. These are the tools I use, love, and wholeheartedly recommend, and are the exact tools and resources I use to manage my bookkeeping clients, grow my blog, sell on Etsy, and self-publish books.
To help you find what’s most useful for your business, I’ve grouped everything by business type—so you can quickly discover the tools that will make your workday smoother and more productive.
(This page contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures for more information.)
Accounting Tools for Small Business
Every small business needs to manage its finances effectively. Whether you handle your own bookkeeping or hire help, these accounting tools for small business owners make it simple to stay organized and compliant.
QuickBooks Online Simple Start - QuickBooks is my hands down best recommendation for small business bookkeeping. It's a true accounting program (unlike some other simplified apps), but it’s still easy for non-accountants to use. It’s intuitive, well-supported, and widely recognized — making it effortless to hand things off to a bookkeeper when your business grows. Check out at my Quick Start Guide to QuickBooks for easy setup tips.
Gusto - Gusto is the best small business payroll tool I’ve found. It simplifies setup, tax filings, and direct deposits — perfect for paying yourself as an S-Corp, or managing employee and contractor payroll.
Relay or BlueVine for Business Checking - Keeping business and personal finances separate is essential. Both Relay and BlueVine make it easy to open accounts online, integrate with QuickBooks, and offer smart features tailored for small business banking.
Chase or CapitalOne for Business credit cards - For reliable credit options and strong rewards, these two are my go-to banks for small business credit cards.
Tax Jar - With changing state laws, sales tax has become one of the trickiest parts of online business. TaxJar automates compliance and helps you track which states require collection and remittance. If you’re unsure about your obligations, my guide, Sales Tax Made Simple, will walk you through it.
TurboTax or H&R Block for federal tax filings - For sole proprietors or single-member LLCs filing taxes independently, these programs make it easy to add your Schedule C to your regular tax return.
Tools for Etsy Sellers
Etsy is a fantastic starting point for handmade, digital, or supply sellers — but the right e-commerce tools can make your workflow so much easier. Here are the best tools for Etsy sellers that help automate, organize, and grow your shop.
Postal Scale - A must-have for shipping physical products. Simple, accurate, and essential for calculating postage at home.
Dropbox - Reliable cloud storage for small business. Store product photos, listing files, and data securely while easily sharing with photographers or designers.
Alura - One of my favorite productivity tools for Etsy sellers. Alura helps with keyword research, SEO optimization, and product discovery so you can focus your time on items that will actually sell.
Shipstation - The ultimate automation tool for small business shipping, especially if you sell across multiple platforms.
Tools for Bloggers
Whether you’re a blogger or content creator, this section of my small business tech stack will simplify your workflow and help your website shine.
Thrive Themes - More than a theme—it’s an all-in-one platform for building high-converting websites. It includes landing page templates, opt-ins, and smart design tools all in one subscription.
Kit - My favorite email marketing tool for small business. Kit combines simplicity and power with automation options and free plans for your first 1,000 subscribers.
NameCheap - Budget-friendly and reliable domain registration—ideal for bloggers and small business owners looking for affordable essentials.
Tools for Authors
If you write or self-publish, these author tools are indispensable. They’re all part of my publishing tech stack, helping me manage book production, marketing, and sales. You can see the books I have published here.
Publisher Rocket - An incredible tool for finding the right Amazon book keywords and categories. I’ve discovered some of my top-performing keywords using this!
Free Course on Amazon Ads - Advertising can dramatically boost visibility, and this free course is the best introduction to setting up effective Amazon ads.
Reedsy - My go-to book writing and formatting tool. It’s intuitive, professional, and outputs in all major formats (PDF, MOBI, EPUB).
BookFunnel - A powerful tool for distributing free copies, managing promotions, and even selling directly from your own website.
Tools for Service Providers
If you offer services (bookkeeping, coaching, virtual assistance, design, etc.), these small business productivity tools help you streamline scheduling, client onboarding, and proposals.
YouCanBook.Me - Seamlessly syncs with your calendar to prevent double-bookings and makes appointment scheduling effortless.
Ignition - A must-have proposal and payment tool for service-based businesses. It automates client onboarding, recurring payments, and digital signatures—true automation for small business.
Whereby - Free video conferencing software with no time limits. Great for dependable, screen-sharing client calls.
AirTable - Combines spreadsheets and databases for easy form collection, client tracking, and project management.
Scribe - My favorite way to create standard operating procedures fast. Record a process once and share it with your team—no repeated explanations required.
Tools for Social Media Management
Every online business benefits from a solid social presence, but that doesn’t mean you need to live on your phone. These social media tools for small business help you stay visible with minimal effort.
Tailwind - My favorite Pinterest scheduler and one of the best marketing automation tools for small business. It helps you post consistently and grow your reach.
Canva - A creative essential in any small business tech stack. Canva lets you easily design graphics, crop images, and add text overlays for social posts, marketing materials, or product listings.
Build Your Small Business Tech Stack
The right small business tools and resources save time, reduce stress, and help you scale faster. Whether you’re managing your books, selling online, writing, or serving clients, investing in the best tools for small business growth will pay off in efficiency and peace of mind.
If you’re looking for the essential small business tech stack, start with the tools above—each one has earned a permanent spot in my own business toolkit.
