Love the Creative Side of Business but Can’t Stand the Operations? Here’s Help.
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This is Blog Post 4 in a 4-part Building Your Business series. Read them all here:
Post 1: Using (or thinking about using) Squarespace? Here’s how to make it so much better
Post 2: These branding assets will help you create a website that feels put together
Post 3: Your website looks great. So where are all the inquiries?
Post 4: 8 systems & tools that protect your business & simplify your day-to-day
Systems That Protect Your Business & Simplify Your Day-to-Day
The fun part of building a business is creating and designing. The not-so-fun part for a lot of people? All the operational stuff that keeps things running smoothly.
But having solid systems means you can focus on what you love instead of constantly putting out fires or worried you're missing something essential.
For staying organized:
Google Workspace (← get 14 days free with this aff link)
Yes, everyone talks about this. Yes, you need it. Professional email that doesn't end in @gmail.com, 15GB storage per user. Depending on the plan, you can also use to collect signatures on documents (like contracts), book meetings, and use mail merge. Includes Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Meet in one package.
The Template Nook (← get 25% off with this aff link)
Template membership from The Organized CEO that gives you templates for literally every business system you need: Client onboarding, project management, content planning, financial tracking, etc. I've been using her business finance tracker for years. Created by a former engineer who tests literally everything in her own business first, these save you hours from building systems from scratch.
Tally
Form and survey builder with unlimited forms and responses on the free plan. Drag-and-drop interface, payment collection, and conditional logic without coding. Tally’s free plan is very robust; it gives you unlimited forms, submissions, drag and drop interface, payment collection, and conditional logic... but shows Tally branding and has limits on file size and customization. The paid plans remove branding, add custom domains, advanced design/analytics, larger uploads, team features, and more control over data.
Perplexity (← get 1 month free with this aff link)
AI research assistant (and Comet Browser) that searches the internet in real-time and cites sources. It's like if Google and ChatGPT had a baby - the best of both worlds. Ask questions and get accurate answers with sources and links. Free version gives you 5 Pro searches daily.
For legal protection:
Did you know that you are legally required to have a privacy policy on your website? Without a comprehensive privacy policy in place, you can be fined or sued. 😬 That’s why I recommend policies from places like Termly, Sprout, or Termageddon.
Termageddon is my favorite, because they make it easy to keep your privacy policy compliant with ever-changing privacy laws.
Termageddon
What I use. Includes up to 5 policies (privacy, terms, cookies, etc.) that update automatically when laws change. They walk you through everything and embed the policies on your site so they stay current. Starts at $10/month.
Sprout Law
Privacy policy templates for $59 one-time fee. More specific than the free options, but not as detailed or kept up to date as Termageddon. Good for when you're just getting started.
Termly
They have a free privacy policy generator that's another good option for solopreneurs on a budget who are just starting out. It's generic and doesn't update after you download it, but it's a good start (and better than nothing!).
Contract Club
Another option. Braden Drake (attorney and tax pro) created this vault of every contract you could possibly need for a one-time fee. Client contracts, vendor agreements, cancellation contracts, privacy policies, the works. You get dozens of contract templates, training videos, and community support.
For security
ExpressVPN (← get 30 days free with this aff link)
Lets you browse safely and privately, whether you’re on public Wi-Fi (like in a coffee shop or traveling) or just don’t want your activity tracked. It also makes it easy to stream or access sites as if you were in another country, with apps that work on all your devices. Works in 94 countries with servers in 160 locations.
Having solid systems means less stress, fewer missed deadlines, and more time for the work you love.
Where to start:
I cover more tools in my online business tools for solopreneurs and 7 business tools posts. For practical workflows, check out my client onboarding tips and handy business resources. I also share actionable advice on opening a business bank account and creating content calendars with AI.
PS - Here are some extra freebies, discounts & goodies:
If you're looking for a robust CRM, get 25% off your first year of HoneyBook
If you're a course creator or sell digital products, get a lifetime deal of Teachery (limited time only)
If you need to open a business bank account, get $40 when you open an account with Novo Bank (terms and conditions apply)
Get access to Leonie Dawson's HUGE free inspiration library filled with ebooks, meditations, coloring books, worshops and more.
