Are you thinking about starting a small business in 2025? You may have some great ideas, but having small business tools for beginners could make or break your business’s staying power!
With the right set of small business tools, you can create an online shop, design landing pages, streamline operations, and keep your sales on track.
Whether you’re looking to establish a strong online presence, optimize your marketing strategies, or streamline your sales processes, utilizing the right tools can make all the difference.
My guide will explore the best tools available in 2025 designed specifically to help entrepreneurs kickstart their ventures and effectively reach their target markets.
Key Takeaways
- Essential tools like Shopify, QuickBooks, and Canva are designed to help small business owners launch with ease and quickly land sales by streamlining operations and enhancing productivity.
- CRM tools are vital for establishing customer relationships and growing those relationships like a nice garden, ensuring effective communication with potential buyers and boosting initial sales.
- Leveraging marketing automation, social media management, and e-commerce platforms allows small businesses to reach target audiences and secure early market success effectively.
Want some other inspiration for starting a business? Check out the most profitable small businesses you could start this year—and learn how to start a business with no money down!
Top 20 Small Business Tools for Beginners in 2025
In today’s fast-paced business world, having the right small business tools can be the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
Dive into this section to discover the essential tools that have transformed my business operations, making management a breeze and growth inevitable.
Best Overall Tools I’m Using Right Now
These are the top tools I personally rely on to run my business, automate processes, and drive sales efficiently.
1. ClickFunnels – Landing Pages & Sales Funnels
- Cost: Starts at $147 per month
- Best Features: Drag-and-drop funnel builder, automation, A/B testing
- Why People Like It: Simplifies marketing, boosts sales conversions, integrates with email and payment platforms
ClickFunnels made it possible for me to create better webpages to share with customers to get them into my memberships, buy my products, and opt into my email campaigns.
Using it takes all the hassles of creating sales funnels, which lets me automate some marketing tactics. So I can sell people products with better details, reviews, and previews of what they’ll get.
It will also track customer data, such as who is clicking on what emails and whether some pages are performing better than others.
It helped me create great sales pages with my branding, and though it took me a few tweaks, I was able to get people buying!
Check out my full ClickFunnels Review to see why it’s my number one tool!
2. Go High Level – Email Marketing & CRM
- Cost: Starts at $97 per month
- Best Features: All-in-one marketing automation, SMS and email campaigns, appointment scheduling
- Why People Like It: Saves time by combining CRM, automated systems, and marketing tools in one platform
Go High Level is a handy tool designed to help small business owners and marketers manage their customer interactions and marketing activities in one place.
It brings together features like keeping track of clients, sending out marketing emails and texts, and scheduling appointments.
Although I needed to get used to the program, the time was worth it! It’s helped me simplify a bunch of marketing tasks and get the right tactics to connect to my customers.
By taking the time to learn how it works, you can make your business run more smoothly and keep your customers happy.
3. Freedom Funnel – All-in-One Business Growth System
- Cost: Pricing varies, check the website
- Best Features: Funnel automation, email integration, sales tracking
- Why People Like It: Helps entrepreneurs automate sales and marketing without tech headaches
Freedom Funnel is a powerful system that helps automate and grow online businesses.
It offers an all-in-one solution for building high-converting funnels, capturing leads, and streamlining sales processes.
With a user-friendly design, I was able to set up my new funnels without moving things around for hours, getting a headache, or reworking them to make things look right finally.
If you’re looking to scale your business faster and more efficiently, Freedom Funnel is a must-have tool.
Website & Hosting Tools
Having a reliable website is crucial for any small business. These tools help you build and maintain a more relevant online presence so customers can find and engage with your business.
4. Bluehost – Web Hosting
- Cost: Starts at $2.95 per month with promotions
- Best Features: One-click WordPress install, free domain for the first year, 24/7 support
- Why People Like It: Reliable, beginner-friendly, and affordable for small business websites
Bluehost is a reliable hosting solution that is particularly suitable for small businesses.
With its affordable plans and easy setup process, it is an excellent choice for beginners.
I started with it because it was affordable and reliable, and its functionality is why I’ve stuck around.
It’s a tried-and-true web host that I’ve used for over a decade- read my in-depth Bluehost Review to see why I’ve stuck with it this long!
E-Commerce & Sales Platforms
Want to create an online store that draws in buyers just like the typical brick-and-mortar retailers?
These are the right platforms you need to land those sales.
5. Shopify – E-Commerce Store
- Cost: Starts at $39 per month
- Best Features: Easy store setup, customizable themes, payment processing
- Why People Like It: User-friendly, scalable, integrates with tons of marketing tools
Shopify is a powerful e-commerce platform that small business owners can use to set up an online store in minutes.
With over 100 customizable themes, you don’t need to be a graphic designer to create a professional-looking store.
Its integration capabilities with tools like Google Analytics and marketing automation make it a comprehensive solution for online businesses.
I used Shopify to set up a printables business, and it has helped me launch new products, set up Black Friday sales, and more.
Want to learn more about the nitty-gritty of using Shopify? Check out How To Make Money On Shopify to see why I like it more than Etsy and what businesses do best on it.
6. Thrivecart – E-Commerce & Checkout System
- Cost: One-time payment of $495 for lifetime access
- Best Features: High-converting checkout pages, upsells, and affiliate program features
- Why People Like It: No monthly fees, great for boosting sales and maximizing revenue
Thrivecart is another option for an easy e-commerce platform you can use to manage sales and connect with more potential buyers.
It offers features that simplify the process of setting up and managing an online store.
With Thrivecart, you can easily track sales, manage inventory, and optimize your e-commerce strategy.
Thrivecart is a valuable tool for small business owners aiming to enhance their online sales, offering everything needed to succeed in e-commerce.Â
Get the full skinny from my Thrivecart Review article!
Marketing & Lead Generation
Marketing is your key to how customers will find you and get them inside your metaphorical doors.
So, let’s talk about tools to create successful sales pages and websites that show up on Google!
7. LeadPages – Landing Pages & Sales Pages
- Cost: Starts at $49 per month
- Best Features: Drag-and-drop builder, A/B testing, integrates with major marketing tools
- Why People Like It: Easy for beginners, no coding required, great for lead generation and sales pages
LeadPages was made to help people without coding experience make landing pages that look good and convert into good sales.
It also works together with Google Analytics, where you can track the real-time performance of landing pages and optimize them for better results.
With its user-friendly interface, LeadPages makes it easy for small businesses to create better looking landing pages without needing a graphic designer.
8. Ahrefs – Website Analysis & SEO
- Cost: Starts at $99 per month
- Best Features: Keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink tracking
- Why People Like It: Helps businesses improve search rankings and drive organic traffic
Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that provides features like keyword research and site analysis.
You can check your pages’ search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your websites by making targeted changes and improvements.
Ahrefs is an essential tool for small businesses that want real-time analytics to review and get valuable SEO insights.
9. ConvertBox – Pop-Ups & Lead Capture
- Cost: One-time fee of $495 = lifetime access!
- Best Features:Â Smart pop-ups, A/B testing, personalized targeting
- Why People Like It:Â Increases conversions and captures more leads without annoying visitors
ConvertBox is a powerful tool for increasing conversions by adding targeted pop-ups and lead capture forms to your website or landing pages.
It allows you to display personalized messages, segment leads, and optimize your sales funnels effortlessly.
With ConvertBox, I can create smart pop-ups that capture email subscribers, promote offers, and drive more engagement on my site.
The ability to customize messaging based on visitor behavior has helped me improve my email list growth and increase sales.
10. Systeme.io – Multi-Tool For Sales & Leads
- Cost: Free plan available, paid plans start at $27 per month
- Best Features: Funnels, email marketing, memberships, automation
- Why People Like It: Budget-friendly ClickFunnels alternative with no extra software needed
Systeme.io is a versatile tool for entrepreneurs who want an all-in-one solution to build, market, and grow their businesses.
It offers everything from email marketing to sales funnels, course creation, and automation—without needing multiple subscriptions.
If you’re looking for an affordable, beginner-friendly platform to run your business, Systeme.io simplifies the process by keeping all your tools in one place.
Email Marketing & CRM
Wondering about connecting with customers over email or other ways to interact?
There are some great tools to get follow-up and keep connected with customers.
11. Kit (Formerly ConvertKit) – Email Marketing
- Cost: Free for up to 1,000 subscribers, paid plans start at $15 per month
- Best Features: Email automation, segmenting, customizable opt-in forms
- Why People Like It: Easy to use and built for content creators and small businesses
Kit is an email marketing tool that connects businesses with their customers more passively.
The cost and easy controls make it accessible for beginners to drop in and create the content they want to make successful marketing campaigns.
I can create bulk emails, customize them based on which email list I’m in, and share some good sales and information about my business. I can usually get a few emails prepped in under 10 minutes, getting me ready for a few weeks!
By using Kit’s clear insights into email performance, you can start optimizing your marketing strategies and build strong, lasting relationships with customers.
12. Interact – Quiz & Lead Generation Tool
- Cost: Starts at $39 per month
- Best Features: Drag-and-drop quiz builder, lead segmentation, integration with email platforms
- Why People Like It: Engages audiences and helps grow email lists effortlessly
- Bonus Feature: Creates viral quizzes that increase engagement and conversions
Interact is a fun and engaging quiz-building tool that helps businesses generate leads.
By creating interactive quizzes, you can capture emails, segment leads, and better understand your audience.
I’ve used Interact to grow my email list by providing valuable quizzes that not only engage visitors but also guide them toward the right products and services based on their results.
Financial Management & Banking
Now, I’m sure you have money on the brain- and not just what products will be bringing in the dough!
Whether you want to track your money coming and going or get funding, you’ve got plenty of options to keep money under wraps.
13. QuickBooks – Money Management & Bookkeeping
- Cost: Starts at $30 per month
- Best Features: Expense tracking, invoicing, payroll management
- Why People Like It: Saves time on accounting and simplifies tax prep
QuickBooks is a leading cloud-based accounting tool that provides extensive features for managing finances and generating reports.
It is designed to help small businesses with invoicing, expense tracking, and financial management.
QuickBooks simplifies how you manage your money by automating repetitive tasks and offering comprehensive reporting tools, enabling them to focus on business growth.
14. Capital One – Banking & Funding
- Cost: Varies by account type
- Best Features: Business credit cards, high-yield savings, business loans
- Why People Like It: Great rewards for business spending and strong customer service
Capital One is a financial management tool designed to help small businesses with bookkeeping, payroll, and financial reporting.
It offers extensive features that make managing finances straightforward and efficient.
Capital One simplifies financial processes for small business owners, providing everything needed for effective financial management for a small business owner.
15. LiveOak Bank – Business Banking & Loans
- Cost: No monthly fees for savings accounts
- Best Features: High-yield business savings, SBA loans, competitive rates
- Why People Like It: Flexible funding options and excellent banking services for startups
LiveOak Bank provides small business owners with banking solutions, including business loans and high-yield savings accounts.
QuickBooks simplifies how you manage your money by automating repetitive tasks and offering comprehensive reporting tools, enabling them to focus on business growth.
If you’re seeking flexible financial solutions for your small business, LiveOak Bank offers competitive rates and services tailored to business growth.
Content Creation & Design
16. Canva – Design Tool
- Cost: Free plan available, Canva Pro starts at $12.99 per month
- Best Features: Thousands of templates, brand kit, easy drag-and-drop design
- Why People Like It: Makes professional design accessible without hiring a graphic designer
Canva is a graphic design tool that allows users to create high-quality designs easily.
I get access to pre-designed templates for social media posts, brochures, and other marketing materials, making it simple to start a design and tailor it to my needs.
It has a whole library of templates, clip art, fonts out of the wazoo, and more- plus, Canva Pro lets you compose a whole branding kit to make it all cohesive.
Canva is an indispensable tool for small businesses aiming to enhance content creation and social media management, providing everything needed to create stunning visuals.
17. ChatGPT – AI Writing Tool
- Cost: Free plan available, ChatGPT Plus starts at $20 per month
- Best Features: AI-powered content creation, chatbot integration, text automation
- Why People Like It: Helps generate content quickly and improves business efficiency
ChatGPT is an AI-powered tool that enhances customer interactions through instant messaging.
Not only that, but its integration with Google Workspace makes it easy to use with a team putting together content and product ideas.
ChatGPT could improve customer satisfaction by providing clear responses automatically and directing customers around your website.
Video & Social Media Marketing
18. VidIQ – Video Optimization
- Cost: Free plan available, paid plans start at $10 per month
- Best Features: Video SEO, keyword suggestions, competitor analysis
- Why People Like It: Helps YouTubers rank higher and gain more views
VidIQ isa tool designed for video marketing and analytics. With its robust features, small businesses can create popular video content and track all those views.
It connects with Google Analytics to give you insights into all your videos’ performances.
VidIQ is a valuable tool for small businesses aiming to leverage video marketing, offering comprehensive analytics and optimization features.
19. TubeBuddy – YouTube Growth Tool+
- Cost: Free plan ($0!); paid plans are $4.99+ per month
- Best Features: Bulk video processing/editing, SEO tools, keyword tracking
- Why People Like It: Saves time optimizing videos and improves engagement
TubeBuddy is a simple way for YouTube creators looking to optimize their videos, improve search rankings, and increase engagement.
If you’re serious about growing a YouTube channel, this tool will change how you reach and connect with your target audience! It helps with keyword research, video SEO, and performance tracking.
I’ve used TubeBuddy to refine my video titles, tags, and descriptions, leading to higher views and better rankings on YouTube.Â
20. Repurpose.io – Automate Content Across Platforms
- Cost: Starts at $15 per month
- Best Features: Auto-posting, repurposing long-form content into short clips, social media integration
- Why People Like It: Saves hours of work by automatically distributing content across multiple channels
Repurpose.io is an automation tool that helps repurpose content across multiple platforms, saving time and maximizing reach.
You can turn your YouTube videos into Instagram Reels, TikToks, and even podcasts effortlessly.
For entrepreneurs who want to get more mileage out of their content without constantly creating new material, Repurpose.io is an essential tool to streamline your social media strategy.
FAQs
What is the best e-commerce platform for small businesses?
In my opinion, Shopify is the best e-commerce website due to its user-friendly design, customization features, and excellent integration options.
You’ll find it makes setting up your online store a breeze!
How can ClickFunnels help my small business?
ClickFunnels can streamline your email marketing and customer relationship management, making it easier to automate your marketing efforts and keep track of customer data.
This can ultimately help your small business grow more efficiently by reaching out to people and landing sales passively.
Is there a steep learning curve for Go High Level?
Yes, I think there is a kinda-steep learning curve Go High Level.
But the powerful features it offers for managing customer interactions make it worthwhile.
I went through their training articles and educational info, but watching YouTube videos and reading other articles online helped me pick up how to use Go High Level quicker.
What financial management tool is best for small businesses?
QuickBooks is a top pick for small businesses because of its comprehensive features in financial management and reporting. It’s user-friendly and can really help streamline your financial processes.
I found it easy to record sales, make sure sales tax was being collected properly, and even receive and pay invoices for clients and freelancers.
How can Canva help with my marketing efforts?
Canva can supercharge your marketing by offering user-friendly templates that help you create stunning designs for social media posts and other materials effortlessly.
I love how the Pro account comes with tons of graphics and images, plus way more templates that I can use and alter for quick designs.
Plus, I could create my own brand folder so that my colors and logos were all in Canva, ready to roll for when I was creating printables or social media campaigns.
What about project management software?
I realize I didn’t touch much on how I manage tasks among my team members, as I focused more on launching and creating landing pages and content to make those sales happen.
But if you aren’t venturing solo, then I suggest checking out free tools to assign tasks and monitor what’s getting done by who.
I use Asana to basically make to-do lists for my writers and team members, like helping me create new printables for Shopify, write new articles, or work on YouTube scripts with me.
Final Thoughts
I started this blog and became an entrepreneur on Shopify almost a decade ago, and having the right tools made creating my brand and landing sales effortless.
Picking the small business tools could significantly enhance the efficiency and success of launching your business!
From managing social media and customer emails to optimizing marketing and nailing sales pages, the tools I’ve shared were my solutions to be more successful.
By leveraging the tools I’m suggesting, you can streamline your new business processes and drive business growth. Embrace these tools and take your new business to bigger heights.
