When I first started out as a VA, I signed up to ALL the business tools and platforms. I had a serious case of shiny object syndrome. That was until I realised how much money I was wasting. Sound familiar?
Fast forward a few years and I can boil my favourite tools down a few simple basics that have a fundamental impact on my day-to-day business life. I’ve done the hard work so don’t have to. Here are my tried and tested recommendations.
Table of Contents
1. Dubsado
How much time do you spend each week doing the boring admin in your business? 5 hours? 10 hours? Well, imagine a world where you don’t have to manually chase testimonial requests, send out contracts and compile proposals.
Dubsado is a CRM (customer relationship management tool) that can take these tasks off your hands, delivering a consistent journey for your clients.
Yes, it takes a bit of time to get your head around the platform. But once you do, it will transform the backend of your business.
Read more about what it can (and can’t) do for your business here.
Investment: $40 per month
2. ClickUp
I love this project management tool. It acts as the HQ of my business and helps me manage and organise all my tasks, projects and deadlines in one place. It’s actually the first tab I open on my computer every morning.
ClickUp can help you:
- Assign tasks to your team members
- Keep everyone accountable with deadlines and due dates
- Track your time
- Map out your goals and project plans
If there’s only one tool to invest in, my recommendation would be this. Yes, you might find that there are some features you aren’t ready for yet (like automation) but as your business grows, so will your need for this tool.
Investment: From $5 per month
3. MailerLite
Building your email list should be one of your top priorities as a service provider. It’s SO powerful. Instagram followers come and go, but email subscribers are far more engaged in you and your offering.
MailerLite is a free, easy-to-use tool that allows you to build beautiful email templates. One of the reasons the platform is so popular is that it includes automation in its free plan meaning that you can deliver welcome and nurture sequences at the touch of a button. You can also set up landing pages for your lead magnet. Win-win.
Investment: free for up to 1,000 subscribers
4. Zapier
Zapier is the magic that holds all my tools together and lets them speak to each other without me having to get too involved.
Picture a world where a new client’s details are automatically added to your email marketing platform or where a new project board is created as soon as they sign your contract.
That’s the kind of powerful automation Zapier handles for you.
Investment: Free for 100 tasks a month. From £23.94 for over 100 tasks per month.
5. Xero
Numbers aren’t exactly my strong suit so thankfully Xero has me covered when it comes to managing my business finances.
Xero syncs directly to my Monzo business account, directly tracking all my income and expenses. You can automate your recurring invoices and set up payment reminders for those pesky late-paying clients. It’s a lifesaver when it comes to tax return season!
Investment: From £14 per month.
Looking for some advice on a particular tool? Book in a power hour with me and we can tackle it together. Decided you need a full system set up? Take a read of the packages I offer here.
