Running a small business—especially if you're creating shirts, tumblers, stickers, DTF prints, or sublimation products—means wearing a LOT of hats. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, having the right tools in your back pocket can save time, keep you sane, and help grow your profits. Let’s dive into the essentials! ✨
1. Your Website = Your Storefront
If your website is clunky or confusing, people bounce. You need a smooth, easy-to-navigate shop that builds trust and converts visitors into buyers.
✅ Shopify – User-friendly, powerful, and made for selling physical products.
✅ Etsy – Great if you’re targeting handmade/vintage buyers or testing the waters.
✅ Wix– Awesome for businesses that need more advanced customization.
2. Get Paid (Without the Headaches)
You need payment processors that are secure, fast, and easy for customers to use.
✅ Square – Perfect if you do pop-ups or events and need a POS system.
✅ PayPal – Most people already have it, which makes checkout faster.
✅ Stripe- Works seamlessly with most e-commerce platforms.
3. Design & Mockups Made Easy
If you’re selling anything visual, your images matter—A LOT. Clear mockups and quality design = more sales.
✅ Canva – Great for graphics, social posts, and even simple product designs.
✅ Placeit – Instant mockups of shirts, mugs, tumblers—you name it.
✅ Affinity Designer - Ideal for professional vector work and custom logos.
4. Keep Projects (and Your Sanity) On Track
Between orders, custom requests, and new designs, things can get messy fast. These tools help you stay organized.
✅ Trello – Simple, visual project boards (perfect for solo biz owners).
✅ Asana – Good for managing a growing team or setting deadlines.
✅ Notion – A powerhouse that can handle task lists, SOPs, content calendars—whatever you throw at it.
5. Stay in Touch with Your Customers
Email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to drive repeat sales. Automate it and watch your customer loyalty grow!
✅ Flodesk – Powerful, e-commerce-focused email platform with great automation.
✅ Shopify Email – If you’re using Shopify, this keeps everything under one roof.
✅ Mailchimp – User-friendly and great for beginners.
6. Schedule & Post Like a Pro
Don’t waste hours every day posting manually—let these tools handle it for you.
✅ Cinchshare – Another great option for visual planning and content batching.
✅ Meta Business Suite – Manage both Facebook and Instagram in one spot.
✅ Planoly – Clean, drag-and-drop planner especially for Instagram & Pinterest.
7. Shipping Without the Stress
Fulfilling orders shouldn’t be the most painful part of your biz. Here’s how to make it easier:
✅ Pirate Ship – Score big on USPS and UPS discounts.
✅ ShipStation – Integrates with Shopify, Etsy, and more for streamlined shipping.
✅ Printify – A solid print-on-demand option if you want to outsource fulfillment.
8. Legal & Financial Tools
It’s not the fun stuff—but it is the stuff that keeps your business safe and profitable.
✅ QuickBooks – Track your income, expenses, and tax deductions like a boss.
✅ HoneyBook – All-in-one client management with contracts, invoices, and scheduling.
✅ Dropbox Sign – A super easy way to send and sign legal docs (personally recommended!).
Final Thoughts
Let’s be real: running a small business takes grit, hustle, and way too much coffee—but the right tools can make it somuch smoother.
✨ Whether you're designing, shipping, posting, or emailing—there’s a tool out there that can help you work smarter, not harder.
What’s one tool you can’t live without in your business? Drop it in the comments!