Resources I Actually Recommend
There are thousands of tools, apps, systems, and “must-have” platforms being marketed to business owners every single day.
But honestly? Most solopreneurs and small business owners do not need more software. They need simpler systems, fewer headaches, and tools that genuinely support the way they work.
When it comes to building your tech stack, I firmly believe two things:
1. Keep it as simple as possible.
Complexity is expensive. Every new tool adds setup time, learning curves, troubleshooting, and another monthly subscription to manage.
2. Only change if you truly need to.
If what you are currently using is working well, there is no prize for constantly switching platforms.
There will always be a new software being promoted by influencers, coaches, or colleagues. But just because a tool works beautifully for someone else does not mean it belongs in your business.
Stay focused on:
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your actual business goals,
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your biggest operational pain points,
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and the systems that genuinely save you time and energy.
Your attention is limited as a business owner. Spend it carefully.
I also get asked about tech stacks and software recommendations a lot, so I wanted to create one central place with the tools I actually recommend most often.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to sign up through them, at no additional cost to you. That said, I only ever recommend tools that I personally use in my own business, or that my clients are actively using successfully.
If I don’t genuinely believe a tool can help simplify or improve your business, it doesn’t make this list.
Below are the tools I most commonly recommend to coaching and service-based businesses, along with how I think about each one.
Accounting Software
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I’m actually pretty agnostic when it comes to accounting software.
I do not recommend QuickBooks because it is magically better than every other option on the market. I recommend it because:
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it is widely used,
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most accountants and bookkeepers already know it,
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and it is more than capable of getting the job done well.
Almost every coach and business owner I work with is already using QuickBooks in some form. Most of the improvements we make are not about replacing QuickBooks — they are about making the bookkeeping process simpler, cleaner, and more efficient.
QuickBooks has also improved significantly over the years and continues to get better.
That said, when business owners start looking at add-ons like:
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payroll,
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bill pay,
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inventory management,
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forecasting,
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or budgeting,
…I often recommend separate tools that do those specific jobs better than QuickBooks does internally.
The goal is never to have the fanciest software stack. The goal is to build systems that work reliably without draining your time.
Business Banking
I almost never recommend switching business bank accounts unless there is a clear reason to do so.
Here’s my definition of a bank account that is “working well”:
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No unnecessary monthly fees
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Easy to use
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Easy to transfer money between personal and business accounts
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Easy to download statements
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Integrates cleanly with QuickBooks
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Allows view-only accountant access
If your current bank checks those boxes, you probably do not need to change anything.
But if you are:
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starting a new business,
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frustrated with your current bank,
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or looking for a cleaner bookkeeping experience, then I almost always recommend Relay.
Relay was clearly designed with online business owners and modern bookkeeping workflows in mind. It integrates beautifully with QuickBooks, makes account organization simple, and creates far less friction when managing business finances.
I also wrote an entire blog post explaining why I recommend Relay so often and how to know if it’s the right fit for your business.
Client Invoicing & Getting Paid
One of the biggest operational bottlenecks I see in small businesses is inconsistent payment collection.
If clients can pay you easily, they usually will.
If your process relies on:
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Venmo requests,
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manual reminders,
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checks,
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random transfer methods,
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or chasing invoices,
You are creating unnecessary admin work for yourself every single month.
The goal is simple:
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Make it easy for clients to pay
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Reduce manual follow-up
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Automate as much as possible
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Here are the platforms I most commonly recommend depending on the type of business you run.
For Nutritionists
Most nutritionists I work with are already using Practice Better for practice management, scheduling, client communication, and program delivery.
Because it already handles so much of the client experience, using it for invoicing and payment collection is usually the simplest and most efficient option.
Less software. Fewer systems. Less confusion.
That’s almost always the better business decision.
For Fitness Coaches
If you are already delivering coaching through TrainingPeaks but still collecting payments through cash, checks, e-transfers, or Venmo…
…it is probably time to simplify your process.
I understand the hesitation around credit card processing fees. Every business owner notices them.
But in most cases, the time you save through automation and streamlined payment collection is worth significantly more than the fees themselves.
And honestly?
If payment processing fees feel devastating to your business model, that is often a pricing issue, not a software issue.
For Almost Everyone
Stripe is one of my favorite invoicing tools for simple, flexible payment collection.
It is easy to set up, easy for clients to use, and supports:
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one-time invoices,
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recurring monthly payments,
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credit card payments,
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and ACH bank transfers.
Funds deposit directly into your business account, and the client experience is significantly smoother than many traditional invoicing systems.
In many cases, I find Stripe’s invoicing experience more user-friendly than the native QuickBooks invoice portal.
If you are already invoicing through QuickBooks and it is working well for you…
keep going.
You do not need to rebuild your systems just because another platform exists.
My only recommendation is to simplify how clients pay you.
Ideally, offer:
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ACH / bank transfer (to reduce processing fees)
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Credit card payments (for convenience)
Too many payment methods often create more bookkeeping complexity than benefit.
I use Anchor for my own monthly bookkeeping clients and cleanup projects.
What I love most is that it combines:
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engagement letters,
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contracts,
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approvals,
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and payment collection
all into one streamlined workflow.
Clients can review terms and approve payment in the same step, which dramatically reduces administrative back-and-forth.
I also appreciate that:
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ACH transfers can remain affordable,
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credit card fees can be passed through if needed,
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and their customer support has consistently been excellent.
For any service providers managing recurring client work, it is a fantastic tool.