Starting an online business as a solo entrepreneur in the Philippines or anywhere else can overwhelm you. The right tools simplify your work and boost your chances of success. This list covers 10 beginner-friendly, affordable tools, plus a bonus, to help you design, manage, and grow your business. Each tool solves a specific problem, from creating visuals to tracking finances, while keeping your costs low. Want to launch with confidence? Read on for tools that make it happen.
Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. This means you pay no extra cost, but I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them. Your support keeps this content free.
1. Canva: Create Professional Visuals Fast
You need visuals to stand out, but hiring a designer costs money you may not have. Canva’s free plan lets you create logos, social media posts, and flyers with drag-and-drop templates. Choose from thousands of designs tailored for businesses, like Instagram stories or product banners. For example, I created a logo for a client’s bakery in 20 minutes using Canva’s free templates. The result looked polished and saved them hundreds.
- Sign up for free and explore templates.
- Use the brand kit (Pro plan, $9.99/month) to save colors and fonts for consistency.
- Export designs in PNG or PDF for immediate use.
How do you plan to use visuals to attract customers?
2. Systeme.io: Launch Funnels and Sell Products (No Code Required)
You don’t need a dozen tools to sell your services or digital products. Systeme.io gives you landing pages, email marketing, automations, and payment processing in one place. It’s perfect for selling ebooks, courses, or coaching services—without tech headaches.
A solopreneur I worked with used Systeme.io to launch a free email course and upsell her ebook. She had it all live in 3 days.
- Use the free plan (up to 2,000 contacts!) to test your idea.
- Build a simple landing page and connect a payment processor.
- Set up an automated email sequence to nurture new leads.
What will your first offer be—and how fast can you launch it?
3. Trello: Organize Your Tasks
Juggling tasks as a solo entrepreneur can lead to chaos. Trello’s free plan uses visual boards to track projects. Create lists for ideas, in-progress tasks, and completed work. A freelancer I worked with used Trello to manage blog post deadlines, cutting planning time by half.
- Set up a board for your business goals in 10 minutes.
- Add due dates and checklists to stay on track.
- Integrate with Google Calendar (free) for reminders.
How will you organize your daily tasks to stay focused?
4. Google Analytics: Track Your Website’s Growth
You need data to know if your website attracts the right audience. Google Analytics, free to use, shows you visitor numbers, page views, and user behavior. For example, a small business owner discovered 70% of their traffic came from mobile users, prompting a mobile-friendly redesign.
- Install the tracking code on your site in minutes.
- Set up goals to measure sales or sign-ups.
- Check reports weekly to adjust your strategy.
What metrics will you track to grow your audience?
5. MailerLite: Build and Automate Your Email List
You don’t need a complicated email tool to grow your audience. MailerLite’s free plan gives you up to 1,000 subscribers and includes landing pages, automation, and forms—all the essentials to build a real email list.
A solo coach I worked with set up a lead magnet funnel in one afternoon using MailerLite. She collected 300+ emails in her first month without touching code.
- Create a landing page or pop-up to collect leads.
- Send a welcome email automatically.
- Use the drag-and-drop editor to design beautiful emails.
What free resource can you give to start building your list today?
6. Publer: Schedule and Repurpose Social Media Content
Posting manually kills momentum. Publer helps you plan and auto-post to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even TikTok. Its free plan includes post scheduling, link shortening, and media library access.
A digital product seller I know bulk-scheduled 2 weeks of content in one sitting, then reused high-performing posts by recycling them automatically.
- Draft posts in Publer’s visual calendar.
- Reuse content with post recycling to stay consistent.
- Preview how posts will look before publishing.
How much time will you save if your next two weeks of content are ready today?
7. Gimbla: Manage Finances in the Philippines
Tracking finances ensures your business stays profitable. Gimbla, designed for the Philippines, offers a free plan with invoicing, expense tracking, and BIR-compliant reports. A local freelancer sent professional invoices to clients in minutes, improving cash flow. The pro plan ($10/month) adds multi-user access.
- Import bank statements to automate expense tracking.
- Create invoices with your logo for a professional touch.
- Generate tax reports for BIR compliance.
How will you keep your finances organized from day one?
8. Grammarly: Write Error-Free Content
Mistakes in emails or product descriptions can hurt your credibility. Grammarly’s free plan catches grammar, spelling, and tone issues. I used it to polish a client’s website copy, making it clear and professional in one pass.
- Install the browser extension for real-time edits.
- Check emails before sending to clients.
- Upgrade to Premium ($12/month) for style suggestions.
What content will you write to connect with customers?
9. Make.com: Automate Your Workflow
Repetitive tasks slow you down. Make.com’s free plan offers 1,000 operations per month to connect apps, like adding new customers to your email list automatically. A solopreneur saved two hours weekly by automating social media posts. The pro plan ($9/month) unlocks unlimited operations.
- Set up a basic automation in 10 minutes.
- Connect apps like Shopify and Mailchimp.
- Test the free plan before upgrading.
Which tasks will you automate to save time?
10. Airtable: Centralize Projects, Content, and Operations
When you’re solo, you need systems that work like your brain. Airtable combines spreadsheets and databases, making it ideal for tracking content calendars, lead pipelines, or product launches. Unlike Slack, it’s built for solo execution and async planning.
One digital creator I know uses Airtable to manage content ideas, assign statuses (writing, editing, published), and track affiliate income—all in one place.
- Start with a free template or build your own workspace.
- Use views (calendar, kanban, gallery) to switch context fast.
- Upgrade (starts at $10/month) for automations and advanced features.
What workflows can you centralize in one dashboard?
Bonus Tool: Zaap.bio – Create a Link-in-Bio Page
You need one place to share all your links. Zaap.bio’s free plan lets you build a mobile-optimized link-in-bio page for your store, social media, and content. A solopreneur drove 20% more traffic to their store by linking Zaap.bio in their Instagram bio. The pro plan ($5/month) adds analytics and custom domains.
- Set up a page in 15 minutes.
- Add links to your products and profiles.
- Customize colors to match your brand.
Where will you direct your audience with your link-in-bio?
Download the free Solo Entrepreneur Toolkit Checklist below to track your setup. Visit our digital product store for templates, guides, and courses to grow your business.
