My Top 3 Free Tools I Used to Get Started (Before I Had a Budget)

Let me tell you a dirty little secret about starting an online business…

Most people think you need a shiny website, expensive software, and a war chest of cash before you can even get going.

Rubbish.

When I first started, I had no budget. I couldn’t afford the £97-a-month “guru-recommended” platforms. I didn’t have a design team, a copy team, or even a tech team. It was just me, a creaky old laptop, and the desire not to go broke.

So what did I do?

I hunted down free tools. Tools that gave me just enough power to get moving without draining my bank account. And do you know what? Those free tools are STILL good enough for anyone getting started today.

Here are the three I leaned on most when I was bootstrapping…

1. Canva (Design Without Designers)

Back in the day, I would have killed for this. Canva lets you knock together professional-looking graphics in minutes — for free.

Logos, social media banners, eBook covers, sales graphics… it’s all there. Templates galore. Drag-and-drop simple.

I’m not a designer (stickmen were pushing it for me), but Canva gave me visuals that looked credible enough to compete with the big boys.

👉 Tip: Use their free “Brand Kit” to keep your colours and fonts consistent. Consistency is what makes you look polished, not fancy animations.

2. Mailchimp (Free Email Marketing Starter Kit)

Before you groan — yes, I know Mailchimp has its quirks. But when you’re starting from zero, their free plan is gold.

You get email list management, basic automations, and simple templates to stay in touch with your audience. And let’s be clear: email is STILL the most valuable channel for any online entrepreneur.

If you’re not building a list, you’re building sandcastles at low tide.

👉 Tip: Don’t obsess over fancy designs. Plain-text emails often get better engagement and feel more personal.

3. Trello (Organise Your Chaos)

Your brain is a mess when you start. Too many ideas. Too many “must-dos.” And no system to keep track.

Enter Trello.

Think of it like sticky notes on steroids. You create boards, lists, and cards to map out projects, tasks, and goals. Drag-and-drop, dead simple, totally free.

It kept me sane in the early days and stopped me from chasing every shiny object.

👉 Tip: Use Trello’s “Butler” automation (included free) to automate repetitive tasks, like moving cards when you tick off a checklist. Saves hours.

Final Word

Here’s the truth: the tools don’t build the business — YOU do.

But free tools like these can remove excuses. They help you look professional, stay organised, and actually communicate with your audience without spending a penny.

When you’ve got revenue, you can upgrade. Until then, keep it simple.

Because at the start, your job isn’t to have the fanciest toolkit… your job is to get moving.