If I had to start from zero today, this is the exact order I would buy tools. From building a website, to creating content, to getting your first customer and automating. No $997 courses, just tools real solopreneurs use.
Sections
4
Build Your Home Base
Create Content That Gets Views
Sell & Collect Emails
Automate & Scale
Build Your Home Base
You need a home on the internet before you can make money. These 5 tools are the cheapest, most professional way to start.
Where I buy all my domains. Cheap and easy, no upsells.
Namecheap Domain
The most affordable hosting that is actually fast. I host 3 websites here.
Hostinger Hosting
Free and powers 40% of the internet. Total control over your site.
WordPress.org
Drag and drop website builder. I built my site in one afternoon with no code.
Elementor Page Builder
Where I plan my entire business for free before spending any money.
Notion
Create Content That Gets Views
No content, no traffic, no income. These 5 tools help you create posts and videos that actually get attention in 2026.
I design all my carousels and YouTube thumbnails here with Canva Pro. This saved me $300 per month not hiring a designer on Fiverr. I have over 100 templates ready that I reuse every week.
Canva Pro
I edit all my short-form videos for Reels and TikTok with CapCut Pro. It has auto-captions that are perfect for US audience and I can finish a video in 15 minutes on my phone.
CapCut Pro
I use ChatGPT Plus every day for writing hooks, ideas, and video scripts. It turns one messy idea into 10 viral Threads posts in 5 minutes and I never stare at a blank page anymore.
ChatGPT Plan | Plus
I create unique scroll-stopping images for my posts with Midjourney instead of boring stock photos. My engagement doubled because no one else has the same image.
Midjourney
I turn one long 30 minute YouTube video into 10 viral short clips automatically with OpusClip. It finds the best moments for me so I can post daily without burning out.
OpusClip
Sell & Collect Emails
This is how you turn views into dollars. Simple tools to sell products and build an email list that works worldwide.
Easiest way to sell your first digital product. I made my first $100 here.
Gumroad
To collect credit card payments from US customers.
Stripe
Free email tool for creators. I collect emails here until 1000 subscribers.
ConvertKit Free
Let people book calls with you without back-and-forth emails.
Calendly
Automate & Scale
Once you make your first $100, use these to automate so you don't burn out. This is how you go from freelancer to business owner.
My favorite automation tool. Connects Gumroad to ConvertKit automatically.
