Business Subscriptions That Are Actually Worth Paying For: Work Smarter, Not Harder
- Gloria MacGillis
- Jul 17
- 15 min read
Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats—owner, marketer, accountant, tech support, and more. One of the smartest things you can do to lighten the load is invest in the right software tools. From staying organized to automating marketing and managing your finances, the right subscriptions can save you hours and help your business grow more efficiently.
At Glow Up Web Design, we’ve worked with hundreds of small businesses and have tested just about every tool under the sun. Below, we’re sharing the software subscriptions we have been using and recommend most—tools that are affordable, reliable, and often overlooked. Some of those may not be the most mainstream solutions, but they’ve proven to be game-changers for our team and our clients.
We’ve also included affiliate links where applicable, so if you decide to give any of them a try, Glow Up may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Win-win!
Let’s dive into our list of must-haves for smart, streamlined business operations - in the order we think you'd need it:
🔎 Google Workspace:
Reliable Mail Service Provider & The Ultimate Free Toolkit for Small Business Owners.
If you're running a small business and want to stay organized, work smarter, and present yourself professionally, Google Workspace is one of the most powerful (and mostly free) toolkits available.
Most of these tools come completely free with a personal Gmail account—giving you access to a full suite of productivity and business tools without paying a dime.
Here’s what Google WorkSpace includes:
📁 Google Drive – 15 GB of cloud storage to upload, organize, and share files
📝 Google Docs, Sheets & Slides – Real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
📅 Google Calendar – Shareable, color-coded calendars with smart integrations
🎥 Google Meet – Built-in video conferencing with screen sharing and calendar invites
Not technically part of Google Workspace, but great for small business within Google echo system:
🎬 YouTube Studio – Host public or unlisted videos (great for internal training or client tutorials), and monetize your content when eligible
📍 Google Business Profile – Get found on Google Search & Maps—even if you don’t have a physical storefront
💼 Want to use a professional email address like hello@yourbusiness.com? You can upgrade to the paid version of Google Workspace for just $7/month per user, which also bumps your cloud storage up to 30 GB and unlocks additional admin tools.
📘 Want a deeper dive into all these tools and how we use them daily? Check out our full breakdown: What Google Workspace Can Really Do for Your Small Business→
🌐 DreamHost
Buy your domain name from a reliable, transparent provider—without hidden fees.
Speaking of setting up a professional business email, the first thing you’ll need is a domain name. But when it comes to domain registrars, not all are created equal. Some try to upsell you at every click, others raise renewal rates without notice, and a few make it unnecessarily complicated to access your DNS settings.
That’s why I’ve been using DreamHost since 2017—and continue to recommend them to every client I work with. They’re beginner-friendly, honest with pricing, and never push unnecessary add-ons.
Here’s what I love about DreamHost:
💵 Clear, up-front pricing (no sneaky renewal surprises)
🔒 Free WHOIS privacy protection and SSL
🖥️ A simple, user-friendly dashboard for domain management
🙌 Small, knowledgeable support team that doesn’t waste your time with upsells
And let’s talk about price: DreamHost consistently offers some of the most affordable domain names out there. While it might seem like a small cost (usually under $20/year), it's important because your domain name is a long-term investment. Once it's connected to your website, email, and marketing efforts, switching registrars down the road can take up to 7 days—which can cause email downtime or even brief site outages if not handled perfectly.
So choose your registrar wisely—and make sure you own your domain yourself. You don’t want your web designer or developer to be the only one who has access. Once your domain builds reputation, traffic, and authority, it becomes one of your most valuable digital assets.
PS: You don’t need to host your website with DreamHost to purchase your domain there (though their hosting is solid too). I personally use DreamHost to buy all of my domains and connect them to Wix. Although I do host some WordPress websites for myself and other clients with them. I'll talk more about their hosting later on this post.
Your domain name is your digital real estate—protect it, own it, and keep it with a registrar that respects your business.And no, I don’t earn commission from domain names—I just love DreamHost enough to share it. 😉
🖥️ Wix
Build a beautiful, professional website—without knowing how to code.
Now that you’ve secured your domain name, you're probably ready to build a website—and Wix is one of the easiest, most flexible platforms available. It’s also the platform we use for nearly all our client projects here at Glow Up Web Design.
Wix offers a true drag-and-drop experience, which means you can fully customize your layout, content, and branding without touching a single line of code. Whether you're showcasing your services, running an online store, or launching a blog, Wix gives you total creative control—while handling all the techy stuff behind the scenes like hosting, security, and built-in business solutions.
Here’s why my team and I love and recommend Wix:
✅ Fully customizable templates that don’t look cookie-cutter
🔍 Built-in SEO tools to help your site get found on Google—even without deep technical know-how
🔒 Reliable hosting & security—Wix handles updates for you, so you’re not one plugin away from breaking your site
⚙️ Powerful business features like bookings, e-commerce, blogs, events, and more to simplify operations
📊 Built-in CRM tools like invoicing, automations, contact management, and performance analytics to help you understand and grow your business
We’ve launched dozens of successful websites on Wix, and many of our clients are surprised by just how professional and polished their final sites look. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who want a beautiful website without the overwhelm of managing WordPress or learning web development.
If you're ready to take your brand online—or want to upgrade from a DIY site that’s no longer serving you—Wix is a platform you can grow with. And yes, if you need help setting it up or want a design that’s truly custom and strategy-driven, that’s exactly what we do at Glow Up.
Our team of highly trained designers can save you time, energy, and tech headaches. We not only make your website beautiful and on-brand—we also integrate advanced features like custom code, CMS, SEO setup, automations, and more. Contact Glow Up for a project Now ->
📜 Website Policies
Protect your business with legally vetted website policies—no lawyer required.
Now that you have a website, if you collect any kind of user information—like emails, cookies, credit card data, or even basic analytics—you’re legally required to disclose that through a privacy policy. This isn’t just best practice; in many regions, it’s the law. That’s where WebsitePolicies comes in.
This smart, lawyer-reviewed tool helps you generate professional-grade policies in minutes. Their free tier includes a basic privacy policy, and paid plans start at just $59/year—giving you access to multiple policies, automatic updates, multi-language support, and removal of their branding.
Here’s why WebsitePolicies is a great fit for small business owners:
🕒 Fast and simple: Just answer a few guided questions and your tailored policy is ready—without paying high legal fees
⚖️ Attorney-reviewed: Policies are drafted to comply with major laws like GDPR, CCPA, and more
🔄 Auto-updated: Use the HTML embed option so your policies automatically update when laws change
🌍 Multi-language & global: Ideal if your website serves international visitors or customers
🎨 Clean, customizable design: Easy to style and embed on any website platform
If you want to protect your business, build trust, and stay legally compliant—without the headache of hiring a lawyer—this small annual investment is worth every penny.
✍️ DocHub
Edit, sign, and send PDFs—without printing a single page.
If you’ve ever had to print a PDF just to sign it, scan it, and email it back, DocHub is about to save you time and your sanity. It’s a fantastic, affordable alternative to expensive platforms like DocuSign.
With DocHub, you can sign, fill out, and edit PDFs right in your browser—no extra software, no printers, no hassle. You get 3 signature requests for free, and if you need more, it’s only $16/month or $144/year, which is incredibly reasonable for what it offers.
I personally use DocHub to sign contracts with clients and contractors—and to keep a dashboard of all my signed documents for easy access. It integrates beautifully with Google Drive, so you can open any PDF directly from your Drive, make edits, add your signature, and send it off within minutes.
Here’s why I recommend DocHub:
✅ Sign documents digitally—no printing, scanning, or downloading needed
✏️ Add text, highlights, checkboxes, dropdowns, and even images to your forms
🔗 Seamless integration with Google Drive and Gmail
📁 Store documents securely or export/share as needed
🆓 Free for light use, and the paid plan is one of the most affordable on the market
Whether you’re onboarding new clients, signing vendor agreements, or just managing internal forms, DocHub makes your document workflow faster and fully paperless. It’s one of those tools that seems small—but saves a surprising amount of time, especially if you’re running your business solo.
🎥 Zoom
Meet clients, host team calls, and stay connected—no matter where you work.
While Google Meet is great for internal check-ins, I still recommend Zoom for professional meetings, especially when you're working with clients, hosting webinars, or scheduling recurring calls. Zoom is one of the most reliable and widely recognized video conferencing tools out there—and there’s a reason it’s become the go-to for remote business communication.
Whether you’re onboarding a new client, meeting with a team member, or running a virtual workshop, Zoom keeps everything clear, stable, and easy to access for everyone involved.
Here’s why Zoom is a must-have if you meet clients online daily:
🎙️ Reliable audio & video quality even with lower internet speeds
📅 Easy scheduling & integrations with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Wix booking tool
💬 Built-in chat, screen share, breakout rooms, and live transcription
🔐 Password-protected meetings and waiting rooms for added security
🆓 Free plan available, with 40-minute limits on group calls
💼 Affordable paid plans for longer sessions, cloud recordings, and advanced features
💄 Bonus feature: Built-in touch-up filters—perfect for those off-camera days when you still want to show up polished
At Glow Up, we use Zoom for strategy calls, client tutorials, and internal planning sessions—especially when visuals or shared screens help us communicate more clearly. It’s easy for clients to join (even those who aren't tech-savvy), and it works smoothly on nearly any device.
If video meetings are part of your client experience (and they probably should be), Zoom is one of those tools that makes everything run smoother and feel more professional.
📱 Visible
An affordable business phone line—without the high carrier fees.
If you’re running your business mostly from home using your personal phone, it can be hard to separate work and life. That’s why having a dedicated business line is such a game-changer—and Visible is one of the best-kept secrets for doing just that.
Owned by Verizon, Visible offers unlimited talk, text, and data with no contracts, no surprise charges, and flat pricing starting at just $25/month. Why is it so affordable? Because there are no physical stores, everything is managed through their mobile app, and all billing is 100% paperless.
It’s a great option for solo entrepreneurs and small teams who want a reliable business number—without paying $75+ for a traditional carrier plan. You still get access to Verizon’s powerful network, just in a more streamlined, budget-friendly package.
However, if you travel frequently for work or need better performance in congested areas, consider upgrading to Visible+ ($35/month). It offers premium data access, talk, text & unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada (or $45/month for 85+ countries)—and you can always upgrade temporarily when you’re on the go.
Here’s why Visible is a smart business line solution:
💸 Flat-rate pricing—$25/month for unlimited everything (no extra fees)
📶 Runs on Verizon's network, strong and reliable in most areas
📲 Mobile hotspot included—great for working remotely or while traveling
🚫 No contracts, no hidden fees, and you can bring your own phone
🔄 eSIM available — add a second line to your existing phone without juggling devices
If you need a separate line for business communication, client calls, or just want better work-life balance, Visible makes it easy and affordable. You can also use your business number to register for tools like Google Workspace, Calendly, or marketing platforms—keeping your personal info completely separate.
Personally, I purchased a secondhand phone and set up Visible as my business line. That phone lives in my office—and when I clock out, so does my business. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made for both my productivity and my peace of mind.
🎨 Canva
Design anything you need—even if you’re not a designer.
Every business needs some kind of marketing where it envolves graphic design. Whether you’re creating a business card, Instagram posts, proposals, presentations, or print materials, Canva is hands-down one of the most essential tools I recommend to small business owners. It gives you the power to create polished, professional designs without needing to hire a graphic designer (or learn complicated software like Photoshop).
Even on the free plan, Canva comes packed with easy-to-use templates, drag-and-drop tools, and a huge library of photos, icons, and fonts. But if you’re running a business, I highly recommend upgrading to Canva Pro—because that’s where the real time-saving magic happens.
Here’s why my team and I love and recommend Canva Pro:
✨ One-click branding with Brand Kits—upload your logo, choose your fonts and brand colors, and apply them across all designs
🧲 Magic Resize lets you turn one design into multiple sizes (perfect for social media posts and stories)
🔍 Background remover makes product photos and headshots look pro
📁 Folders and content planner keep your designs organized and scheduled
🖼️ Access to 100+ million premium photos, graphics, and templates
At Glow Up, we use Canva Pro for everything from presentation decks to client social media graphics to help manage their marketing efforts. We even create editable templates for our clients to use long after the design project is complete.
🔧 What we don’t use Canva for:
Canva is great for putting designs together, but it’s not a true vector creation tool—so it’s not ideal for creating original artworks or custom logos. If you need a professional logo and branding kit built from scratch, we offer custom design services.
Even if you’re “not a creative person,” Canva helps you show up with on-brand, high-quality visuals—fast. If you're doing any sort of DIY marketing or content creation, this one’s a no-brainer.
🧠 FigJam - By Figma
Whiteboard, brainstorm, and map out ideas—together, from anywhere.
As your business grows, you might start to feel like your brain is running in 12 directions—and it gets harder to organize your thoughts, explain your vision, or get on the same page with collaborators. You tried Google Docs… but things still feel messy. That’s where FigJam shines. Built by the team behind Figma, FigJam is a visual whiteboarding tool designed for brainstorming, planning, and team ideation. Think of it like a digital sticky-note board, mind map, or creative collage to organize your thoughts—but smarter, smoother, and way more fun to use.
We use FigJam for organizing inspiration, mind mapping, and presenting wireframes. It helps both designers and clients get on the same page before we dive into actual website creation. It’s what we use throughout the discovery and planning phases—because FigJam makes complex ideas visual fast. FigJam helps you turn that brain fog into clarity—together.
Here’s why FigJam is a great whiteboarding tool for small teams:
🗺️ Infinite canvas – Never run out of space for your thoughts, flowcharts, or sticky notes
💬 Real-time collaboration – Invite clients or teammates to draw, comment, and brainstorm together live
⚡ Fast & robust – FigJam is one of Figma’s core products. Unlike whiteboarding tools tacked onto Zoom or ClickUp, FigJam doesn’t lag—even when your board is packed
🎨 Sticky notes, emojis, stamps & connectors – Make ideation fun (and easy to follow)
📌 Drag in images, links, and diagrams – Perfect for planning or content strategy
🧩 Integrates with Figma – Seamlessly transition from planning to design
💸 Free to start, and the pro plan is affordable for growing teams
At Glow Up, we often kick off projects with a FigJam board. It helps clarify ideas before we open any design tool. It’s also useful for presenting visual ideas to non-designers—clients can "see" your thought process as it unfolds.
✍️ Bonus tip: Use FigJam for internal brainstorming too—naming sessions, blog content outlines, even your 6-month goals.
✅ ClickUp
Manage tasks, track progress, and stay organized—all in one place.
There will be a point of your business where you might need a tool to track all your leads, projects, clients, documents and list of things to do. That’s where ClickUp comes in. It’s a powerful all-in-one project management tool that helps you keep everything organized and visualized—from daily to-do lists to team collaboration, client projects, and even SOPs.
If you've ever tried to manage your business with a mix of Google Docs, sticky notes, and calendar reminders, ClickUp can seriously streamline your life. It's what we use at Glow Up to keep every project organized so we can deliver on time and on point—from internal workflows, designer onboarding, to client content management and project checklists.
Here’s why ClickUp is a game-changer for small business owners:
🗂️ Customizable task views—switch between List, Board (Kanban), Calendar, and Timeline depending on how you work best
🔄 Recurring tasks & automations—great for managing weekly routines, client check-ins, and content schedules
🧠 Docs & knowledge base built-in—perfect for SOPs, meeting notes, and team resources. We love Clickup docs better than Google Docs because it allows nested docs to keep content organized
👥 Team collaboration—assign tasks, tag teammates, leave comments, and keep everything centralized
📊 Dashboards & reporting—get an at-a-glance view of progress, workload, and performance
🆓 Generous free plan, and affordable upgrades with powerful features
Whether you’re a solopreneur trying to keep yourself on track, or managing a small team and scaling up, ClickUp gives you the tools to work smarter—not harder.
🔧 What we don’t use ClickUp for:
While ClickUp is great for managing tasks and operations, we don’t use it for time tracking, client invoicing, whiteboarding—there are other tools better suited for those. But for project management and internal organization? It’s the best we’ve found.
At Glow Up, every client gets their own dedicated ClickUp folder when they work with us—so we can collaborate, track milestones, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. It’s truly the digital HQ of our business.
🌐 DreamHost for WordPress Hosting
Reliable, no-nonsense WordPress hosting—perfect for small business websites.
If you're going the WordPress route for your website, you need solid hosting that won’t give you headaches. That’s why I recommend DreamHost—a long-standing, WordPress-endorsed provider known for its straightforward pricing, great performance, and user-friendly setup.
Many other hosting platforms (👀 GoDaddy) will nickel and dime you with surprise renewals, upsells, and cluttered dashboards. DreamHost is refreshingly clean, honest, and efficient—so you can spend more time building your site, not wrestling with support.
Here’s why DreamHost stands out for WordPress hosting:
🚀 Optimized for WordPress – 1-click installs, auto-updates, and solid speed performance
🔐 Free SSL certificate and WHOIS privacy – included in even the most basic plans
💸 Affordable pricing – no hidden fees or shady "promo pricing" tricks
🧰 Built-in website builder tools (or use Elementor or other plugins freely)
🛠️ Developer-friendly – SSH access, staging environments, and more advanced controls if you need them
🧑💻 U.S.-based support – knowledgeable, no-pitch help when you need it
At Glow Up, we typically recommend Wix for clients who want a hands-off experience, but for those who need the flexibility and plugin ecosystem of WordPress, DreamHost is one of the few hosts I trust. It's also a great alternative to more expensive “managed” WordPress platforms like WP Engine—especially for solo entrepreneurs and service businesses.
💡 Pro tip: DreamHost also gives you free email accounts (unlike many others who charge extra). However, it's a webmail which is more on the basic side. If you can afford paying for business email, G Suite is still worth the price because of all the added value I talked about in the beginning of this post.
🎨 Elementor
Design powerful WordPress websites—without needing to code.
If you’ve chosen WordPress for your site, you’ll quickly realize the default editor can feel… clunky. That’s where Elementor comes in. It’s one of the most popular drag-and-drop page builders for WordPress—allowing you to create polished, professional-looking pages without hiring a developer or knowing how to write CSS.
Whether you're building a landing page, a service page, or an entire custom site, Elementor gives you the control of a designer’s toolkit, but with an intuitive interface that's beginner-friendly.
Here’s why Elementor is one of the best tools for WordPress design:
🧱 Drag-and-drop page builder – No code required, and the layout matches what you see on the live site
🎨 Design flexibility – Choose from 100+ templates and widgets, or start from scratch
⚙️ Responsive design – Customize how your site looks on desktop, tablet, and mobile
⚡ Fast performance – Clean code structure and optimized loading, especially with Elementor Pro
🧩 Works with any theme – Use Elementor with Astra, Hello, OceanWP, and other popular themes
🔌 Expandable with add-ons – Extend your site with popups, forms, custom headers/footers, and animations
We’ve used Elementor on several client projects that required WordPress for flexibility—but still wanted a modern, sleek, user-editable site. It gives you way more control over layout than the basic WordPress editor, and Elementor Pro unlocks even more features like custom forms, marketing integrations, and dynamic content.
✨ Wrapping It Up: Your Digital Toolbox for Smoother Business Days
Running a small business is like building a house—you need the right tools to lay the foundation, frame the structure, and add the finishing touches. Each app, platform, or service you use becomes part of that toolkit, helping you stay organized, look professional, and keep things running behind the scenes.
You don’t need every tool in the hardware store—just the ones that fit your workflow and actually make life easier. The tools I’ve shared here are ones I personally use and recommend, because they’re reliable, cost-effective, and play well together.
Start simple, experiment, and keep refining your setup. Over time, your digital toolbox will help you work smarter, save time, and make space for what really matters—serving your clients and growing your business.
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