Tools you need if you’re starting your online business from scratch

The barrier to entry for launching a project is lower than ever, but the "analysis paralysis" regarding which tools to use is at an all-time high.

I spend a lot of time looking at tech stacks for new ventures, and the trend is definitely shifting toward minimalism. You don't need a massive enterprise suite on day one.

However, you do need a solid foundation. From what I’ve seen, successful businesses usually have a tight grip on three specific areas: content management, customer communication, and financials.

For content, a drag-and-drop builder is essential so you aren't dependent on a developer for every typo fix.

For communication, a basic CRM or even a well-organized email list segment is vital. But the tech that usually breaks or makes a launch is the financial backend.

A reliable payment processing platform is non-negotiable; if checkout is clunky or looks insecure, trust evokes immediately, and the cart is abandoned. It needs to handle multiple currencies and mobile wallets seamlessly.

Once those core pillars are up, everything else—like advanced analytics or AI chatbots—can wait.

Focus on the tools that directly impact the customer’s ability to pay you and receive value.