7–40/month for standalone website builders. More if you layer in separate SEO, analytics, or CRM tools.
**The consolidation case:** A website builder that's just a website builder means you'll also need separate form software, lead capture software, and a CRM to handle what comes in. Adding those separately can run another $50–150/month.
Category 2: Email Marketing and CRM
This is the category where most solopreneurs overspend or underinvest. You need somewhere to store contacts, a way to send them emails, and some basic automation.
**What you actually need:**
- A contact database with tags or segments
- Broadcast emails (newsletters, announcements)
- Basic automation sequences (welcome series, follow-up)
- Some visibility into who's engaging and who isn't
**Options:**
- **Mailchimp** — solid starting point, free up to 500 contacts, limited automation on free plan
- **ConvertKit** (now Kit) — designed for creators and solopreneurs, strong automation, free up to 1,000 subscribers
- **ActiveCampaign** — more powerful CRM and automation, higher price point
- **We.Inc** — includes email tools and CRM as part of the platform alongside the [sales automation features](/sales-automation)
**Cost range:** $0–100/month depending on list size and features. The free tiers are generous for list sizes under 1,000, but you'll outgrow them.
**Honest note:** Most solopreneurs don't need complex CRM functionality. You need organized contacts, a clean way to segment them, and reliable email delivery. Don't pay enterprise CRM prices for a solo operation.
Category 3: Social Media Management
Posting manually to three or four platforms is a significant time tax. A scheduler is not optional if social media is part of your marketing strategy.
**What you need:**
- Queue multiple posts in advance
- Manage multiple platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook at minimum)
- See what's scheduled in a calendar view
- Basic analytics (which posts got engagement?)
**Options:**
- **Buffer** — clean interface, excellent free plan (3 channels, 10 scheduled posts), solid analytics on paid plans
- **Later** — strong for Instagram-heavy businesses, visual planner is excellent
- **Hootsuite** — enterprise-focused, overkill for solopreneurs
- **We.Inc** — [social media scheduling](/social-scheduler) is built into the platform, with a [content calendar](/features/content-calendar) that connects to the rest of your marketing
**Cost range:** $0–50/month for solopreneur-level usage. The free plans from Buffer are functional if your needs are modest.
**Time math:** Batching social media content one day a week and scheduling it out typically saves three to five hours compared to daily manual posting. At any reasonable hourly rate, even a $25/month scheduler pays for itself quickly.
Category 4: Payments
You need to get paid. For most solopreneurs, the decision is simpler than it looks.
**Options:**
- **Stripe** — 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, no monthly fee, extensive API for custom setups. Best for digital products, services, and subscriptions.
- **PayPal** — ubiquitous, slightly higher fees, strong buyer trust. Good for international clients and lower-tech customers.
- **Square** — strong for solopreneurs with any in-person component. Hardware available.
- **Wave** — free invoicing and payment processing (ACH free, card 2.9% + 60¢). Good for service businesses.
**Cost:** Percentage-based fees, no monthly subscription for most options. Budget 2.9–3.5% of revenue processed.
**What you don't need:** A complex payment platform for a solo operation. Stripe or PayPal handles 95% of solopreneur payment needs.
Category 5: Accounting and Invoicing
The category most solopreneurs delay addressing until tax time makes it painful.
**Options:**
- **Wave** — free accounting software with invoicing, income/expense tracking, receipt scanning. Best free option available.
- **QuickBooks Self-Employed** — ~