That’s it. You’ve had enough. Today’s the day you quit your office job to start your very own business. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve planned your first move as an independent professional when you work on your own; you will need all the support you can get. Indeed, running a business is a lot of stress, even if you’ve got a team of experts to help you all the way. However, when you choose to embrace the entrepreneurship journey as a solo business, you don’t have the opportunity to rely on anyone else than yourself.

For new entrepreneurs who are launching their independent career with a limited budget, outsourcing may not be an option. However, you can find an ally in technology for your everyday tasks. Indeed, technology is already an integral part of our lives. But when it comes to small businesses, many assume that investing in tech tools for growth requires a starting capital. But before you look for the best possible loan application for your business, you might want to explore how some of the most affordable tools and solutions can positively transform your day-to-day work.

#1. You need a business profile on social media

Every business deserves an online presence. As social media platforms give you direct access to a broad audience, this is where you know you need to build your profile. While it’s fair to say that getting your business on Twitter or Instagram may not get you customers overnight, there is a definite long-term advantage. You can build up a small group of followers and network with influential brands and bloggers in your niche. More importantly, you can use social media networks to establish your credibility. LinkedIn lets you create a company page, which enables you to position yourself on the market. Approximately 80% of social media B2B leads will find you on LinkedIn, so it’s an excellent place to start. When it comes to B2C, Facebook is the platform of choice for a company page.

#2. Reach out to your audience directly on their phone

Social media can get you only so far. When you’re trying to boost your sales, a social media announcement isn’t going to deliver the purchases you need. But reaching out to your known leads and past clients can make a great deal of difference. When you need rapid transactions or decisions, you should focus your attention on one device: the smartphone. Indeed, in a society where people never go far without a phone in their pocket, you can encourage almost real-time responses with a bulb SMS campaign or ringless voicemail drops. The advantage of using mobile data is that you can deploy your campaign in an instant and get read almost immediately. There is no time loss effect when you target mobile devices, as most people check their phone over twice per hour.

#3. Click to send your invoices on the go

Do you know how much time freelancers and self-employed experts waste preparing their invoices? As an independent professional, you can’t afford to spend valuable working time creating a branded design, adding numbers, and formatting your invoice, without mentioning chasing clients who may not pay on time. Invoicing apps are always a good investment – some of them start with a free package, which is a bonus – because they not only save you time but they also ensure that your bookkeeping data are kept in one place. Another valuable advantage of invoicing solutions is that you can use them to prepare your taxes, especially if you record every transaction – debit or credit – into the software tool.

#4. Show your face to your audience

Vlogging is not only a popular and trendy video content, but it’s also an appealing communication strategy for businesses. As a vlog,  you create a video blog, which means that you can inject a lot of personality into your content. As a newcomer to the market, you can use a vlog to help your audience to get familiar with your face and voice. Think of it as a brand awareness strategy! But the best thing about vlogs is that they don’t have to be expensive. You can create a channel for free on Youtube. You don’t need to break the bank when it comes to filming equipment: You can vlog with an iPhone! You also need to add a couple of accessories, such as a lens to improve the image and the angle, a microphone for high-quality sound.

#5. Don’t let your typos affect your career

More often than not, it’s not what you say but how you say it that counts. You can have the best-worded blog article in your niche; if you’ve left typos and grammar horrors in it, your readers are less likely to take you seriously. Unfortunately, the typical online user needs less than a minute to form their first impression of your business and your expertise. Incorrect use of grammar doesn’t make a positive impression. A grammar check and editing tool can not only keep you writing correct, but it will also improve your vocabulary and sentences by suggesting better-suited alternatives.

#6. When you can’t afford a web designer now

Simple custom websites start at $2,000. But more elaborate designs or heavy-content sites are likely to cost 10 to 20 times more. For a newcomer eager to launch their first website, financing your web development project can go well over your budget. That’s precisely why many solo entrepreneurs start to build their online business using intuitive and low-cost platforms such as WordPress, Wix, or even Squarespace. For small companies, Wix offers an affordable and easy to use platform that is entirely customizable in a few clicks. If you are looking to create a unique but inexpensive design, it’s a good place to start.

#7. Get those ideas organized

If you’re the kind of person who writes every down on a post-it note, you are going to struggle to stay on top of each project. While project management sounds like something you’d outsource to a Harvard-trained expert, you can keep things organized using an online list system. Technology doesn’t have the answer for every business hiccup you’ll face. But it can take a lot of stress off your shoulders and help you to move forward confidently.