The 3 Paid and 3 Free Mac Tools I’d Never Start a Business Without

Photo by Farzad on Unsplash

When I started my business, I didn’t have a team. I didn’t even have full health.

I was recovering from a stroke, working just four hours a day, and trying to build something that could give me both an income and a sense of purpose. The hustle mentality wasn’t an option — I had to be smart, efficient, and focused from day one.

That meant building my business on the back of just a few trusted tools. Ones that genuinely saved me time, helped me think clearly, and kept me moving forward even on tough days.

If you’re starting solo — whether it’s a side project, a career pivot, or a business built around a health challenge — these are the three paid and three free tools I’d never go without.

Paid Tools:

Canva — Design, Done Quickly

Why I use it: I suck at design. Luckly Canva doesn’t which is why it has become my one-person design department. It helps me create professional-looking visuals for social media, newsletters, lead magnets and proposals — all without needing design skills.

A specific win: When I launched my newsletter Four Hour Freedom, I used Canva to build the brand identity in a single afternoon. That meant I didn’t need to hire a designer or…