The 3 Tools That Run My Business (Even When I Work 10 Hours a Week)

There’s something no one warns you about when you start a business.

January and February hit… and suddenly every single subscription renews at once.

You’re like, “Wow, I made $2,500 this month!”
And then 75% of it immediately leaves your bank account just to keep your business running.

Love that for us.

But here’s the reframe: I don’t work 40-hour weeks. Most weeks, I work closer to 10–15 hours. And it’s not because I have some magical productivity gene, it’s because my backend does the heavy lifting.

The tools I pay for aren’t random expenses. They are the reason my business runs smoothly, looks professional, and gives me margin for faith, family, and actual rest.

These are the three platforms I renew every year without hesitation.

1. Dubsado — The System Behind My Client Experience

If you’ve ever forgotten to send a contract, chased down an invoice, or sent 14 emails just to book one client, you don’t have a “time management” problem, you have a systems problem.

I use Dubsado to manage scheduling, contracts, invoices, and automated workflows. When someone books a Website in a Day with me, they automatically receive an intro email, contract, invoice, and branding questionnaire, without me manually managing every touchpoint.

It makes my business feel polished and professional, even during busy seasons of life. Instead of reacting to client admin all day, the system handles it.

And right now, they’re celebrating their 10-year birthday with 40% off an annual plan AND you can stack my affiliate code for additional savings. If getting organized has been on your list, this is a smart time to do it.

Use code bekah.

I genuinely could not run my business the way I do without this platform.

2. ThriveCart — The Backbone of My Course Sales

I tried hosting a course directly on my website once. Technically? It can be done. Strategically? It was not worth the tech headaches.

READ MORE: Why I don’t suggest creating a course on your Showit or WordPress website

Tracking student progress was clunky. Automations were limited. The student experience felt pieced together.

After a lot of research, I chose ThriveCart and it’s been one of the best backend decisions I’ve made. It’s a one-time payment (no monthly subscription drain), the student dashboard is clean and simple, and it handles tracking and automations seamlessly.

It runs Beyond The Template and my Squarespace SEO Course without me babysitting it, which means my course can sell and deliver while I’m focused on client work or offline with my family.

That level of freedom is the goal.

ThriveCart is currently running a sale as well! Here’s what you can get using ThriveCart Promo Codes:

• $50 OFF Standard License (Coupon LNY50OFF)
• $100 OFF Pro+ License (Coupon LNY100OFF)
• $125 OFF Ultimate Bundle (Coupon LNY125OFF)

For existing customers:

• $50 OFF Combo Upgrade, featuring both Pro+ and Learn+ upgrades (Coupon LNY50OFF)
• $25 OFF Pro+/Learn+ Upgrade (Coupon LNY25OFF)

3. Flodesk — The Reason I’m Consistent With Email

I’ll be honest, it took me a while to switch to Flodesk.

But the fact that I genuinely enjoy writing and sending weekly emails now? That matters more than people think.

Flodesk is intuitive, beautiful, and built for creatives. Instead of fighting a clunky interface, I can focus on what actually matters: connecting with my audience.

It’s the reason this newsletter shows up consistently instead of living in my drafts folder. And consistency is what builds trust, authority, and sales over time.

If you’ve been wrestling with your email platform every week, it might not be you, it might be the tool.

You can use code BEKAH for 25% off your first year and try it free for 14 days.

The Bigger Picture

Yes, subscriptions renewing all at once can feel painful.

But these aren’t just expenses. They’re infrastructure.

They save me hours every week. They automate client touch-points. They elevate the professionalism of my brand. And most importantly, they support a business model that prioritizes freedom over constant hustle.

You don’t need 47 tools.

You need the right ones… the ones that support your values and protect your time.

If you want to see the full list of everything I use in my business, from legal contracts to design resources, I keep it all updated here:

👉 Explore My Full Business Toolbox

Build the business that supports your life, not the other way around.