Recommended Tools & Resources
for Family Businesses
Hard Lessons Learned
These are the exact tools we’ve used to build and run our businesses.
We didn’t get here by guessing right the first time. We tested platforms, switched systems, wasted money, and rebuilt more than once. This page exists so you don’t have to do that.
If you’re building a family business, especially one that combines services, content, and online revenue, these tools will cover almost everything you need to get started and grow.
We only recommend what we actually use.
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ChatGPT
If you’re starting a business today, this is the first tool you should learn how to use well.
ChatGPT has become one of the most valuable tools we use across every part of our business. It helps you take an idea and turn it into something actionable.
You can use it to brainstorm business ideas, outline projects, draft content, think through problems, and even build systems. Instead of staring at a blank page or trying to figure everything out on your own, you can move faster with clearer direction.
It’s especially useful in the early stages when you’re trying to test ideas. You can quickly explore different directions, refine your thinking, and get a rough version of something built before investing a lot of time or money.
That said, it’s a tool, not a replacement for judgment. The more clearly you think and the better you communicate what you want, the more valuable it becomes.
If you learn how to use ChatGPT well, it will save you time, reduce guesswork, and help you build faster than you could on your own.
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Squarespace
We’ve built multiple websites on Squarespace over the years. We’ve also used Wix, WordPress, and other platforms going back to the early 2000s.
If you want a website you can set up quickly and actually maintain without a developer, this is it.
Squarespace may not offer the deepest customization compared to something like WordPress, but it strikes the best balance between simplicity and capability. You can build a professional site, run a blog, sell products, and showcase your work without needing multiple systems.
If your business includes a mix of content, services, and possibly e-commerce, Squarespace is the most reliable all-in-one option we’ve found.
We’ve tested more specialized platforms over time, but we consistently come back to Squarespace for all of our sites.
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Mercury has been one of the easiest tools we’ve implemented across our businesses.
Setting up accounts is straightforward. Creating additional accounts, issuing virtual cards, and adding team members takes very little time and effort.
They’ve made business banking feel simple. Moving money is fast, permissions are easy to manage, and the overall experience is smooth enough that you don’t have to think about it.
If you’re running multiple entities or managing finances across a growing team, Mercury removes a lot of the usual friction.
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We’ve used QuickBooks. We’ve used spreadsheets. Xero has been the best balance of functionality and cost.
It does everything we need without the overhead or pricing structure of QuickBooks.
One of the biggest advantages is cost efficiency. Instead of paying a high monthly fee for a single account, we’re able to run separate Xero accounts for multiple LLCs and still spend less overall.
If you want clean, reliable bookkeeping without overpaying, Xero is a strong choice.
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We’ve worked with payroll providers that include full HR systems, benefits management, and a long list of extra features.
If you need all of that, those platforms can make sense.
But if your goal is simple, reliable payroll, Gusto does exactly what you need without unnecessary complexity.
If you’re operating as a standard LLC and just paying yourself, you likely don’t need payroll software at all. Mercury can handle that.
Once you elect S-Corp status and need to pay yourself as a W-2 employee, Gusto becomes the right tool for the job.
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Slack
When it’s just you or you and your spouse, simple messaging works fine.
Once you start adding team members, communication gets messy fast.
Slack gives you structure. You can organize conversations by topic, keep decisions in one place, and reduce the confusion that comes from scattered texts and emails.
If you’re planning to grow beyond a two-person operation, it’s worth setting this up early.
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We’ve used Basecamp. We’ve used Trello. Both are solid tools.
Trello works well for simple, personal workflows. We still use it in certain contexts.
But when it comes to managing projects across a team, Monday.com has been the most effective system we’ve used.
It gives you visibility across projects, clear ownership of tasks, and enough structure to keep a growing team aligned without becoming overwhelming.
If you’re coordinating work across multiple people, this is where you want to be.