Work Smarter: Best Automation Tools for Small Business

Running a small business often means juggling client work, marketing, admin, and about a hundred other moving parts—all at once. It’s no surprise that burnout is so common among entrepreneurs.

But what if you didn’t have to do everything yourself?

With the right tools and systems in place, many of the repetitive tasks that eat up your time can be handled automatically. That’s where automation comes in—not to replace your personal touch, but to help you protect your time, energy, and sanity.

In this post, I’m sharing the automation tools for small business that I personally use (and recommend to my clients) to simplify workflows, improve client experience, and create more space for work that actually moves the needle.

Let’s dig in.

Your All-in-One Business Hub

If you’re still manually tracking leads or sending out contracts one by one, 17hats just might change your life. It’s a powerful CRM that helps you manage everything from inquiry to invoice to follow up—all in one place.

Why it matters: 17hats automates the not-so-glamorous parts of business ownership: lead follow-ups, contracts, invoices, scheduling, and client workflows.

Bonus tip: I use Zapier to connect 17hats with Flodesk, so when someone fills out an inquiry form, they’re instantly added to the right email segment. No more copy-pasting or forgetting a step.

If you’re interested in 17hats, click below for 50% off your first year, plus a link to a free trial:

Email Automation That Feels Personal

Email marketing is one of the most valuable tools in your business—but only if you’re using it consistently. That’s where Flodesk shines.

With its clean design and intuitive automations, Flodesk helps you create and send beautiful emails without a huge learning curve. From welcome sequences to ongoing nurture emails, Flodesk keeps your communication on point—even while you sleep.

Why I love it: It integrates with both Canva and 17hats, making my design-to-delivery process seamless.

If you’re read to check out Flodesk, click here to get 50% off your first year:

ManyChat – Your Personal DM Assistant

Social media messages are great for engagement, but answering the same questions over and over? That’s a quick way to burn out.

ManyChat lets you automate conversations on Instagram and Facebook—responding to FAQs, guiding people to your services, and even booking calls.

Why it’s a game-changer: It keeps your audience feeling heard without requiring you to be glued to your phone 24/7.

Check it out and get one month free with my link:

Zapier – The Magic Glue Between Your Favorite Tools

Zapier connects the tools you already use—so you don’t have to copy and paste between platforms or worry about forgetting steps.

How I use it: When someone inquires through 17hats, Zapier automatically places them in the correct Flodesk email segment. That kind of automation keeps things moving while I focus on the big picture.

Why it’s essential: If your tools don’t talk to each other, you’re probably doing more work than you need to.

Metricool – Scheduling Made Simple

Posting consistently on social media doesn’t have to mean being online 24/7. Metricool helps me schedule posts, carousels, reels, and stories across multiple platforms all from one dashboard.

Why it works for me: I love the Autolist feature, which reposts my evergreen content on a recurring basis—so even when I take a break, my content keeps showing up.

Canva – Design That Integrates with Everything

Canva is where I design nearly everything—from social graphics to email headers to downloadable PDFs. It’s intuitive, powerful, and integrates directly with Flodesk and Metricool, which means I can design, connect, and publish in a flash.

Why it matters: You don’t need to be a graphic designer to create beautiful, on-brand content that’s ready to plug into your automations.

Wrap-Up: Build a Business That Supports Your Life

These automation tools for small business are more than just software—they’re systems that allow you to work smarter, serve your clients better, and actually enjoy the life you’re building.

Whether you’re ready to jump into all of these tools or just want help figuring out where to start, I’m here for it. Let’s talk about how to streamline your systems, save your time, and help your business feel like a blessing—not a burden.

Schedule your free discovery call here: Schedule Call

You might also like…

• Say Hello to Organization and Goodbye to Chaos with 17hats
• Master Your CRM System Setup with this Must-Do Prep Work
• Small Business Success: Crafting Business Processes that Work

17hats Referral Code and Free Trial Information

If you want to see what 17hats is all about, click the image to link to a FREE 7 Day Trial, or if you’re ready to purchase, follow the link for 50% off your first year or use the code debmitzel at checkout!

17hats Referral Link

Deb Mitzel is Your 17hats Guide—an experienced Small Business Operations Consultant and Coach, as well as a 17hats Implementation Specialist. With a passion for empowering small business owners, Deb specializes in helping clients reclaim their time so they can focus on building businesses that support their personal and professional dreams. Deb believes in creating an Integrated Life—a harmony where your business and personal life work together to serve you best. She knows that with the right systems, strategies, and a little guidance, you can build a business that is a blessing, not a burden. If you’re ready to simplify your processes and maximize your impact with 17hats or other tailored strategies, Deb offers a Free Discovery Call to explore how she can help. Click below to schedule your call and take the first step toward turning your vision into reality.

Schedule Discovery Call

Disclaimer: Some of the links are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something.  Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.