Resources, tool and useful links

These are tools and resources that I use myself or can highly recommend, that friends use. I don’t share anything that I don’t think has real value. These are resources for small businesses, creatives and makers. I include as many Canadian specific ones as I can.

Some of these are affiliate links, which means I may get a small bonus if you purchase from them, but it’s at no additional cost to you. You don’t have to use an affiliate link, but if you do, thank you very much. They’ll be marked with **.

  • Bookkeeping - Wave is an easy to use invoicing and bookkeeping app with free and paid options, for US and Canada.

  • Bookkeeping - Zoho Books is a more fully featured invoicing and bookkeeping app with more reporting options - also with a free and paid version.

  • Legal contracts - The Contracts Market is a source for Canadian and US legal contract templates. **

  • Business bank accounts - Coast Capital Credit Union is a federal credit union out of BC and available Canada wide and they have a free business savings account or personal chequing accounts

  • Business account and money transfer - Wise accounts let you send and receive money in various currencies as well as providing a debit card for travel that has lower fees than a bank. **

Legal, financial, and professional

  • Business bank accounts - EQ Bank provides free business and personal bank accounts for Canadians (except Quebec).

  • Insurance - Zensurince provides inexpensive commercial business insurance for Canadians

  • Craft organizations - Canadian Federation of Crafts is where you can find links for your provincial Craft Council as well as other resources

  • Arts resources - Canada Council for the Arts provides funding and resources for artists

  • Business financing - Government of Canada grant and loan finder

Website resources

  • Website analytics - Fathom Analytics is an easier to use, paid alternative to Google Analytics that is privacy focused. Link gets you $10 off your first month. **

  • Legal policies - Termageddon provides an easy way to keep your legally required website policies such as privacy policy and terms and conditions up to date as new laws role out. Get 10% off your first year. Use code REED**

  • Squarespace plugins - Will Myers offers Squarespace plugins to increase your design options on your website, as well as a membership for those who want to learn more about coding in Squarespace. **

  • Squarespace plugins - Chris Schwartz-Edmisten also provides plugins for your Squarespace website. **

  • Website SEO - SEOSpace is a Squarespace specific SEO and analytics tool with a Chrome plugin that helps optimise your website and get found more easily by Google and other browsers. **

  • Desktop capture - Cap provides a low cost alternative to Loom and other desktop recording software. Videos can be stored locally or online. Get 20% off your first year. **

Operations and admin resources

  • Client portal - Kitchen provides a client portal that is a great way to organize client resources and files, keep communication in one spot and a calendar to keep on track. With both free and paid options, you can also buy it just once and stop paying subscription fees.**

  • Data organization - Airtable is what you need when spreadsheets just aren’t enough. Robust databases that can be used to not just store data but automate the systems your business needs to run efficiently. There’s both free and paid options. **

  • Automation tool - Make provides a more in depth option with more capabilities in it’s free version than Zapier, to allow you to set up automations between various software and run your business with less manual work. Both free and paid options. **

  • Email/newsletter - Encharge provides a powerful email marketing platform. Keep an eye out on AppSumo for lifetime deals. **

  • Virtual meetings - Zoho Meeting provides a free/low cost alternative to Zoom and other virtual meeting software.