Our Favorite Small Business Tools: The Coyote Brands Toolkit
TLDR: You do not need a giant tech stack, you need a small set of small business tools that actually work together. Start with a strong website (Showit for service-based, Shopify for ecommerce), add Fasta Blogging for blogging support, Flodesk for email, and booking, then layer in templates, education, and a few everyday tools like QuickBooks, Canva, and TikTok. This is the lived-in toolkit I actually use.
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Most heart-led small business owners I meet do not need more software. You are already busy running your business, supporting your clients and keeping up with everything happening outside of work. You do not have time to test twenty different apps just to find the few that are actually useful.
You want to know which tools will help your business look professional, attract more clients and make your day-to-day work easier.
I am Courtney, the founder of Coyote Brands, a Louisiana web design and brand photography business. Over the years, I have tested plenty of platforms and tools. The ones I continue to use are simple, intentional and work well together.
In this post, I am sharing the tools I personally use to manage and market my business online.
A playful homepage banner for a blogging service.
1. Fasta Blogging: Done-for-you blogging that drives traffic to your site
Many heart-led small business owners know blogging would help them be found online but never quite get to it. You are serving clients, editing, answering DMs, and by the time you sit down to write, your brain is done for the day.
That is where Fasta Blogging comes in. Fasta Blogging is a done-for-you blogging service that acts like the content engine for your website.
Here is how it fits into your toolkit:
Fasta Blogging plans each month of topics around your own keywords, audience and services.
They write the posts for you.
They hand them over ready to publish on your site.
You still get a blog that sounds like you and supports your offers, without having to stare at a blank Google Doc. It is built for small business owners and the software was created by an SEO specialist that really knows her stuff about blogging, so you know you’re getting great quality.
Flodesk presents its email marketing platform with a clean homepage layout.
2. Flodesk e-mail marketing platform: Beautiful email that supports your website and shop
Social media is great, but none of us control the algorithm. One day your TikTok is everywhere, the next day it is quiet for a week. Email marketing gives you a direct line to people who have already raised their hand to say, “I am interested”.
Flodesk is the email marketing and checkout platform I use in my own business and recommend for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want simple, beautiful email.
From my lived experience with Flodesk:
It is an e-mail marketing and checkout platform perfect for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
It sends beautiful e-mails with endless template options available on their platform and elsewhere online.
It’s a great affordable email marketing tool that many businesses use.
3. Revolving Revenue for Showit designers: Turn your Showit skills into template income
Some of you are designers or want to become designers. You love Showit, you have helped friends with their sites, and now you are wondering how to move beyond only one-to-one client work.
Revolving Revenue is a course by Northfolk (Sam and Rachel) aimed specifically at Showit web designers who want to build passive income by selling website templates.
Here is what it offers:
Revolving Revenue teaches web designers how to create a profitable online shop for passive income, with step-by-step guidance on designing, launching, and selling products automatically.
I describe Revolving Revenue as an amazing community of Showit designers collaborating inside a comprehensive Showit template course, with guest speakers, free resources, and template base kits.
If you already work with Showit (for yourself or clients) and want to add template income on top of your services, this course shows you what that can look like.
It can also pair nicely with education on building your design business as a whole, like my post on how to become a Showit web designer and build a business from home.
The Session homepage
4. Session for photographers: Booking, contracts, and payments in one simple flow
If you are a photographer, you probably know the feeling of chasing clients across email, DMs, and random forms just to get one session booked. It is draining, and it does not feel very professional.
Session is the booking platform in this toolkit for photographers who want to simplify everything.
According to Session:
Session is the only platform that streamlines your booking experience without the excessive email chains, DMs, carrier pigeons and CRMs that bookings often require.
In Session, contracts can be signed, questionnaires answered, and fees paid during booking.
From my own experience, I describe Session as the simplest, easiest, and most comprehensive booking platform for photographers, better than Dubsado or Honeybook for this specific use.
For brand photographers and creatives, this means:
A client can land on your website.
Click to book a session.
Choose a date and time, sign the contract, answer your questionnaire, and pay their invoice.
All in a single flow.
If you are trying to build a better photography business overall, booking is only one piece. You can also read my thoughts on four ways to build a better photography business if you want to work on the bigger picture.
A clean homepage layout showcasing website templates and calls to action.
5. Showit: Drag-and-drop website home base for service-based businesses
Most service-based small businesses need a home online that feels like them and is easy to change without needing to hire a developer every time. That is why Showit sits at the center of this toolkit.
Showit is the drag-and-drop website platform I use for the majority of my clients. It is my number one recommendation for service-based business owners who want their website to feel custom and on-brand.
Here is how I think about Showit:
It is recommended for service-based business owners.
With the ease of customization, great support, and ability to use WordPress as the blogging platform, Showit is my number one recommendation for entrepreneurs.
If you are a Louisiana-based photographer, coach, therapist, event planner, or any other service provider, Showit lets your brand and story shine without needing to touch code.
Shopify sits right beside it in this toolkit as the primary website option for ecommerce businesses. Showit is best for service-based businesses. Shopify is best for ecommerce businesses that need strong product pages and carts.
For many of my clients, we build:
A Showit site as the main hub.
WordPress blogging through Showit.
Flodesk to collect emails.
Session (for photographers) or another booking tool.
And then support it all with brand photos and strategy.
If you want someone in your corner while you get your site built, I offer Louisiana web design services for heart-led small businesses.
The Showit-All Course checkout page.
6. SHOWIT ALL: Learn Showit deeply (for DIYers and future designers)
Not everyone is ready to hire a designer right away. Some of you truly want to understand Showit so you can build or edit your own site, or even start a Showit-based web design business.
SHOWIT ALL is a comprehensive, expert-led Showit course that covers it all. It is designed to take you through Showit from end to end.
Here is how I position it in this toolkit:
SHOWIT ALL is a comprehensive, expert-led Showit course that covers it all.
I recommend SHOWIT ALL for anyone who wants to learn Showit from end to end to create a web design business or be a master at creating their own website.
I recommend this course but have not used it personally.
If you are serious about mastering Showit, this sits in the “education” category of your toolkit. It can be a strong companion for people also exploring Revolving Revenue or mapping out a Showit-focused business of their own.
The Tonic Showit and Canva templates shop page
7. Tonic Showit and Canva templates: Strategic templates for DIY-friendly entrepreneurs
For a lot of early-stage or budget-conscious businesses, a full custom site is not in the cards yet. That does not mean you should be stuck with a website that feels homemade.
Tonic Showit and Canva Templates are the industry’s leading, completely-customizable Showit website and marketing templates, made for entrepreneurs.
Here is why I include them in this toolkit:
Tonic templates are for entrepreneurs who want a design-forward online presence.
I note that Tonic templates are set up for conversions, SEO, and have everything needed to create an amazing website.
I have used Tonic templates in the past but do not use them currently.
They are especially helpful if:
You are on Showit but want a more strategic starting point than a free template.
You want your website and marketing materials to feel cohesive.
You are not ready or able to invest in custom strategy and design yet.
Tonic templates can also act as a bridge between DIY and custom work. Many clients start with a high quality template and later move into a custom site when they are clearer on their offers, brand, and content.
If you would rather have a designer customize or build your site for you, I also offer options like a custom one-page Mini Site for early-stage businesses which includes copywriting and foundational SEO in a smaller, more accessible package.
Bringing it together: Picking your next small business tool
Let us zoom out. All of these small business tools fit into one simple system built around your website.
At the center:
Showit for service-based businesses who want a flexible, visual website they can edit.
Shopify for ecommerce businesses who need strong product and checkout features.
Supporting the website:
Fasta Blogging is the blogging tool in this toolkit. It plans, writes, and delivers done-for-you posts that can bring more traffic to your Shopify, WordPress, or Showit site.
Flodesk is the email marketing tool inside your broader marketing and SEO toolkit. It lets you send beautiful emails and set up checkouts that support your offers.
Session handles booking, contracts, questionnaires, and payments in one flow for photographers.
Tonic templates help DIY-friendly entrepreneurs get a strategic, conversion-minded Showit site and Canva marketing pieces in place.
Around that core, you have a few everyday support tools:
QuickBooks as the finance tool in this toolkit. It keeps your money organized so you are not guessing at tax time.
Canva as the design tool in this toolkit. It is where you can create graphics, social posts, and other visuals that match your brand.
TikTok as a powerful social platform for reaching ideal clients, especially when your content points people back to a solid website and helpful resources. If you want to see how I use it, you can find me on TikTok.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, you do not need to add everything at once. Ask yourself:
Do I have a website platform that actually fits my business model?
If no, pick Showit (service-based) or Shopify (ecommerce) as your first move.
Once the website exists, what is the biggest friction point?
“No traffic” → Consider Fasta Blogging.
“People visit, but I am not building relationships” → Flodesk.
“Booking is a mess” (photographers) → Session.
“My site looks off” → Tonic templates or a simple custom build.
No tool can replace your vision, story, or the quality of your work. Tools are helpers. Professional support with web design or brand photography can make these tools work better, but your heart and your offers are always the point.
FAQ: Common questions about small business tools
Which tools should I start with first?
Most small business owners see the biggest shift when they start with:
A strong website platform.
Showit for service-based businesses.
Shopify for ecommerce businesses.
One support tool:
If you book clients one-to-one (especially photographers), start with a booking tool like Session so clients can actually hire you.
If you sell services, courses, or products online, start with email using Flodesk so you can stay in touch with people who find you.
Once those are in place, you can layer on blogging support through Fasta Blogging, templates, or education as you have capacity.
How do Showit and Flodesk work together?
Showit is your website home base. Flodesk is your email marketing tool.
You can use Showit to host your pages, blog posts and portfolio, and then connect Flodesk to that site with opt-in forms and sign up links so visitors can join your email list. Your blog (supported by Fasta Blogging if you choose) brings in visitors, and Flodesk turns those visitors into subscribers and customers over time.
Is Session only for photographers?
Session is a booking platform built specifically for photographers. It is designed around the way photographers book clients, which is why it streamlines contracts, questionnaires, and payments in a single booking flow.
Other service providers may need different booking tools that are built for their specific workflows. If you are not a photographer, you can still learn from how Session simplifies everything and then look for a similar all-in-one experience in a platform that is built for your niche.
Can Tonic templates fully replace custom design?
Tonic Showit and Canva templates are strong enough that many entrepreneurs can build an amazing website with them, especially in the early years. They are set up for conversions and SEO and have everything you need to create a polished, professional site.
Over time, you might outgrow a template if:
Your offers or audience become more complex.
You want a site that is fully tailored to your messaging, visuals and strategy.
You are ready for custom photography and copy to be woven into every page.
That is when a custom site can be a better fit, whether that is a full Signature Web Design project with me or something like a Mini Site to get you to your next stage.
If you want help figuring out which tools make sense for your specific business and how they can support a website and brand that feels like you, you can always reach out to talk about your goals through my inquiry form: Reach out to talk about your goals.
