Tools for Starting a Business or Testing an Idea: A Beginner’s Guide

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Timothy Soladoye

When starting a business or testing an idea, having the right tools can make all the difference. Here’s a list of essential tools that are easy to set up and cost-effective:

1. Website Builder – carrd.co – free
   An intuitive platform that allows you to create simple, responsive one-page websites for free, perfect for landing pages or quick MVPs.

2. Domain Name – Namecheap – 8 USD/year
   Secure your domain name for just $8 a year, providing your business with a professional online identity.

3. DNS – Cloudflare – free
   Manage your DNS with Cloudflare for free, benefiting from enhanced security and performance.

4. Mail – Zoho mail – free
   A free, ad-free email hosting solution that lets you use your domain name for your business emails

5. Design – Canva – free
   Create stunning visuals, social media posts, and marketing materials effortlessly with this user-friendly design tool.

6. Socials – Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, LinkedIn, Instagram – free
   Leverage these free platforms to build your brand’s presence, engage with customers, and market your offerings.

7. App Development – Laravel
   A powerful PHP framework for building robust web applications, suitable for startups aiming to develop a custom app

8. VPS – DigitalOcean from 4USD/Month
   Get your app online with affordable and reliable VPS hosting, starting at just $4 per month.

9. Reporting – Metabase
   A free, open-source business intelligence tool that helps you create custom reports and dashboards to track your business metrics and make data-driven decisions.

10. ChatGPT – Because why not!
    For brainstorming, content creation, or customer support, ChatGPT can be a versatile tool in your startup toolkit.

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Timothy Soladoye