When you’re starting a business, the list of things that cost money is depressing. ABN registration, insurance, equipment, stock, marketing — it adds up before you’ve earned your first dollar.
The good news is that several genuinely useful tools cost nothing. Not “free trial for 14 days then we charge your card” nothing — actually, permanently free. Some have paid tiers that are worth upgrading to eventually, but the free versions are enough to get started.
Here are seven I’d set up in the first week. (They pair nicely with the five free things that build your online presence.)
1. Google Business Profile
This is the single most impactful free tool any Australian small business can use. It controls how you appear on Google Search and Google Maps — and it’s completely free.
Without one, you’re invisible to the huge majority of customers who search online before choosing a local business. With one, you show up when someone nearby searches for what you do.
What’s free: Full business listing, review management, photo uploads, Google Posts, performance insights, messaging, booking integration. Everything.
What it’s worth: Professional local SEO management (which essentially involves optimising and maintaining your GBP) typically costs $500–$2,000+ per month.
Set it up: google.com/business. I’ve written a full setup guide if you want the step-by-step.
2. Canva (free tier)
You’ll need graphics — social media posts, a basic logo to get started, flyers, business cards, maybe a presentation. Canva’s free tier gives you enough to cover all of that without touching Photoshop or paying a designer for every small job.
What’s free: Over a million templates, 3+ million stock assets, drag-and-drop editor, basic export formats, limited AI tools.
Key limitations: No background remover, no Magic Resize, no transparent PNG export, no custom font uploads, 5GB storage. These limitations start to bite once you’re producing content regularly.
When to upgrade: Canva Pro costs $20 AUD/month, or $165 a year — about $13.75 a month paid annually. Worth it once you’re creating content consistently — the background remover alone saves hours.
One tip: Don’t spend two weeks designing the perfect logo in Canva before you’ve made your first sale. A simple wordmark or text-based logo is fine to start with. You can invest in professional branding later. I’ve written about this in my post on whether you need a logo before a website.
3. A project management tool — Trello, Notion, or Asana
When you’re doing everything yourself, things fall through the cracks. A simple project management tool keeps your tasks, ideas, and deadlines in one place instead of scattered across sticky notes and text messages.
Trello (free): The simplest option. Kanban boards (drag cards between columns like “To Do,” “Doing,” “Done”). Up to 10 boards, unlimited cards, 250 automation commands per month. Best if you want something you can set up in 5 minutes and start using immediately.
Notion (free): More versatile — notes, databases, task lists, and documents in one tool. Unlimited pages and blocks. Best if you also need a place for meeting notes, client briefs, and business planning.
Asana (free): Up to 10 team members, unlimited tasks and projects, list/board/calendar views. Best if you’ll be collaborating with others — a virtual assistant, a bookkeeper, a designer.
My recommendation for solo owners: Trello if you want simple, Notion if you want flexible. Don’t overthink this — the best tool is whichever one you’ll actually use.
4. An email marketing platform — MailerLite
I’ll be direct about this: Mailchimp’s free plan has been gutted. As of 2026, it limits you to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, with Mailchimp branding on every email. It’s not a viable option for most businesses anymore.
MailerLite (free tier): 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails per month, includes automation, landing pages, and a drag-and-drop editor. This is the free email marketing tool I’d recommend in 2026.
Other options worth knowing about:
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): 100,000 contacts but only 300 emails per day. Best for large lists with infrequent sending.
- Sender: 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails per month, includes automation. Generous but less well-known.
When you need email marketing: Not on day one. Focus on getting your first customers first. But once you have 20–30 contacts who’ve bought from you or shown interest, start building a list. An email list is the only audience you fully own — unlike social media followers.
5. Google Search Console
This is the tool that tells you how Google sees your website. It’s free, it’s from Google, and it shows you data no other free tool can provide.
What’s free: Which search terms bring people to your site, how many times your pages appear in search results, your click-through rates, which pages are indexed, mobile usability issues, Core Web Vitals scores, and security alerts.
Why it matters: If your website isn’t showing up in search results, Search Console tells you why. (New to how search works? Start with my plain-English SEO guide.) If it is showing up but nobody’s clicking, it tells you that too. It’s the difference between guessing and knowing.
Set it up: search.google.com/search-console. You’ll need to verify you own the site — the easiest method is adding a small piece of code to your website. If you’re not sure how, your web designer can do it in 2 minutes.
What it replaces: Professional SEO tools like Ahrefs or Semrush cost $129–$139 USD per month. Search Console doesn’t replace everything they do, but for a new business, it gives you the most important data for free.
6. Accounting software — start with a free trial
I’ll be honest: there isn’t a genuinely good, permanently free accounting option that handles Australian GST, BAS, and Single Touch Payroll properly. Wave is free for basic invoicing and bookkeeping, but it doesn’t support Australian tax requirements or local payroll.
For Australian businesses, the practical choice is between Xero (from $35/month) and MYOB (from $31/month). Both offer 30-day free trials.
Xero dominates the Australian market — most accountants here run on it. All plans include GST, BAS, and payroll. If your accountant uses Xero, your life is simpler if you do too.
MYOB is strong on payroll with over 120 modern awards built in. It’s the better option if payroll complexity is your main concern.
My recommendation: Start with Xero’s free trial. If it works for you, the $35/month Ignite plan covers everything a new business needs. That’s less than a tank of petrol — and it replaces the shoebox-of-receipts approach that’ll cost you far more at tax time.
7. Government free resources — business.gov.au and the WA SBDC
These are genuinely useful and genuinely free — and most new business owners don’t know about half of them.
business.gov.au (federal): Free business plan templates, Grant Finder tool, cash flow templates, marketing plan templates, cyber security checklist, free advisory service (call 13 28 46), and AI Skills for Business courses.
Small Business Development Corporation WA (smallbusiness.wa.gov.au): Free advisory service (call 133 140), cash flow forecasting calculator, breakeven calculator, hourly rate calculator, free workshops including “Starting a Business” sessions, and — this is a good one — free dispute resolution and mediation services if things go sideways with a supplier or contractor.
Other free resources worth knowing about:
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Free tools for calculating pay rates and understanding employment obligations.
- Beyond Blue NewAccess: 6 free coaching sessions specifically designed for small business owners dealing with stress. Not many people know this exists.
- ATO Business Portal: Lodge BAS, manage STP, and access your tax records. Pair it with the ATO app for receipt scanning on the go.
What it’s all worth: Between the federal and state resources, templates, and free advisory services, you’re looking at thousands of dollars worth of professional advice and tools — all available for a phone call or a download.
If you can only set up three this week
Google Business Profile (free visibility), Canva (free design), and Google Search Console (free data). These three give you the foundation to be visible online, create professional-looking content, and understand how people find you. Everything else can follow when you’re ready.
Not sure what your business needs online? Take my free 30-second quiz — it’ll tell you where to focus first based on your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailchimp still free?
Technically yes, but barely. Mailchimp's free plan now limits you to 250 contacts and 500 emails per month, with no automation and Mailchimp branding on every email. MailerLite's free plan offers 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails, and includes automation — it's the better option for most new businesses.
What's the best free accounting software for Australian businesses?
Wave is free for basic invoicing and bookkeeping, but it doesn't support Australian GST, BAS lodgement, or payroll. For Australian compliance, Xero (from $35/month) or MYOB (from $31/month) are the practical options. Both offer 30-day free trials. Most accountants in Australia use Xero, which makes collaboration easier.
