What email & CRM systems are the best for start up businesses?

Written By Andrew Ford

After working with loads of small businesses and start ups in my Build Your Own Business (BYOB) program, I have advised a lot of people on work productivity tools. I have a bunch of ones I like to use and will go through them here with some discount codes for those needing to purchase. It will help keep me in their good books (and getting discounts) that I can pass onto you good folks.

Let’s go through my latest tech tools for 2026.

Email and daily work
Google Workspace tells me to tell you “is a cloud-based productivity suite that helps teams communicate, collaborate and get things done from anywhere and on any device. It's simple to set up, use and manage, so your business can focus on what really matters.” Then gives us a hand video. Sounds so human right?

Watch a video or find out more here.

They go on…

“Here are some highlights:
Business email for your domain
Look professional and communicate as you@yourcompany.com. Gmail's simple features help you build your brand while getting more done.

Access from any location or device
Check emails, share files, edit documents, hold video meetings and more, whether you're at work, at home or on the move. You can pick up where you left off from a computer, tablet or phone.

Enterprise-level management tools
Robust admin settings give you total command over users, devices, security and more.

Sign up using my link https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/Qfic and get a 14-day trial, and message me to get an exclusive discount when you try Google Workspace for your business.”

So from a real business owner I can tell you Google packs a big punch for your emails. They bundle AI, storage, video meetings with AI not taking and unlimited video calls. Plus all the normal documents like Google sheets, docs, slides etc It’s easy to use and relatively cheap. Better than Microsoft in my opinion.

CRM/AI/Automation

The CRM de jure these days is Go high Level. It’s basically a MLM for CRM tools so agencies love it as we can make a few dollars by selling it. Not a bad thing considering agency margins are very thin lately. I have an agency licence and provide it as an affiliate and also under my umbrella with our support services. We call it Social Star hub and for $495 month you get unlimited access to all the tools, advice on how to use it and several hours of technical implementations per month. A pretty solid deal.

Check out these links if interested:

https://get.socialstar.com.au/socialstarhub 

or affiliate link to set up your own account https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=social-star18

Websites

We have been building in Squarespace websites for over a decade, 2016 to be exact. We have found them secure, reliable and on the latest functionality. They charge appropriately but that’s because they are good. We are a Gold partners so get a big discount on their fees, in the range of 25% so if you are in the market for a website, even if you want to build it yourself, contact us as we can help you save some money on hosting with them.

Or we can build you a professional looking website for a reasonable cost. Check us out here - https://www.socialstar.com.au/website-development-and-management

We will add more affiliates as we join.

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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