(Please note that this blog post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This support helps keep the blog running so I can continue helping small business owners like you start and scale their businesses. Thank you for your support!)

How to Automate Your Small Business: Top Tools and Pricing

As business owners, we wear a lot of hats, don’t we? One minute we're handling customer inquiries, the next we're sending follow-up emails or scheduling appointments. It’s easy to get caught up in these repetitive day-to-day tasks, and before we know it, we’re left with no time to focus on what we truly love about our business—the passion that got us started in the first place. That’s where automation comes in. Imagine reclaiming your time and energy, letting technology handle the routine so you can finally focus on growth, creativity, and serving your customers.

Why Automation Software is Essential for Small Businesses

For a small business, automation means taking the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that normally require manual effort—like sending emails, managing appointments, or tracking sales leads—and setting them up to run on autopilot. It frees up your time to focus on higher-level activities that actually grow your business, like creating new products, nurturing customer relationships, or strategizing for future success. With automation, you gain the ability to scale without needing to sacrifice more of your precious time, energy, or mental bandwidth.

What Are the Benefits of Automation Software in a Small Business?

• Time-Saving: Automating repetitive tasks like invoicing, appointment reminders or follow-ups frees you up to focus on the bigger picture—building and growing your business.

• Consistency: With automation, your customers are always getting the same top-tier experience, no matter how busy you are. Everything runs like clockwork.

• Scalability: Your business can grow with automation without needing to hire extra hands. Automation handles the heavy lifting as you expand.

• Efficiency: By streamlining processes, automation allows you to cut down on human error and ensure everything flows smoothly.

Key Features of the Best Automation Software for Small Businesses

Workflow & Task Automation

A lot of small business owners end up juggling too many manual tasks, which can lead to stress, slow progress, and missed opportunities. By using workflow automation, you can simplify processes like following up with leads, booking appointments, and handling customer inquiries. This keeps everything moving seamlessly, so you’re not losing track of what’s important or letting things slip through the cracks. It's all about staying on top of your business without the overwhelm!

Zapier Vs. ReDirect

Cost Comparison

Zapier: Zapier offers a free plan for minimal usage, but as your business grows, you'll likely need a paid plan. Plans start at $29.99/month for 750 tasks.

ReDirect: ReDirect starts at $97/month, with all automation features included. The ability to create workflows, tasks, integrations and scaling up automations are built into the platform.

Our Best Workflow And Task Automation Pick:

While Zapier may seem cheaper for basic use, ReDirect offers a more comprehensive solution for a flat fee, consolidating everything without the need for multiple subscriptions.

CRM System

A CRM system (Customer Relationship Management) is a software tool designed to help businesses manage and optimize interactions with their customers and prospects. It centralizes customer data, tracking every interaction—such as emails, calls, and purchases—so businesses can manage relationships more effectively.

Why do you need a CRM? A CRM helps you:

• Track customer interactions and history

• Automate follow-ups and communication

• Improve customer satisfaction by providing personalized experiences

• Increase sales through better lead management and conversion tracking

• Organize customer information in one place

A CRM is essential for scaling, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks as you grow.

Hubspot CRM vs. Salesforce vs. ReDirect

Cost Comparison

• HubSpot CRM: Starts free but can cost $800+/month for full CRM capabilities.

• Salesforce: Starting at $25/user/month for basic functionality, but typically much higher for advanced automation.

• ReDirect: Up to 3,000 contacts can be managed in the $97/month base plan, with no additional costs for advanced CRM features. Unlimited contacts can be managed with the $197/month Pro plan.

Our Best CRM System Pick:

ReDirect not only includes a CRM but integrates it with every part of your business. You won’t need to purchase separate CRM tools or expensive upgrades. Everything, from client management to lead follow-ups, is in one place.

Email & SMS Marketing Automation

Email and SMS marketing automation is crucial for businesses to maintain consistent and personalized communication with their customers. By automating these processes, you can send targeted messages based on customer behavior, preferences, or key events—like following up on abandoned carts, sending promotional offers, or confirming appointments.

Why You Need An Email & SMS Marketing Software:

• Customer Engagement: Automated emails and texts ensure you're always engaging with your audience, even when you're busy with other tasks.

• Personalization: Tailor your messages to individual customers, making them more relevant and effective.

• Lead Nurturing: Set up automated sequences to guide leads through their buying journey, turning prospects into loyal customers.

• Efficiency: Reduce manual effort, ensuring timely communication without constantly monitoring it.

Email and SMS automation can significantly boost conversion rates while saving you time. By putting these processes on autopilot, you're ensuring consistent touchpoints with your audience, all while focusing on the more important aspects of your business.

Mailchimp vs. Klaviyo vs. ReDirect

Cost Comparison:

• Mailchimp: Starts at $20/month for up to 500 contacts and 6,000 emails sent, but the price increases as your list grows.

• Klaviyo: Starts at $60/month for email and SMS marketing, but costs rise quickly based on subscriber count.

• ReDirect: Email and SMS marketing features are included in the base plan. You only pay a fractional, usage-based cost, making it much more cost-effective.

Our Best Email & SMS Marketing Automation Pick:

While Mailchimp and Klaviyo charge you a set fee regardless of usage, ReDirect offers unlimited email and SMS marketing as part of the base plan. Plus, you’re only charged a fractional cost based on how many messages you send, allowing for more flexibility and cost savings. By integrating email and SMS marketing directly with your CRM and workflows, ReDirect provides an all-in-one solution, offering far more value than the competition.

Sales Funnel Automation

A sales funnel is the journey your potential customers take from first discovering your business to making a purchase. It guides them step-by-step through your marketing and sales processes, converting leads into paying customers.

With sales funnel automation, you can streamline the entire process—automating lead nurturing, follow-ups, and conversion steps. It ensures no leads slip through the cracks and helps you manage multiple prospects at once without manual intervention. This not only saves time but also increases the likelihood of turning leads into sales.

Clickfunnels vs. Leadpages vs. ReDirect

Cost Comparison:

• ClickFunnels: Starts at $97/month for basic funnel creation and can go up to $297/month for full features.

• Leadpages: Starts at $49/month but requires additional tools for email integration and CRM.

• ReDirect: Included in the $97/month plan, with unlimited funnel, website creation, and blog features.

Our Best Sales Funnel Automation Pick:

ReDirect stands out as a better choice for sales funnel automation because it offers a complete, integrated system that goes beyond basic funnel building. With ReDirect, you can manage everything—lead capture, nurturing, follow-ups, order bumps, pop ups, and sales closure—without needing external tools. Unlike other platforms like ClickFunnels and Leadpages, which require additional software for CRM or email integration, ReDirect includes unlimited funnels, email marketing, CRM, and automation for one flat rate. This eliminates the need for multiple costly subscriptions and simplifies the entire sales process within a single platform.

Course and Community Hosting

Course and community hosting is essential for anyone looking to create, manage, and sell digital courses or build an engaged online community. Whether you're a coach, instructor, or entrepreneur, having these features allows you to:

• Monetize your expertise by selling courses or offering exclusive content.

• Create a membership model that provides recurring income.

• Foster a sense of community by giving your audience a space to connect, learn, and grow together.

Having these features can boost engagement, provide value, and generate consistent revenue.

Kajabi vs. Teachable vs. ReDirect

Cost Comparison:

• Kajabi: Starts at $149/month for basic features.

• Teachable: Starts at $59/month but limits digital product, course creation and does not include an affiliate program.

• ReDirect: Included in the $197 Pro plan, offering unlimited course creation, community management, and affiliate program setup.

Our Best Course And Community Hosting Pick:

ReDirect stands out as the better choice for course and community hosting because it provides a fully integrated platform that combines course creation, community management, and an affiliate program, all under one roof. Unlike Kajabi or Teachable, which either limit features or come at a higher cost, ReDirect's Pro plan offers unlimited courses, communities, and integrations with your CRM, marketing, and automations. This means everything—content, sales, and customer management—is centralized, making it more efficient and cost-effective for growing your digital business.

Why ReDirect is the All-in-One Solution for Small Businesses

Many business owners rely on a costly combination of platforms—Zapier for workflows, HubSpot for CRM, Mailchimp for emails, ClickFunnels for sales funnels, and Kajabi for courses. This can easily exceed $500/month.

With ReDirect, you get everything in one place, starting at $97/month. The Basic plan covers almost all features with up to 3,000 contacts and 3 staff accounts. The Pro plan at $197/month unlocks unlimited contacts, staff accounts, course creation, community management, and affiliate programs.

Key Benefits of ReDirect:

• All-in-one CRM and marketing automation

• Unlimited email, SMS, and funnel creation

• Full access to course and community hosting

• Seamless workflow automation to simplify business processes

• Integrated social media posting and Google review management tools

• 24/7 support and daily live coaching for continuous growth

Conclusion: Why ReDirect is the Best Choice for Your Small Business Automation

ReDirect brings together everything you need to run and scale your business in one streamlined platform. Whether it's managing your CRM, email marketing, sales funnels, or hosting courses, ReDirect provides a comprehensive, cost-effective solution. With no need for multiple subscriptions, it’s perfect for business owners looking to save time, cut costs, and drive growth.

Ready to transform your business?

Watch our free on-demand webinar for an exclusive sneak peek into ReDirect and see how it can streamline your operations!