What I Recommend

The gap between having a password manager and having a password management practice is enforcement. 1Password deployed with enforced policies and SSO integration closes that gap.

Most companies have DMARC published at p=none and think they're protected. They're not — they're just watching. Sendmarc gets you to enforcement and keeps you there.

For companies handling sensitive client data or operating in regulated industries, Tresorit provides the encryption layer that standard cloud storage doesn't. Swiss-based, zero-knowledge architecture.

Most SMBs don't know what vulnerabilities exist in their infrastructure until something breaks. Tenable gives you continuous visibility so you're not discovering problems during a breach.

If you don't have visibility into your network, you don't have a security posture — you have a hope. Auvik provides the map and the monitoring that turns network management from reactive to proactive.

SOC 2 without Vanta is a manual documentation project that consumes your team for months. Vanta automates the evidence layer and makes certification achievable on a timeline measured in months.

The tool isn't the problem. The setup is. ClickUp configured around how your team actually works is a fundamentally different product from the default template.

monday.com earns its place when the workflows are built to match real operations. It's flexible enough to run sales, ops, and project delivery from a single platform — if it's configured right.

Contracts shouldn't live in email threads. PandaDoc centralizes document creation, approval, and signature into a single workflow with full visibility into where every document stands.

Gamma produces polished decks in a fraction of the time of traditional tools. For client-facing deliverables that need to look good fast, it consistently delivers.

Workflow automation in regulated environments requires careful handling of data. Keragon is built for healthcare and similar industries where compliance isn't optional.

Granola runs in the background and produces notes that read like a thoughtful human took them. It's the meeting intelligence tool I use personally on every call.

For most growth-stage companies I work with, Rippling handles HR, IT provisioning, and payroll without the overhead of managing separate systems. First recommendation for companies between 20 and 150 employees.

Gusto is the right fit for earlier-stage companies that need payroll, benefits administration, and basic HR without the complexity of a full HRIS. Clean, reliable, and well-supported.

When you're past the point where a simple payroll tool handles your HR needs, HiBob provides the people management infrastructure to support a growing, distributed team.

Remote work infrastructure is more than a laptop policy. Firstbase handles equipment procurement, configuration, and logistics so new hires are productive on day one regardless of location.

Hiring internationally used to require local legal entities or expensive EOR services. Oyster makes it operationally straightforward to employ or contract talent in 180+ countries.

For companies with hourly workers, field teams, or complex scheduling requirements, Buddy Punch provides the time tracking infrastructure without the enterprise overhead.

Most SMB sales teams are running outbound on stale data. Apollo gives your team the intelligence layer that turns outreach into pipeline — when it's configured properly and aligned to your ICP.

ZoomInfo is the enterprise-grade data layer for organizations running serious outbound programs. The data quality and intent signals it provides are a different class from most alternatives.

For sales teams that live in LinkedIn, Kaspr extracts verified contact data directly from profiles. It's the fastest path from LinkedIn research to a qualified contact record.

Leadpages gets you from campaign concept to live landing page without a developer. For growth-stage companies running targeted campaigns, it removes the technical bottleneck from the marketing workflow.

For companies running significant paid media spend, Instapage's personalization and A/B testing capabilities justify the investment. Built for teams that take conversion rate seriously.

QuickBooks remains the default accounting platform for most SMBs for good reason — broad accountant familiarity, solid integrations, and a feature set that covers most needs through the growth stage.

Deel handles international payroll, contractor payments, and equity management across 150+ countries. For companies with global teams or international expansion on the roadmap, it simplifies what would otherwise be a legal and operational headache.

Flippa is the marketplace I use when evaluating or transacting on digital assets. The deal flow is broad and the process is more streamlined than traditional M&A for sub-$5M transactions.

For businesses that need two-way SMS with customers — service teams, field operations, healthcare practices — Textline provides the compliance layer and team inbox that consumer messaging apps don't.

KrispCall provides the business phone infrastructure for teams that have moved past the point where everyone using their personal mobile is acceptable. Clean setup, good integrations.

When your application or platform sends transactional email, deliverability is infrastructure. SMTP2GO provides the sending infrastructure and monitoring to ensure your critical emails actually arrive.

MindStudio lets you build custom AI tools and automations without a development team. For operations teams that want to leverage AI without waiting on engineering resources, it removes the technical barrier.

BLACKBOX AI accelerates development workflows with context-aware code completion and generation. For small development teams that need to move faster without adding headcount, it's a meaningful productivity multiplier.

devs.ai provides a suite of AI-powered development tools that integrate into existing workflows. Worth evaluating for any team looking to increase development velocity.

Thryv consolidates CRM, scheduling, invoicing, and marketing for service-based SMBs into a single platform. For businesses still running on disconnected tools, it's a significant operational simplification.

For healthcare practices managing patient communication, Weave unifies phone, text, and scheduling into a single platform built for the specific workflows of medical and dental offices.