From $476 to $80\/month in tech tools (and my income went UP)
From the Tech-Simplified Desk of Rucheli:
Welcome back to Systeme.io Sundays! I'm still buzzing from all the amazing feedback on last week's inaugural newsletter. Your emails truly made my week - yes, I read every single one!
Last Sunday we dove into the "all-in-one tools" revolution, but this week we're switching gears. Let's talk about those mini tech tools that actually play nicely with Systeme.io and are genuinely worth your time and money. Because let's face it, not all tech additions are created equal!
Behind the scenes confession: I just spent an hour helping a client untangle herself from roughly a kajillion different tech tools she signed up for last year and barely uses. The digital clutter is real, folks! Let's make sure you're only investing in what truly serves your business.
🚀 Tech Truth Bomb: The Great Tech Purge
So... I just did something kind of therapeutic. I went through my old PayPal statements from 2 years ago and added up how much I was spending on tech tools.
🥁 drum roll please 🥁
$476 PER MONTH! 😱
That's a car payment. Or a really nice shopping spree. Or 119 oat milk lattes (but who's counting?).
Here's the kicker - I only actually NEEDED five tools. Yep, just five. Everything else was either redundant or something I bought because some guru told me I "had to have it" (spoiler alert: I didn't).
And the results? After I slashed my tech stack down to just Systeme.io ($47/month plan) and a few essentials, I brought my total to about $80/month... and kept it there all the way until I hit my first $8K month! That's right - I MADE more money while SPENDING less on tech. Talk about a win-win!
So today, I'm sharing my "Famous Five" - the only tech tools you actually need to run a successful online business. No fluff, no extras, just the essentials that helped me scale without the tech overwhelm.
🎯 Tool #1: Systeme.io ($0-97/month) This is your all-in-one business hub for:
• Website hosting
• Email marketing
• Course/membership delivery
• Funnel building
• Affiliate management
Why I love it: It replaces literally 5-6 other tools and the interface doesn't make me want to cry
🎨 Tool #2: Canva ($0-15/month) Your visual content bestie for:
• Social media graphics
• Lead magnets
• Course workbooks
• Marketing materials
Why I love it: Even the most design-challenged among us (🙋♀️) can create pretty things
💳 Tool #3: Stripe (Free + processing fees) Your money collector for:
• Payment processing
• Subscription management
• Financial reporting
Why I love it: It's the industry standard and plays nice with everything
📹 Tool #4: Zoom ($0-15.99/month) Your face-to-face connection tool for:
• Client calls
• Group coaching
• Workshops
Why I love it: Everyone knows how to use it (finally, thank you 2020!)
☁️ Tool #5: Google Drive ($0-6/month) Your digital filing cabinet for:
• Document storage
• Client files
• Team collaboration
Why I love it: Never lose another file again!
TOTAL MONTHLY INVESTMENT: As low as $0 to start, or around $134/month for all the premium versions.
Compare that to my old $476/month tech stack... 🤦♀️
Here's the thing - you don't need:
❌ A fancy CRM
❌ 47 different social media scheduling tools
❌ That cool new AI thing everyone's talking about
❌ Whatever shiny object that guru is pushing this week
Just these five tools, used well, can build you a 6-figure business. I know because I've done it (and helped others do it too).
🛠️ Systeme.io Tip of the Week: Subaccounts for EVERYONE!
Systeme.io just dropped a game-changer: subaccounts for all users (yes, even on the Freemium plan)!
Think of subaccounts like having multiple businesses under one roof. Perfect if you: • Run multiple brands or businesses • Want to separate client work from your own business • Need to organize different product lines • Want to test new business ideas without creating a whole new account
How to set it up:
1. Hover over your profile photo in the top right corner
2. Select "Subaccounts"
3. Create unlimited subaccounts (with or without email addresses)
4. Each subaccount is fully-featured with its own domains, emails, contacts,
etc.
5. Plan limits are shared across all accounts
Pro tip: If you're on the Unlimited plan, you get unlimited everything across unlimited subaccounts! 🔥
I've created a detailed walkthrough on YouTube showing exactly how to set this up and some creative ways my Simple Systems Society members are using it. [Click here to watch the tutorial!]
🎉 Tech Wins from Coaches Just Like You
🧠 This Week's Tech Simplification Challenge:
This week's assignment: The Tech Audit
1. List every single tech tool you're currently paying for
2. Note how much each costs monthly/annually
3. Mark which ones from the "Famous Five" you already have
4. Identify at least ONE tool you can cancel this week
💬 Drop your list—and how much you’re saving—in the comments. I love cheering on these wins!
Coming next week: I'll be pulling back the curtain on my weekly workflow & systems that help me run my business in under 10 hours a week. You'll see exactly how I use these five tools together in a streamlined way!
👀 One more thing: What’s the most expensive or useless tool you’ve ever paid for? Drop it in the comments!
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HEY, I’M RUCHELI…
... founder of Get The Tech Out Of Here, creator of the Design Build Scale tech implementation program and the Simple Systems Society tech support membership... and now I'm your personal guide on the tech journey that comes with launching an online business as a coach or course creator!
Can't wait to help you get the tech out of your business so you can get back to what you do best!