Favorite Business Tools & Apps: The Ones I *Actually* Use (and Recommend all the Time)

There are some essential tools I use to keep everything running smoothly at KHreative Works, from branding projects to client communication, to my ever-growing to-do list.

These aren’t tools I’ve tested once and forgot about. These are the platforms I log into every single day, and I'm here to share!

Note: Some of the links below are referral or affiliate links, which means I may get a freebie or small commission if you decide to sign up through them (at no extra cost to you). However, none of this is sponsored. I only recommend what I actually use, and pay for myself.

Let’s get into it.

TickTick is my bestie at this point.

TickTick: The To-Do List that Runs my Life

No, seriously. I honestly can’t remember life before TickTick. If it’s not in TickTick, it’s not getting done. I put everything in here: work tasks, shopping lists, vitamin reminders, random ideas at 2 AM… everything!

• Lists & color coding – Because my brain can be a chaotic place, and I need to see things organized visually.

• Reminders that actually work – You can snooze tasks, set priorities, and basically stop forgetting things.

• Time tracking – I love knowing exactly how long I spend on projects, so I can charge accordingly.

If you need one app to keep you organized, this is it. It’s like a second brain, without the burnout.

Get TickTick*

*Disclosure: This link is part of TickTick’s official Referral Program. It is valid for new users only, and if you choose to sign up and upgrade to Premium through this link, TickTick rewards me with a free month.

Adobe Creative Cloud: The Non-Negotiable

Listen, if you’re a designer or work with any kind of visual content, Adobe is the industry standard for a reason.

Here’s what I use:

• Illustrator – Logo design, brand marks, icons, and vector-based brand assets

• Photoshop – Mockups, photo editing, and social media graphics

• Acrobat – Fillable forms, PDF editing

• InDesign – Reports, publications, brand guidelines, etc.

• After Effects – Branded animations, motion graphics, and adding subtle magic to video content

Yes, it’s a bit of an investment, but if visuals are a part of your business, it pays for itself.

Try Adobe Creative Cloud

Zoho Mail: Simple and Ad-Free

I needed a professional email for my business before Google had Workspace, and Zoho Mail just made sense. It’s clean, easy to use, and does everything I need, without ads cluttering my inbox.

• Company email without the overhead – If you want 'yourname@yourbusiness.com' but don’t want to spend a fortune, Zoho is ridiculously affordable.

• It comes with more than just email – There’s this cool feature called Streams where you can chat with your team, comment on emails, and basically avoid the never-ending email back-and-forth.

• Storage for days – I never have to worry about running out of space.

Honestly, it just works. If you’re still using a Gmail or Yahoo address for your business, it’s time to upgrade.

P.S.: If you don't need a new mail service, Zoho offers so much more: CRM, Sign, Flow, and many more apps to suit your needs.

Check out Zoho Mail*

*Disclosure: This link is part of Zoho's official Refer-a-Friend Program. It is valid for new users only, and if you choose to sign up and subscribe to a paid plan through this link, we will both receive Zoho Wallet credits.

Wave Accounting: Because I'd Rather Design than do Math

If there’s one thing I don’t want to spend my time on, it’s accounting. But invoices are a non-negotiable. Wave makes it easy to send invoices, track payments, and send gentle (or not-so-gentle) reminders when people are late.

• Invoices that look legit – Just clean, professional invoices that match my branding.

• Automatic payment reminders – Because I hate chasing money. Wave does it for me.

• Receipts & Tracking – I download it, and it’s logged. No more digging through old emails to find receipts at tax time.

The best part? It’s free (at least for now, depending on your location). If you’re tired of manually tracking payments, Wave will save you so much time.

Try Wave Accounting

Wix: For When you Need a Website but Don't Code

Sometimes clients need a simple, good-looking site without hiring a developer. That’s where Wix comes in. As a web designer myself, I love the ease of focusing on the design rather than code. We have developers on the team who can do that when required, but Wix is amazing when it's not.

KHreative Works has been a Wix partner for over 10 years.

Wix Partners are agencies, freelancers and other businesses that build and maintain premium websites for clients.

• No coding required – Just drag, drop, tweak, and boom, you have a site.

• Looks professional without the hassle – The templates are solid, and you can make them look custom without a ton of effort. Or, you can start from scratch and design to your liking... That may or may not be why this new KHreative Works site took a year to finish (hides face).

• Great for Small Businesses – If you need a portfolio, service page, or even a small e-commerce shop, Wix does the job.

If you’ve been putting off launching your website because it seems complicated, Wix makes it ridiculously easy.

Build Your Site with Wix

...or you can just hire us (wink).

Typeform: For Forms that Don't Feel Like Forms

Typeform makes even the most boring forms feel… nice. My work request and client feedback forms are powered by Typeform, which turns them into a smooth experience that feels more like a conversation.

• Looks better than your average form – Clean, minimal, modern. You can even brand it to match your aesthetic.

• Logic jumps & conditional flows – So people only see questions that actually apply to them.

• Great integrations – You can connect it to Notion, Google Sheets, and even your email list.

• Perfect if you want to collect info without making people feel like they’re applying for a visa.

Try Typeform*

*Disclosure: This link is part of Typeform’s official Refer-a-Friend Program. It is valid for new users only, and if you choose to sign up and subscribe to a paid plan through this link, I may earn a small reward.

Tally: Like Typeform, with more Free Features

Tally is like the Google Docs of form builders, but way prettier. It’s super fast to use, totally free for most things, and shockingly powerful once you get into it.

• No-code, no fuss – You can literally type like you're in a doc and hit publish.

• Embed anywhere – Great for my DIY clients who want something lightweight on their site.

• More free features - Unlike Typeform that has a small limit (10 responses) per month on their free plan, Tally allows unlimited forms and submissions, completely free, as long as you stay within their fair usage guidelines.

If you’re just starting out or you need a fast, easy form that still feels professional, this one’s a gem.

Try Tally*

*Disclosure: This link is part of Tally's official Referral Program. If you sign up and become a paying Tally customer through this link, you will get 50% off your subscription for 3 months, and I will earn a percentage as well.

Kitchen.co: Because Weeding through Email Chains are a Nightmare

Kitchen keeps my client projects tidy without needing a full-blown agency project management system. It’s not bloated like Asana or Monday, and it’s friendlier than Trello or Notion. It’s just enough structure to keep things on track.

Instead of trying to remember an email subject line, or keeping track of Google Drive links, Kitchen keeps everything in one tidy client portal.

• Client-facing without being overwhelming – Clients can message, comment, approve drafts, and upload files all in one place.

• Internal notes – I can jot things down for myself or my team without the client seeing.

• Beautiful UI – It’s actually pleasant to look at, which makes a difference when you’re in it every day.

If you’re a service provider tired of digging through email threads and scattered feedback, Kitchen will save your sanity.

Check out Kitchen.co*

*Disclosure: This link is part of Kitchen's official Affiliate Program. If you sign up and upgrade to a paid plan through this link, I will earn a small commission.

These are all business tools and apps I actually use daily to keep my business running smoothly.

When I find any more amazing tools or apps, I'll add to this list.

If any of them sound like they’d make your life easier, give them a try!