Resources & Tools We Use & Recommend

Regardless of what stage you are in your business, SCORE is a MUST HAVE tool in your toolbox.

Need help writing a business plan? Do you run a franchise? Questions about financing your business? Are you overwhelmed with how to market your services?

SCORE can help with all of these topics and so much more. They offer a variety of online and in-person workshops and events, have a multitude of online resources, and offer free mentorship.

SCORE has been an invaluable resource for me. I cannot say enough good things about them and highly recommend reaching out to them for any business support you may need.

Are you a solopreneur feeling the overwhelm and bur-nout of hustle culture?

Maybe you are wanting to start your own business but not sure you have the personality or mental capacity to keep up with the grind of running a business.

If any of these uncertainties are hholding you back, I have good news for yu…..there is another way!

I’d love for you to explore Calm Business.

The owner, Kerstin Martin, provides solopreneurs with education and resources on how to run a successful business, that is profitable, calm, and stable.

Join the Calm Business movement and create the business and life that works for you.

Covering Your Legal P’s & Q’s

Legal talk isn’t fun, but you better make sure your business ‘behind’ is covered!

If you have a website you HAVE TO HAVE A PRIVACY POLICY! This isn’t an option, it’s the law. And if you are sellling goods or services you need a Terms & Conditions clause. We at Access Designs are not legal experts, nor do we play one on the internet. That is why we use Termageddon for our own website.

As a small business ourselves, we understand not having the money to hire legal counsel for this type of service. Not only is Termageddon affordable, it is super easy to use and their customer service is amazing!

That amazing price also includes updates as the laws around online privacy continue to evolve.

Use Code ACCESS at check out to get 10% off your first year.

Enhance Your Websites Accessibility

Why CCA is essential for web design

Insufficient color contrast on your website can lead to significant accessibility issues, hindering user experience and potentially excluding a portion of your audience. Without proper contrast, text can be difficult to read, especially for people with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies. This can result in frustration, reduced engagement, and even abandonment of your site. Additionally, low color contrast can make it challenging for users to navigate your site and distinguish between different elements, impacting usability and overall user satisfaction.

It’s easy to boost your website's accessibility with the CCA (Colour Contrast Analyzer). With this tool you can ensure your visuals meet accessibility standards, helping you reach a wider audience and improve user experience. The CCA is perfect for web designers and small business owners looking to make their mark online.

It’s truly an invaluable tool.

Do you want to add that little extra PIZZAZ to your website?

Ghost plugins are super easy to use and could help you stand out above your competition. With over 500+ FREE plugins, you are bound to find something you like. Even better, check out their Super Plugins for a confetti drop effect, navigation icons, a variety of ways to auto-scroll images, and so much more.

• Use Promo Code ACCESSDESIGNS to get 10% off your first month of Super Plugins, Ghost Templates, and Ghost+ Memberships

Inside the Square.co is your one stop shop for custom CSS for Squarespace.

If you have a Squarespace website that you like, but if you could add a few special touches to it that would make you LOVE IT, Becca Harpain is your gal.

Becca offers easy to follo video tutorials, a podcast, weekly emails, and a website with a plethera of resources all about custom website design and running a successful business using Squarespace

Oh the dreaded words, SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Yes, it’s a real thing you need to take seriously when building your website.

Squarespace use to have a bad rap when it came to ranking and SEO. But in reality SEO is only as good as you make it.

No matter if you are a DIY’er or a design agency using Squarespace, if you aren’t using SEO Space you are missing out.

This easy-to-use tool will do a SEO scan of your website and give you step-by-step guidance on how to improve it. They have a great community and are constantly adding new features to advance the user experience.

This is a must-have tool if you are using Squarespace.

Line up the Legal Paperwork for Your Small Business

Running a small business comes with lots of responsibilities. Ensuring you have legally compliant contracts, retainers, and policies should be at the top of that list.

I am not a lawyer, and I do not and cannot give legal advice. That is why I look to the professionals at The Creative Law Shop. They offer an assortment of legal documents geared towards a variety of industries and offer a lot of free resources as well.

As a small business owner you don’t need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to obtain the legal paperwork that helps you look professional and protects you and your clients.

I am not an affiliate for this company, just a big fan!

Level up your Squarespace website design.

Adding customized visual appeal to your website just got easier!

With a variety of monthly and annual plans to suit your needs, Spark plugins is the perfect solution for your Squarespace website.

Simply create an account, copy ONE line of code into your Squarespace website, and BOOM, you’re all set. You’ll have access to 100+ new design options right in your editor; carousel and list effects, link and button styles, animated background images, emoji cursors, and more.

If you are looking for an easy way to have a whole new design toolbox for your website, give Spark plugins a shot.

I would be remiss to not share how much I love Squarespace. It is my preferred platform to use for my own business and design with for others.

It is the easiest, most user-friendly website platform. Beginners can start with a pre-made template or seasoned designers can customize to their heart’s content - with or without custom code.

It is great for any service-based business or small e-commerce shop. Not only can you sell physical products, but you can sell courses, memberships, and digital downloads.

If you are looking for an innovative hosting platform with great customer service, Squarespace is the place for you and your business.

If you are selling courses, digital products, subscriptions, or other online products or services and you’re not using ThriveCart, you are missing out on sales.

Easily create funnels designed to convert, add bump offers, and affiliate campaigns with the click of a button.

ThriveCart can be integrated with tools you already use and is easy to embed wherever you sell online.

You can snag a discounted LIFETIME ThriveCart account now! Yep, LIFETIME, no monthly or annual subscription fees.

Creating an inclusive brand starts with an accessible website

As a small business owner you have likely spent a fair amount of time and money building the perfect website to help sell your products and services. During that process did you make sure it can be accessed by users of all abilities? Be honest….that probably didn’t even cross your mind.

It’s okay, the word is still getting out about how important web accessibility is, and how much it can improve your customer base.

WAVE is a FREE web browser extension that guides you through easy first steps to ensuring your website is accessible. Verify color contrast, confirm image alt text, validate page structure, and certify form fields are only a few of the website elements you can check and correct with WAVE.

Building an e-mail list and fostering the relationship with those who sign up, is still a major component to growing your audience.

But knowing what to say on a weekly basis can be daunting.

That’s where Kate Doster comes to the rescue. As the creator of The Email Marketing Fairy, Kate has created 50 e-mail templates and scripts to help you through the process.

PLUS, it comes wit over $100 of bonuses!!!

Stop wasting time sitting there wondering what to write and grab this amazing toolnow.

Are you launching a new business, transitioning your services, or maybe it’s just time to refresh your messaging?

Learning how to promote your value in an authentic way can be dificult. And what about infusing your own story into your branding? What exactly and how much should you share?

My friend Reme Mancera is the perfect person to help you through this process. Reme can help you discover your 10 story connectors and how they can help you sell your services.

As a Personal Brand Strategist, Reme has worked with dozens of small businesses and solopreneurs, helping them redesign their personal brand strategy and simplify their offers..

Starting a business can be overwhelming. From developing your concept, to legal and financial aspects, and designing your website, there are a lot of things to remember to do. And if you don’t start off with a plan on what to do when, and where to keep all that important info, things can get out of hand pretty quickly.

At Access Designs I am nuts about planning and organizing and that’s why one of the first things I did after opening was create a checklist to help others who wanted to start a small business. I believe that keeping things simple and jargon free can take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders.

You can read about the essential steps to launching your business to help you work through each step and get started with the checklist now.

Develope Your Plan

A step-by-step guide to help you launch your dream business

Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or experienced in running a small business and starting a new venture, our Business Plan Workbook is an essential tool to help bring your business to life. From outlining your concept to putting together a marketing strategy, this workbook will guide you through each phase of building a business plan.

Don’t let the complexities of starting a small business hold you back. Learn how to write a winning business plan with our jargon free easy to follow workbook.