1️⃣Shopify
Launch a store in a weekend, start taking payments the same day, and scale without touching servers. Built-in apps and analytics turned casual traffic into cash.
Address: 150 Elgin St, Ottawa, Canada
- fast checkout
- high-converting themes
- massive app ecosystem
- built-in analytics
- effortless integrations with Stripe and PayPal
- global tax and shipping tools
- 24/7 support
- monthly fee adds up
- some apps cost extra
- design freedom has guardrails
2️⃣Stripe
It made getting paid feel instant. Invoices, subscriptions, and payment links shaved days off cash collection and boosted conversion.
Address: 1 Grand Canal Street Lower, Dublin, Ireland
- high approval rates
- sleek checkout
- multi-currency support
- fraud protection that actually works
- recurring billing that never breaks
- rich dashboards and alerts
- payout timings vary by country
- takes a processing fee
- advanced settings can overwhelm
3️⃣Google Ads
When campaigns hit, ROI is wild, but you pay to learn. Smart bidding and exact match drove profitable leads, yet one bad keyword can torch budget.
Address: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, USA
- instant traffic with intent
- granular targeting
- robust conversion tracking
- scales quickly
- competitive auctions can be expensive
- learning curve and constant tweaks
- brand clicks can cannibalize organic
- support is hit-or-miss
4️⃣Upwork
A steady pipeline of paid projects when outreach was quiet. Great for validating offers and smoothing cash flow, but fees bite.
Address: 475 Brannan St, San Francisco, USA
- ready-to-buy clients
- escrow protection
- ratings build social proof
- broad category coverage
- platform fees reduce margins
- race-to-the-bottom pricing in some niches
- proposal grind takes time
- account holds can be stressful
5️⃣ConvertKit
Creator-friendly email that directly sold products and courses. Automations nurtured leads, but list growth stalls without a strong top-of-funnel.
Address: Boise, USA
- clean editor
- visual automations
- quick landing pages
- solid deliverability
- pricing jumps as list grows
- limited design flexibility
- migrations can be fiddly
- A/B testing is basic