For many start-ups, signing up for official “business” software and service accounts feels like a rite of passage. These subscriptions may seem like small change when sprinkled across your monthly statement. But they quickly add up—especially as you grow your company. So let’s take a look at which subscriptions you’re probably overpaying for and how you can put that money back into your bank account.
Legal: LegalZoom and LawDepot
It’s no secret that corporate lawyers can cost thousands, and most “starters”—our name for new entrepreneurs—can
DIY the legal piece of starting a business with a little software help. So where do you get the legal support you need? You might be overpaying if you use LegalZoom and LawDepot.
LegalZoom has become a popular alternative to hiring a corporate lawyer for the legal basics of new start-ups. This platform can be used for legal formation documents and filing - but that’s about it.
For legal documents, contracts, and templates, start-ups often turn to a LawDepot subscription. While their prices may seem low compared to the cost of an actual corporate lawyer, they still come with a high price tag - and far fewer features - when compared with a service like Startomatic.
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What You’re Paying:
- LegalZoom: $428+ in upfront costs
- LawDepot: $33 per month
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What You’re Not Getting: Speedy filing, new business guidance, or tools that extend beyond the legal formation of your business.
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How to Save: Startomatic serves as a LegalZoom alternative and LawDepot alternative.
Project Management: Asana, Basecamp, and Dropbox
Project management solutions are one of the most prominent over-expenses for start-ups. Let’s start with Asana. This platform has recently stepped into the center stage for project management.
Asana Business costs at least $24.99 per user/per month. By the time your start-up reaches ten employees, you could be paying $300+ each month in project management software alone. That is $3,600+ every year. And the cost only continues to grow with your corporation.
Basecamp, another popular project management solution, costs a flat rate of $99 each month. While this is a more affordable option for larger businesses (hint: still overpaying), you’ll be steeply overcharged during the early stages of your company.
Once you have your projects sorted, you will need to manage their files. Start-ups often turn to Dropbox for file management. This platform helps businesses share, store, and save files for $12.50 per user/per month.
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What You’re Paying:
- Asana: $24.99+ per employee/per month
- Basecamp: $99 per month.
- Dropbox: $12.50 per employee/per month
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What You’re Not Getting: Anything other than project management software.
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How to Save: Startomatic serves as an Asana alternative and Basecamp alternative.
Custom Company Email: Google Workspace
There is something to be said about having your email end in your company name. Not only does it make your company seem more “official” as you work to grow your brand, it just feels right. To lose that Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail branding from your email address, many businesses turn to Google Workspace.
These plans start at $6 per user/per month. For more capacity and support, Business Standard plans ($12/user/month) and Business Plus plans ($18/user/month) are available. Even at its cheapest, you’re still overpaying for the basic necessity of a custom business email.
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What You’re Paying: $6-18 per employee/per month to begin
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What You’re Not Getting: New business guidance, business formation tools, legal support, and help in so many other areas of your business.
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How to Save: Startomatic serves as a Google Workspace alternative, with six custom email addresses included (and just $6 per month per address after that).
Web Hosting: Squarespace and GoDaddy
Squarespace and GoDaddy both offer a handful of web solutions to help get businesses online. But are their customers overpaying? The truth is, you can find a more affordable option.
These platforms both offer domain name generation and registration in addition to web hosting services. Sounds like the full package, right? Not quite. These services can cost your start-up anywhere from $50 to $500 each year while missing out on key features.
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What You’re Paying:
- GoDaddy: $50-200 per year.
- Squarespace: $149-500 per year.
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What You’re Not Getting: Trademark search tools, company name conflict checks, off-site setup (Google My Business, Google Search Console, social media), and more.
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How to Save: Startomatic serves as a Squarespace alternative and GoDaddy alternative.
Slack: Business Communication Alternative
Slack has become a staple in business communication—to the extent that businesses rarely think twice about whether or not they’re overpaying. For small- and medium-sized businesses, Slack runs $6.67 per user/per month. Like all per-user subscriptions, this cost will continue to grow with your company.
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What You’re Paying: $6.67 per employee/per month
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What You’re Not Getting: Custom company email, website support, legal help, or business solutions outside of company chats.
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How to Save: Startomatic’s built in group chat feature serves as a simple Slack alternative.
Startomatic: Your All-In-One Business Solution
You can find all of these software solutions rolled into one subscription with Startomatic. Our $99 subscription includes every feature we have—no buy-ups necessary.
You can also forget about per-user pricing. Your Startomatic membership includes unlimited access to your custom company email, communication solutions, project management software, file management software, and so much more. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today, your first two weeks are risk-free!
Andrew Fisher
