The Ultimate NI Small Business Toolkit

Expert e-commerce insights and strategies tailored for Belfast businesses. Learn how to grow your online store in Northern Ireland.

Published on March 29, 2025

📦 The Ultimate NI Small Business Toolkit

Running a business in Northern Ireland means wearing 12 hats, drinking 3 coffees before 10am, and still needing to post on Instagram before lunch. We get it — that's why we pulled together a one-stop NI Small Biz Toolkit with all the apps, links, and shortcuts we wish someone had handed us when we started.

This toolkit is free to use, constantly updatable, and built for real people — freelancers, side hustlers, e-commerce champs, charity founders, and anyone who's building something brilliant in the North.

Bonus: If you're using Shopify or want help with your digital presence, Invisible Building can be your in-house dev/design growth partner. We’re local, we care, and we make websites that actually convert. Let’s chat →

🧰 1. Free Tools for Everyday Tasks

Task	Tool	Notes
Graphic Design	Canva	Templates, logos, posters
Scheduling Socials	Meta Business Suite	Built-in for Facebook + Insta
Invoicing	Zervant / Invoicely	Free + client-friendly
File Sharing	WeTransfer	Quick & easy media sharing

🌐 2. NI Business Support Links

Resource	Link	Notes
Go Succeed	go-succeed.com	Grants + mentoring
NI Business Info	nibusinessinfo.co.uk	All the basics, legal info
Invest NI	investni.com	Export, growth support
HMRC Business	gov.uk	For sole traders/self-employed
Women in Business	womeninbusinessni.com	Workshops + events

🎨 3. Branding & Marketing Resources

Tool	Description
Canva Smartmockups	Instant product previews
Fontjoy	Font pairing made easy
Looka	Logo idea generator
Coolors	Fast colour palette ideas
Ubersuggest	SEO keyword + site audit tool

💬 4. Social Media Tools

Tool	Description
CapCut	For making TikToks + Insta Reels
Pexels / Unsplash	Free stock content
Answer the Public	Content ideas based on real searches
Hashtag Generator	Build your reach

🛠 5. Website / Shopify Tools

Tool	Description
Shopify Themes	Pick a vibe that sells
PageSpeed Insights	Speed check & tips
Hotjar	Heatmaps to spy on user flow
Figma	For prototyping website ideas
TinyPNG	Compress your .jpg/.png for faster sites