What Is a Tech Stack and Why Does It Matter?
If you’ve ever wondered what a tech stack is and whether it’s something you even need, this episode of This Mum Loves Tech is for you. Spoiler alert: you already have one!
A tech stack is simply the collection of tools, platforms, and software you use to run your business. From your website and email platform to the apps that help you book calls or take payments—it’s all part of your tech stack. As Nicola explains:
“It’s all the things that are working in the background to keep things ticking over… it’s basically everything that is not you within your business.”
Your Business, Your Stack: Why It’s Unique
Every business owner’s tech stack looks different, and that’s exactly how it should be. Just like following a recipe, you’ll use a mix of ingredients depending on your business model, offers, and personal preferences.
“Think of it like a recipe. Your ingredients might include a website, an email marketing platform, a calendar tool… but you get to decide how much of each one you need.”
Some business owners love their email marketing platform, others focus on scheduling tools. There’s no one-size-fits-all. What matters most is that the tools work for you, not the other way around.
When Tech Gets Messy
It’s easy to fall into the trap of signing up for tool after tool because you heard you “need” it. But without an intentional strategy, you could end up wasting time, energy, and money on platforms that overlap or don’t integrate well.
One of my clients was paying for three different email platforms—two of which were doing the same job! By consolidating and simplifying, they saved over £200 per year.
How to Review Your Tech Stack
Not sure what’s in your stack? Start by answering these questions:
- What tools are you currently using day-to-day?
- Are you paying for anything you rarely use?
- Do you have multiple tools doing the same job?
- Are any of your tools slowing you down or confusing your clients?
The goal is a streamlined, integrated system that suits your business stage, time availability, and budget.
Foundational, Growth and Bonus Tools
Nicola’s approach to building a balanced tech stack includes:
- Foundational Tools – the essentials (e.g. email, calendar, payments, cloud storage)
- Growth Tools – once the basics are covered (e.g. online courses, booking systems)
- Bonus Tools – extras like podcast platforms, AI tools or more detailed analytics
You don’t need everything right away, just build intentionally based on your current needs.
Ready to Simplify Your Tech Stack?
If the points of this episode have made you realise that your tech stack might be more complicated than it needs to be, don’t worry you don’t need to figure it all out on your own.
To help you get started, I’ve created a free Time-Saving Tech Checklist.
Inside, you’ll find:
- The essential tools every online business needs.
- How to avoid wasting money on tools you don’t really need.
- My favourite low-cost (or free!) platforms that save time and stress.
👉 Grab your copy here: Time-Saving Tech Checklist
Think of it as your shortcut to building a lean, connected tech stack that supports your business, without the overwhelm.
