The best AI tools for small business growth

Small businesses face a constant balancing act: delivering high quality, keeping overheads low, staying agile, and growing at the same time. AI tools are no longer just a “nice to have” – when used well, they help small companies automate repetitive tasks, boost productivity, sharpen decision-making, and get more done without hiring a large team. 

Below are some of the best AI tools available today. Each one has real impact, and many are already being used by UK small businesses. 

Why small businesses need AI tools to stay competitive

Before diving into tools, it helps to be clear on what most small businesses aim to get from AI: 

• Save time / reduce repetitive work (email drafting, scheduling, customer follow-ups) 

• Improve customer experience (faster response times, personalised messaging) 

• Better decisions & insights (from data, customer behaviour, markets) 

• Scale marketing & content without big budgets 

• Maintain flexibility / not get locked in – tools should be affordable, easy to use, integrate well 

AI tools that help small businesses scale efficiently

Here are leading tools, and what they do especially well for small businesses. 

ChatGPT: AI content creation for small business marketing

ChatGPT, from OpenAI, is one of the most widely used AI tools in the world. For small businesses, it’s like having a digital assistant that can draft blog posts, emails, social media captions, FAQs and more in minutes. 

Instead of spending hours writing from scratch, you can use ChatGPT to generate ideas and content, then edit and adapt to match your brand’s tone. It’s not a replacement for your voice, but it can dramatically speed up content creation and free up time for other tasks. 

Sage Copilot:  AI -powered finance and admin support for small businesses

Finance and admin can eat up valuable hours for small businesses. Sage, a UK-based provider, has introduced Sage Copilot, an AI assistant that automates tasks like invoicing, chasing late payments and payroll. 

By cutting down on manual admin, it gives business owners more time to focus on growth while ensuring finances are handled accurately and professionally. 

HubSpot: Smarter sales and marketing with built in AI-tools

HubSpot has long been a favourite for growing businesses, and its AI features make it even more powerful. From automatically generating marketing content to helping sales reps with outreach, its tools are designed to align sales, marketing and customer service. 

Otter.ai:  Meeting notes and transcriptions made effortless

Taking accurate notes during client meetings or team catch-ups can be a distraction. Otter.ai automatically records and transcribes meetings, creating searchable notes that everyone can access. 

For small businesses, this saves time, reduces misunderstandings, and means you always have a record of what was discussed and agreed. 

Moneypenny:  Unique blend of brilliant people and AI technology driving efficiencies within companies of every shape and size, 24/7

For many small businesses, phone calls are still the lifeblood of growth. Every enquiry could be a new lead, booking or long-term client. But with lean teams, it’s not always possible to answer every call promptly. AI answering services solve this by handling calls instantly, professionally and consistently. 

Moneypenny’s AI Voice Agent is a prime example. Built with decades of call-handling expertise behind it, it uses advanced AI to answer calls naturally, capture enquiries accurately and provide a seamless experience for customers. Available 24/7, it ensures no call is ever missed, even when staff are busy or out of hours. 

What to watch out for 

AI tools are powerful, but things to keep in mind: 

• Data protection / privacy: Make sure any tool you use is GDPR compliant and that you control the data. 

• Managing expectations: AI isn’t perfect. Prompting well, reviewing output, and incorporating your voice / brand is still necessary. 

• Integration: A tool that doesn’t speak to your CRM, accounting software or website might create silos. Choose ones that plug in well. 

• Cost vs benefit: Look beyond licensing fees to the time saved, additional revenue or improved customer satisfaction. Sometimes cheaper tools with fewer features but good usability are better than complex, expensive ones. 

• Skill gap / training: Some teams may need support to use AI well. Make room for experimentation and iteration. 

How to start using AI in your business 

Here are steps to get started so you see return faster: 

1. Pick one area where you’re wasting time – e.g. content creation, customer responses, or admin. 
2. Trial a tool – many of the tools above have free tiers or trial periods. Use that to test compatibility, ease of use and integration. 
3. Set measurable goals – e.g. reduce response times by 50%, increase leads from social media by 20%, reduce admin by X hours/week. 
4. Train staff – get people comfortable with using AI tools, giving feedback, understanding limitations. 
5. Review & iterate – what works well? What needs changing? Keep tools that deliver and fold or drop those that don’t justify their cost. 

Take action:  start using AI tools to grow your business today

AI tools, once reserved for larger firms, are now accessible, affordable and highly useful for small businesses. When chosen and used well, they help you work smarter, serve customers better, and grow more sustainably. 

If you’re considering adopting one or more of these tools, start small, aim for quick wins, and scale from there. The right mix of AI tools could be what lets your small business punch above its weight. 

Want to see how our AI Voice Agent can support your small business? Call Moneypenny today on 0333 202 1005 and discover the difference we can make.