Pre-seed, seed, Series A, and beyond — the right software stack looks different at each funding stage. Here’s what founders actually need.
One of the most common questions we get from founders: what software should I buy at each stage of building my company?
Pre-seed (0-5 people, pre-revenue): Your tech spend should be nearly zero. Google Workspace for $12/user. Notion for documentation. Linear for task tracking if you’re building software. Stripe for payments when you’re ready. Total monthly spend: under $100.
Seed ($500K-$2M raised, 5-20 people): This is when you invest in your first real tools. HubSpot free CRM. Gusto for payroll. Expensify or Ramp for expenses (Ramp is free). Loom for async video. Slack for communication. Asana or Linear for project management. Total monthly spend: $300-$800.
Series A ($5M-$15M, 20-75 people): You need proper systems. QuickBooks Online Advanced or Sage Intacct for finance. BambooHR or Rippling for HR. HubSpot Sales Hub Professional or a Salesforce starter package for CRM. Greenhouse for recruiting. Total monthly spend: $2,000-$6,000.
Series B+ ($15M+, 75+ people): ERP evaluation becomes relevant. Workday or Rippling for people operations. Salesforce for CRM. NetSuite if you have complex multi-entity or inventory needs. Total monthly spend: $10,000+.
The universal guidance: resist enterprise tools before you’re ready. They impose process overhead that slows down small teams. Wait until you’re feeling the pain of your current tools before upgrading.