The AI Stack That Actually Runs a Solo Business in 2026

There are hundreds of AI tools. You don't need most of them.

Here's the actual stack that runs a lean solo business — what each tool does, what it replaces, and what it costs.

The core four

1. ChatGPT Plus ($20/month)

The workhorse. Used for: first drafts of everything, summarizing documents, answering questions about uploaded files, building custom GPTs for repetitive tasks.

Not used for: research you'll cite publicly, anything requiring real-time data.

Replace it with: Claude Pro if you're doing long-document work or complex reasoning tasks. Different strengths.

2. Make.com ($9–16/month)

The connective tissue. Automates the handoffs between tools — when X happens in one app, Y happens in another.

Used for: sending Stripe data to Google Sheets, pushing form submissions to your email list, generating a draft when a new Typeform response comes in.

Not used for: anything requiring judgment. Make.com moves data. ChatGPT makes decisions.

3. Notion AI (included in Notion $10/month)

Your workspace that thinks. Used for: project docs, client notes, meeting summaries, building the prompt library that makes everything else faster.

The underrated part: Notion AI can answer questions about your own workspace. Ask it "what's the status of the Rodriguez project" and it reads your notes and tells you.

4. Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai (Free–$10/month)

Meeting transcription and summary. Join the call, stop taking notes. After the call, you have a summary, action items, and the full transcript.

Combine with ChatGPT for a 5-minute post-call workflow that produces client updates, internal notes, and follow-up emails simultaneously.

The supporting tools

Perplexity Pro ($20/month): For research that needs citations. More reliable than ChatGPT for recent facts.

Canva + Magic Studio (free or $15/month): For visuals when you don't have a designer. AI image generation + templates.

Zapier (free–$20/month): Alternative to Make.com, better for simple one-step automations and integrations with tools Make doesn't have.

What this stack replaces

• A part-time executive assistant (email drafts, meeting notes, scheduling support)
• A copywriter for first drafts
• A data-entry person for report building

Total cost: $55–85/month. One hour of an EA runs $25–50.

What it doesn't replace

Judgment. Client relationships. Creative direction. Strategic decisions.

Those are yours. Everything else is negotiable.