7 AI Tools Every New Entrepreneur Should Be Using To Build Their New Businesses

When I started my first business, I felt like I was stepping onto another planet. The entrepreneurial landscape seemed designed for tech-savvy millennials who'd been coding since kindergarten. Meanwhile, I was still printing emails.

But here's what I've learned in the years since: age isn't a barrier to entrepreneurship—it's an advantage. And today's AI tools are like having a team of digital assistants that can help level the playing field, especially for those of us who didn't grow up with smartphones glued to our hands.

The truth is, building a business in your 50s, 60s, or beyond means leveraging your decades of experience while embracing new technologies. And AI tools? They're not just for the young tech crowd—they're for anyone smart enough to see their potential.

Why AI Tools Are Your Secret Weapon in Business Building

Before diving into specific tools, let's address the elephant in the room: the learning curve. Many entrepreneurs over 50 tell me they're hesitant about AI because it seems complicated or overwhelming.

I get it. But here's my promise: the tools I'm sharing today are surprisingly intuitive. Most require zero technical knowledge and can be mastered in an afternoon. And their time-saving benefits? Absolutely game-changing.

The right AI tools can help you:

Cut administrative work by up to 70%
Create professional content without hiring expensive agencies
Make data-driven decisions without being a statistics expert
Compete with bigger companies despite limited resources

Now let's explore the seven AI tools that have transformed my business journey and could do the same for yours.

1. ChatGPT: Your All-Purpose Business Assistant

If you're going to start anywhere with AI, start with ChatGPT. Think of it as having a brilliant assistant who never sleeps, never complains, and costs less per month than a dinner out.

When I first tried ChatGPT, I was skeptical. Could an AI really understand what I needed? The answer was a resounding yes—and it's only gotten better with each update.

How I Use ChatGPT in My Business:

Drafting emails and correspondence: I input the key points I want to communicate, and ChatGPT helps craft professional, clear messages.
Creating marketing copy: From website text to social media posts, it helps me nail the right tone and messaging.
Brainstorming business ideas: When I'm stuck, I use it as a sounding board to explore new approaches or solutions.
Answering business questions: Instead of going down Google rabbit holes, I get concise, organized information.

The free version is powerful, but for $20/month, the Plus subscription gives you priority access and more advanced features. For what it delivers, it's possibly the best business investment you can make for under $25.

Pro tip: Be specific in your requests. Instead of asking “How do I market my business?” try “What are 5 low-cost marketing strategies for a new accounting service targeting small businesses in suburban areas?”

2. Canva's AI Design Tools: Make Professional Graphics in Minutes

Remember when creating professional-looking designs required expensive software and years of training? Those days are over, thanks to Canva's AI-powered design tools.

I used to spend hours fumbling with design software or hundreds of dollars on freelancers. Now, I create everything from social media graphics to presentation slides in minutes—even with my decidedly non-artistic abilities.

Canva AI Features That Saved My Business:

Magic Design: Upload a photo or describe what you want, and Canva's AI creates professional designs instantly.
Text to Image: Type a description like “modern office with plants and natural light” and get a custom image.
Magic Resize: Create one design and automatically resize it for different platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
Background Remover: Instantly clean up product photos or create professional headshots.

While Canva offers a free version, the Pro subscription ($119.99/year) unlocks all the AI features and pays for itself the first time you don't have to hire a designer.

One business owner I mentor, Pat, started an online gardening supply store at 64. She uses Canva's AI tools to create beautiful Instagram posts showcasing her products. “I thought social media marketing would be impossible for me,” she told me. “Now I create a week's worth of posts in one hour.”

3. Jasper: Taking Your Content Creation to the Next Level

If you find yourself thinking, “ChatGPT is great, but I need something more business-focused,” Jasper might be your answer. It's built specifically for business content creation, with templates for everything from product descriptions to full-length blog posts.

When I launched my consulting business, I knew I needed to build authority through content marketing, but writing wasn't my strength. Jasper helped me create consistent, high-quality blog posts that positioned me as an expert in my field.

Jasper's Business-Building Capabilities:

Specialized business templates: Email sequences, sales copy, video scripts, product descriptions.
Brand voice settings: Train the AI to write in your specific tone and style.
SEO optimization: Integration with Surfer SEO helps your content rank higher on Google.
Team collaboration: Multiple users can work together on content projects.

At $39/month for the Creator plan, it's pricier than ChatGPT but offers more specialized business features. If content creation is a significant part of your business strategy, it's worth considering.

A word of caution: While Jasper produces impressive content, always review and personalize what it creates. Your customers can tell the difference between generic AI content and material that contains your unique insights and experiences.

4. Loom: Show, Don't Just Tell, with AI-Enhanced Video

Sometimes explaining something in writing just doesn't cut it. That's where Loom comes in—it's transformed how I communicate with clients, team members, and even potential customers.

Loom lets you create quick screen recording videos with your face in a small bubble. Its AI features then take these recordings to the next level with automatic transcription, editing suggestions, and engagement analytics.

How Loom Builds Relationships and Saves Time:

Client communication: Instead of lengthy emails explaining concepts, I send 2-minute videos that clarify everything.
Product demonstrations: Show potential customers exactly how your product or service works.
Training materials: Create easy-to-follow tutorials for team members or customers.
Personalized outreach: Send potential clients custom video messages that stand out from text-based communication.

Loom's free plan limits video length and storage, but at $8/month, the Business plan is affordable for what it delivers. The time saved on back-and-forth emails alone makes it worthwhile.

I was initially camera-shy and thought video wasn't for me. Now I can't imagine running my business without Loom. It adds a personal touch that builds trust—especially important when you're competing with bigger, more established companies.

5. Grammarly Business: Polish Your Professional Communication

Clear, error-free communication builds credibility. Period. As entrepreneurs over 50, we have the advantage of experience, but we're also competing in a world where written communication dominates business interactions.

Grammarly uses AI to check not just spelling and grammar, but tone, clarity, and engagement. It helps ensure that every email, proposal, or social media post reflects your professionalism.

Beyond Basic Spell-Check:

Tone detection: Ensures your message comes across as intended (professional, friendly, confident).
Clarity improvements: Suggests ways to make complex ideas more understandable.
Brand tones: Create custom style guides to maintain consistent communication.
Snippets: Save frequently used text to insert quickly into communications.

Individual plans start at $12/month, with business plans offering team features. Install it as a browser extension, and it works everywhere you write online—Gmail, social media, project management tools, and more.

I once sent out a proposal with a significant typo in the pricing section before I started using Grammarly. The embarrassment and backtracking could have been avoided. Now, I write with confidence knowing there's an extra layer of protection against such mistakes.

6. Otter.ai: Turn Conversations into Actionable Text

How many great ideas have been lost because they weren't properly captured during a meeting? Otter.ai solves this problem by recording and transcribing your conversations in real-time, using AI to recognize different speakers and highlight key points.

For entrepreneurs building businesses, this means no more struggling to take notes while also trying to engage meaningfully in conversations.

Otter's Business-Building Benefits:

Meeting transcription: Automatic recording and transcription of in-person or online meetings.
Searchable archives: Find specific topics or comments within past conversations.
Action item extraction: AI identifies and compiles to-do items mentioned during meetings.
Mobile functionality: Record conversations on the go and access transcripts from any device.

Otter's free plan gives you limited transcription minutes per month. The Pro plan ($8.33/month) increases this limit substantially and adds more features.

I use Otter for client consultations, allowing me to be fully present in the conversation instead of frantically taking notes. The transcripts become valuable reference materials and help me deliver exactly what clients request, building trust and reputation.

7. Zapier: Automate Your Business Processes with AI

If there's one thing that separates successful new businesses from struggling ones, it's operational efficiency. Zapier helps you automate repetitive tasks by connecting different apps and triggering actions based on specific events.

While not purely an AI tool, Zapier incorporates AI to suggest automations and optimize workflows, making it an essential part of a modern business toolkit.

Business Processes You Can Automate:

Customer onboarding: When someone fills out a form on your website, automatically add them to your email list, create a customer record, and send a welcome email.
Lead management: Move leads through your sales pipeline based on their actions.
Social media: Automatically share blog posts across multiple platforms.
Data synchronization: Keep customer information consistent across different platforms.

Zapier offers a free plan for basic needs, with paid plans starting at $19.99/month as your automation needs grow.

When I started my business, I spent hours on administrative tasks that Zapier now handles automatically. This gives me more time to focus on strategy and client relationships—the areas where my decades of experience truly add value.

Embracing AI Without Losing the Human Touch

As I've integrated these AI tools into my business, I've learned an important lesson: technology works best when it enhances rather than replaces human connection. The goal isn't to automate everything, but to automate the routine so you can personalize the meaningful.

Your years of experience and interpersonal skills remain your greatest assets. AI tools simply help you apply these strengths more efficiently and to a wider audience.

Tips for Balancing AI and Human Connection:

Use AI to draft communications, but add personal touches before sending.
Automate follow-ups, but jump in personally when situations require nuance.
Let AI handle data analysis, but bring your experience to interpreting the results.
Build systems with AI, but build relationships with your wisdom and empathy.

The entrepreneurs over 50 who thrive today aren't those who resist technology, nor those who blindly embrace it. Success comes to those who thoughtfully integrate AI tools while leveraging their decades of real-world experience.

Getting Started: Your First Week with AI Tools

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the options, here's a simple plan to get started:

Day 1-2: ChatGPT

Sign up for ChatGPT and spend an hour exploring what it can do. Try drafting an email, creating a simple marketing message, or asking for input on a business challenge you're facing.

Day 3-4: Canva

Create a free Canva account and use Magic Design to create a simple graphic for your business. Experiment with different prompts to see what it can generate.

Day 5-7: Grammarly

Install the Grammarly extension and use it for all your business communications for three days. Notice how it improves your writing and builds confidence.

After a week, evaluate which tool provided the most value and consider upgrading to paid versions or exploring the other tools on this list.

The Future Belongs to the Adaptable

Building a business at any age has challenges, but our generation brings perspective, resilience, and wisdom that can't be coded into any algorithm. By combining these strengths with the right AI tools, we can build businesses that are both technologically current and deeply human.

The digital landscape will continue evolving, but the fundamental principles of business success remain: deliver value, build relationships, and solve real problems for real people. AI tools simply help us do this more effectively.

So if you've been hesitant about embracing these new technologies, I hope this article gives you the confidence to take that first step. The business world needs your experience and perspective—AI tools are just there to amplify your impact.

What AI tool are you most excited to try? The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single click.