7 tools your startup can cancel this year

Most startups pay for the same seven categories of software twice — once in the tool they bought during the first month, and once in the tool they bought when the first one stopped fitting. This guide walks through the audit we run with every new Company OS team: what to look at, what to cancel, and what to consolidate first so nothing breaks.

What the guide covers (7 steps, 7 min)

1. Start with the bank statement, not the tool list
2. Map each tool to the job it actually does
3. Cancel the second tool in every duplicate pair
4. Move project work and tasks into one place
5. Consolidate CRM and proposals next
6. Put finance on a live connection, not a monthly export
7. Re-run the audit every quarter

1. Start with the bank statement, not the tool list

Export the last three months of card transactions and mark every software charge. Teams consistently find two to four subscriptions nobody remembers approving.

Sort by amount, then by frequency. Annual charges hide well — a €490 yearly plan looks like nothing next to twelve €39 charges, but it is the same money. Anything with no owner goes straight on the cancel list.

2. Map each tool to the job it actually does

Write the job, not the brand: 'track work', 'talk to customers', 'send invoices'. Duplicates become obvious the moment the brand names are gone.

A typical five-person team ends up with three tools doing 'track work' and two doing 'store documents'. You are not choosing the best tool — you are choosing which one survives consolidation.

Read the rest

The remaining 5 steps open on the page as soon as you enter your email — no download, no waiting.

Frequently asked

How much do startups usually save?

The teams we have audited typically cut between €300 and €900 per month at five to ten people, mostly from duplicated project, CRM and automation tooling.

What should we never cancel?

Anything customers depend on directly, anything holding legal or accounting records, and your email provider. Consolidate around those, not through them.

Do we have to migrate everything at once?

No. One category per week is the pace that works. Start with the duplicate nobody defends.