AI Tools for Micro Businesses - What’s Really Worth Your Time?

Ok so AI is everywhere. Is it useful, stressful, a gamechanger or just an awful fad? As a micro business owner, your time and energy are precious, so we thought it might be good to look at some quick wins, helping you avoid worrying that you're missing out and hopefully finding ways to engage without feeling suspicious.

Here’s a clear, practical look at what AI tools could be genuinely helpful for micro businesses in the UK including ways to save time, boost efficiency and stay ahead without burning out.

What is AI actually good for?

AI is often simply about automating the repetitive stuff and speeding up the creative or admin tasks that slow you down.

For a micro business, that could mean:

• Writing content faster

• Designing graphics easily

• Managing customer conversations automatically

• Making decisions based on real data

• Freeing up your brain to do the work that only you can do

Here are 5 AI tools that might be worth your time.

1. ChatGPT (Free & Paid) – For Content Writing & Brainstorming

Whether you're stuck writing a blog, caption or customer email then ChatGPT can help you get started or refine your message. Use it like a collaborator, not a replacement. The magic is in combining its suggestions with your voice and values.

Great for:

• Social media captions

• Website copy ideas

• Email drafts

• Customer responses

2. Canva Magic Studio (Free & Pro) – For Design Made Easy

Canva’s AI-powered tools now suggest templates, write text or remove backgrounds. Use the “Magic Write” tool inside Canva Docs to draft quick text or headlines.

Great for:

• Social graphics

• Quick promo visuals

• Developing workbooks or templates

3. InVideo – Turn Blogs into Videos Automatically

If you want to create engaging video content but have no idea where to start (or no time!), these tools transform written content into branded videos in minutes.

Great for:

• Turning blog posts into useful social content

• Promoting services in video form

• Being visible on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube

4. Trello + AI Power-Up – For Helpful Task Management

If you use Trello or another task manager, look for AI plugins that help you prioritise, summarise or even generate task lists from project descriptions.

Great for:

• Streamlining your to-do list

• Turning a vague idea into an action plan

• Staying organised when it's just you at the helm

5. GrammarlyGO (AI Writing Assistant)

Beyond spelling and grammar, Grammarly’s AI can now help you rephrase things for tone, speed up your writing and auto-suggest email replies.

Great for:

• Writing faster and more clearly

• Making emails sound professional but personal

• Boosting your confidence when writing under pressure

What you might want to avoid for now

You don’t need:

• Expensive AI tools for coding, data science or finance unless you have a specific need

• Overly complex automation platforms unless you're selling at scale

• AI that feels like more work than help

Keep it simple. The best AI tools are ones you use weekly without thinking.

Want to Learn More?

Inside the Simply Great Britain Membership, we regularly share:

• Micro business friendly tools & ideas

• Coaching on how to develop your thinking and navigate micro business life

• A community of like minded and frankly lovely, business owners who travelling the same road as you with all the same challenges & decisions.

NOTE: This is the first blog I've written that's been kicked off by ChatGPT. I have been using it a little to try and 'train' it in the Simply GB voice. What it produced was similar to my thinking but in a language I had to change a lot. What do you think?

For me? It was a little quicker to write the blog. I still did a lot of faffing but would try again when it's a 'how to' style piece of writing rather than when I'm offering perspective or opinion.