Money’s tight for most regional retailers right now. Between rising costs and the post-COVID shopping shift, every dollar counts. That’s why I’ve put together this list of genuinely free tools that can help—no “free trial then $99/month” tricks.

I’ve tested all of these, and I’ve spoken with retailers across Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong who use them daily.

Inventory and Sales

Square Point of Sale

Yes, they take a small percentage on transactions, but the actual POS software is free. You get inventory tracking, sales reports, and customer management without monthly fees.

A gift shop owner in Ballarat told me she switched from a $79/month system and hasn’t looked back. “It does everything I need, and the reporting is actually better.”

Google Sheets + Inventory Templates

Sometimes simple is best. Google has free inventory templates that work surprisingly well for small retailers. Combined with their free suite of tools, you can track stock, sales, and orders without any paid software.

Marketing

Canva Free

You probably know about Canva, but many retailers don’t realise how much you can do without paying. Social media posts, simple flyers, and even basic videos are all doable on the free tier.

A clothing boutique in Horsham creates all their Instagram content using free Canva. “I was paying a designer $200 a month. Now I spend an hour on Sunday and I’m sorted for the week.”

Meta Business Suite

If you’re selling on Facebook or Instagram, their Business Suite is completely free and actually quite powerful. Schedule posts, respond to messages across platforms, and get decent analytics.

Mailchimp (Free Tier)

Up to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month for free. For most regional retailers, that’s plenty. Build an email list and send a monthly newsletter—it works better than social media for driving repeat customers.

Operations

Wave Accounting

Completely free accounting software. It’s not as polished as Xero or MYOB, but for simple retail operations, it handles invoicing, expense tracking, and basic financial reports without charging a cent.

Trello

Free project management that’s perfect for tracking orders, managing to-do lists, or coordinating with staff. A newsagent in Ararat uses it to manage their magazine subscription tracking.

Google My Business

Free, essential, and still underused. Make sure your business is listed, your hours are correct, and you’re responding to reviews. This is often how locals find you.

Customer Service

Tidio (Free Tier)

A chat widget for your website. The free tier includes 50 conversations per month—plenty for most regional retailers. A homewares shop in Shepparton added this and started getting online enquiries from customers who’d never found them before.

WhatsApp Business

Free, and more useful than you’d think. Several retailers I know use it for customer enquiries and order updates. People prefer it to phone calls or email.

The Catch

Free tools usually mean you’re trading money for time. They might have fewer features, require more manual work, or have less support when things go wrong.

My advice? Start with free tools when you’re small or just starting out. As your business grows and your time becomes more valuable, paid tools often make sense.

But there’s no shame in staying free. A successful café in Geelong still uses mostly free tools after five years. “Why pay for things I don’t need?” the owner told me. Fair point.

Getting Help

If you’re not tech-confident, most of these tools have YouTube tutorials. And don’t underestimate asking other local business owners—there’s usually someone in your town who’s figured it out and is happy to help.

That’s one thing I love about regional Victoria. We look out for each other.

Business Victoria also offers free digital training and resources that can help you get the most from these tools.