STACK OPS / COO

Freelance automation

For freelancers starting to have recurring tasks but not enough volume to pay for complex architecture.

02 — TOOLS

The stack map.

A stack is not read tool by tool. It is read as work blocks: produce, validate, deliver, get paid.

Ops & automation

Reduce repetitive tasks without automating too early.

Core: Airtable + Notion. Add-ons based on your actual use.

Core

Airtable

Notion

Other steps

Useful tools that complete the workflow.

Core: Make + Tally. Add-ons based on your actual use.

Core

Make

Tally

03 — BUDGET

$33/month, when the core stack earns its keep.

$0–17/moTestingFree plans + one paid tool maximum.

≈$33/moShipping regularlyThe core stack is used every week.

$93–116/moTime to auditCheck for AI, CRM, project or automation overlaps.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Have you listed the manual tasks that repeat in exactly the same way every week?

No → 2 weeks of logging before automating. An irregular task costs more to maintain than it saves, and you will only know that after spending 3 hours configuring the scenario.

Do your Make scenarios have a clear name and a note explaining their purpose?

No → in 3 months you will not remember why this scenario exists or what it does. One line of context per scenario = no mysterious bug at 10pm before a delivery.

Are you paying for Zapier with fewer than 5 active automations?

Yes → Make on the free tier (1,000 operations/month) covers exactly that. Migrating a simple Zap to Make takes 15 minutes.

RELATED STACKS

If this stack does not quite match your use case.