The Top 10 AI & business tools

Ten useful tools. Learn by doing.

A practical shortlist for automation, customer follow-up, content and online selling. Learn one real task, check the result and pay only when a tool earns its place.

Useful lessons. Clear relationships. This shortlist balances relevant business tasks, practical training potential and published affiliate opportunities. Affiliate potential can influence which suitable tools we cover in depth; it is not proof that a tool is right for you. Links to Make, Systeme.io, Synthesia, ElevenLabs, Shopify are marked “Ad · affiliate link”; AI on Toast may receive commission on qualifying purchases. Other tools use ordinary product links. Some tools create AI content; others support the workflow around it.

A job worth teaching

Choose a real task: follow up an enquiry, prepare a post or make a clear explainer. We look for repeatable demonstrations, not vague claims about AI.

An earning route worth checking

Eight choices have published affiliate programmes. Recurring rewards, eligibility and realistic audience fit matter more than a headline payout. Programme access is not approval or income.

Useful even without commission

ChatGPT and Canva remain teaching foundations. You do not need every tool, and we will not suggest buying a subscription just because a programme pays us.

Reviewed 12 October 2026. Numbers identify shortlist positions, not measured performance rankings. The filters below apply to the numbered ten; optional companions appear underneath.

Find a task or tool Category 10 tools shown

Workflow automation01

Make

Connect business apps with a visual workflow builder, adding AI steps only where they improve the task.

Useful for: Owners ready to automate a small, repeatable process
Why it is here: A repeatable teaching topic: demonstrate one useful automation at a time, with visible inputs, checks and outputs.
Try this: Copy a permission-based enquiry into a spreadsheet and create a follow-up task for human review.
Start small: Free plan available with usage and scheduling limits; check the current allowance before connecting a workflow.

Keep an eye on: Begin with test data and a draft-only workflow. Connected services, AI APIs and additional usage can carry separate costs.

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may earn a commission on a qualifying purchase.

Visit Make

More ideas to practise

Enquiry form to follow-up checklist
AI-drafted reply with a human approval step

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may receive commission on a qualifying purchase. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Active AI on Toast affiliate link; enabled on 12 October 2026.

Published programme terms: 35% of eligible base subscription payments for 12 months from referred account registration. Additional usage and Enterprise payments excluded. Wise payout requires at least $100 and three unique paying referrals; accepted programme terms apply.

Attribution: 30 days from referral click to signup, according to the programme FAQ; accepted terms and the affiliate dashboard govern attribution.

Published rewards are conditional, not our earnings. Clicks and free registrations are not sales or commissions; the provider's affiliate dashboard and accepted agreement determine eligible conversions and payments.

CRM and customer management02

HubSpot

Keep enquiries and follow-ups in one place, with AI and automation capabilities available across its product range.

Useful for: Growing businesses losing track of customer conversations
Why it is here: Customer follow-up makes a practical training series, from a simple contact record to an organised sales pipeline.
Try this: Record a new enquiry, assign the next action and monitor whether a quote needs a follow-up.
Start small: Free CRM tools are available. Availability of individual AI features depends on the product and plan.

Keep an eye on: Start with the free CRM. Advanced automation and AI features can require paid tiers, seats or credits; check the full cost before upgrading.

Ordinary product link.

Visit HubSpot

More ideas to practise

A simple enquiry-to-quote pipeline
Follow-up tasks that stop enquiries being forgotten

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ordinary product link. No affiliate tracking is enabled for this tool. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: AI on Toast application submitted on 12 October 2026; awaiting approval. This remains an ordinary product link.

Published programme terms: 30% monthly recurring commission for up to one year on qualifying sales; approval through Impact required.

Attribution: 180 days.

Funnels and email follow-up03

Systeme.io

Build a simple landing page, a permission-based email sequence and a small online course in one business platform. Use AI separately to help draft the material.

Useful for: Owners turning useful advice into a lead magnet or educational email course
Why it is here: A complete, visual training journey: draft the resource, build the page and test the follow-up. It is a workflow companion, not an AI assistant.
Try this: Draft a useful checklist with AI, build its signup page and test a welcome email using your own test address.
Start small: A free plan is available without a credit card, with limits on contacts, funnels, courses and automations.

Keep an eye on: Obtain consent, authenticate the sender and test every step. A funnel does not guarantee leads or sales. This recommendation does not replace the existing AI on Toast Brevo email setup.

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may earn a commission on a qualifying purchase.

Visit Systeme.io

More ideas to practise

AI-assisted checklist and signup page
A consent-based welcome-email sequence

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may receive commission on a qualifying purchase. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Active AI on Toast affiliate link; enabled on 12 October 2026.

Published programme terms: 60% recurring commission on eligible subscription revenue while the referral remains a paying customer; tax is excluded where applicable. No separate application stated. The help article requires complete payout details, over $30 accrued and a minimum 30-day hold; the accepted agreement and dashboard govern actual payments.

Attribution: Referrals are normally attached to the account after signup; another affiliate's payment-page link can override attribution. Do not promise irrevocable lifetime credit.

AI video04

Synthesia

Turn approved scripts into videos with synthetic presenters, useful for repeatable training and explainers.

Useful for: Businesses with a clear reason to produce presenter-led training
Why it is here: A visual before-and-after lesson: turn a checked script into an explainer while teaching the limits of synthetic presenters.
Try this: Create a clearly labelled synthetic introduction to an onboarding process, then show the real process separately.
Start small: A free option is listed; available minutes and export capabilities depend on the current plan.

Keep an eye on: An avatar introduction does not demonstrate software working. Label synthetic presenters and check rights, content rules and plan limits.

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may earn a commission on a qualifying purchase.

Visit Synthesia

More ideas to practise

Script-to-presenter onboarding video
Reviewing and labelling an AI-generated explainer

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may receive commission on a qualifying purchase. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Active AI on Toast affiliate link; enabled on 12 October 2026.

Published programme terms: 25% of qualifying net Starter/Creator payments for 12 months from first purchase. Approval required; no self-referrals; payout when due commission exceeds $30 USD. Confirm current eligible plan names at approval.

Attribution: 60 days; last qualifying affiliate link takes attribution.

AI voice and audio05

ElevenLabs

Create synthetic narration for a checked script and explore audio production for explainers and training.

Useful for: Owners who need narration for short business videos or accessible explanations
Why it is here: Clear training demonstrations around script quality, voice choice, pronunciation and responsible use of synthetic audio.
Try this: Turn an approved, fictional how-to script into a voiceover, then check every name, number and pronunciation.
Start small: Free plan available for practice; commercial licensing starts on paid plans. Credits and permissions vary by product and plan.

Keep an eye on: Do not clone someone else's voice without permission. Label synthetic narration where appropriate and check the commercial licence for your intended use.

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may earn a commission on a qualifying purchase.

Visit ElevenLabs

AI on Toast is an independent ElevenLabs affiliate and may receive compensation for referrals.

More ideas to practise

An approved script to a short voiceover
Pronunciation checks and transparent AI narration

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may receive commission on a qualifying purchase. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Active AI on Toast affiliate link; enabled on 12 October 2026.

Published programme terms: 22% of pre-tax eligible Starter, Creator, Pro or Scale subscription payments for the first 12 months; 11% for Business. Enterprise purchases excluded. Terms state payment at the end of the third month following accrual; accepted programme terms apply.

Attribution: Duration not stated in the official programme terms reviewed; confirm in the affiliate dashboard.

Online selling06

Shopify

Build an online shop and use its AI-assisted commerce tools where they help create and manage your product content.

Useful for: Businesses with products to sell and a realistic plan for an online shop
Why it is here: A substantial training series: product-page writing, store setup and a customer-ready shop checklist. Not every service business needs a shop.
Try this: Turn confirmed product facts into a checked description, then assemble a sample product page without taking live orders.
Start small: Time-limited trials and introductory offers are available, not a permanent free full-store plan. Check current UK pricing and renewal cost.

Keep an eye on: Check subscriptions, app charges, payment fees, taxes and selling obligations before launching. AI must not invent product claims or policies.

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may earn a commission on a qualifying purchase.

Visit Shopify

More ideas to practise

Verified product facts to a shop page
A pre-launch online-store checklist

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ad · affiliate link. AI on Toast may receive commission on a qualifying purchase. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Active AI on Toast affiliate link; enabled on 12 October 2026.

Published programme terms: Published UK merchant bounty: $150 USD for a qualifying Basic, Grow or Advanced full-price plan referral, subject to the accepted Impact contract. A click, free trial or discounted paid trial is not a commissionable sale. Plus, Enterprise and Retail are excluded from this affiliate programme.

Attribution: The accepted Impact offer has a 30-day click-to-free-trial window and a 125-day parent-action window for a qualifying full-price shop. Provider attribution and contract terms apply.

Social media07

Buffer

Plan and schedule social content, using an AI assistant to refine or repurpose drafts you have already checked.

Useful for: Small businesses posting across a few social channels
Why it is here: An approachable business lesson: show the complete path from a weekly plan to approved, scheduled posts.
Try this: Adapt one useful business tip for Facebook and LinkedIn, then queue approved posts.
Start small: Free plan available with channel and queued-post limits. Check the current allowance before planning a schedule.

Keep an eye on: Keep human approval before publishing. Some channels need a mobile reminder or native action rather than completely automatic posting.

Ordinary product link.

Visit Buffer

More ideas to practise

A week of checked social posts
Repurposing one useful tip for different channels

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ordinary product link. No affiliate tracking is enabled for this tool. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: AI on Toast application submitted on 12 October 2026; awaiting approval. This remains an ordinary product link.

Published programme terms: 25% of qualifying subscription revenue for up to 12 months; application review required. New-customer and 30-day active-payment conditions apply.

Attribution: Duration not disclosed on the official pages reviewed; programme uses server-side event tracking.

Video and audio08

Descript

Record tutorials and edit video through a transcript, with tools for captions, clips and audio cleanup.

Useful for: Owners making explainers or turning recordings into useful clips
Why it is here: Strong teaching utility even with a smaller, one-off commission: it supports genuine screen-recorded demonstrations.
Try this: Record a real demonstration, correct its transcript and export a captioned tutorial.
Start small: Free plan available; media, AI usage and export features are limited.

Keep an eye on: Check caption accuracy and export limits. Use voice cloning only with permission, and keep real demonstrations distinguishable from generated media.

Ordinary product link.

Visit Descript

More ideas to practise

A rough recording to a clear tutorial
Accurate captions and a short social clip

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ordinary product link. No affiliate tracking is enabled for this tool. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: AI on Toast application submitted on 12 October 2026; awaiting approval. This remains an ordinary product link.

Published programme terms: $25 USD one-time per qualifying new subscription sale. No recurring commission for new referrals. Published annual affiliate cap $100,000 without written consent; current eligible plan names require confirmation at approval.

Attribution: 30-day qualifying purchase window from first link click.

AI assistants09

ChatGPT

A flexible starting point for drafting emails, organising ideas and turning a clear business brief into a useful first draft.

Useful for: Beginners who want one general-purpose assistant
Why it is here: A teaching foundation, not an earning offer: useful lessons start with a brief, a draft and a human check.
Try this: Turn a fictional plumbing enquiry into a polite reply with the right follow-up questions.
Start small: Free plan available, with usage and feature limits. Paid subscriptions and API usage are separate products.

Keep an eye on: Check facts, prices and promises. Remove customer details before practising. A chat assistant does not automatically connect to your business systems.

Ordinary product link.

Visit ChatGPT

More ideas to practise

Customer replies that use only confirmed facts
Reusable business prompts and fact-checking

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ordinary product link. No affiliate tracking is enabled for this tool. Information checked 2026-10-11; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Teaching foundation; no verified AI on Toast affiliate earnings route.

Published programme terms: No public affiliate programme verified in this research; no commission assumed.

Attribution: Not applicable to the ordinary link.

chatgpt.com · official source

Design and websites10

Canva

Create social graphics, simple videos and visual business materials with templates and optional AI assistance.

Useful for: Owners who need consistent visuals without becoming designers
Why it is here: A visual teaching foundation: graphics, thumbnails and simple videos make accessible demonstrations even without an open affiliate route.
Try this: Turn a week of approved captions into branded social posts using your own photographs.
Start small: Free design plan available; AI features and premium assets have separate limits.

Keep an eye on: Check asset licences, export quality and AI-generated text. Premium content and some AI features need a paid plan.

Ordinary product link.

Visit Canva

More ideas to practise

A branded social-post template
A simple explainer with your own images

These are practice ideas, not a claim that finished videos or product-specific courses are already available. Start with our written academy.

Sources, programme & link information

Ordinary product link. No affiliate tracking is enabled for this tool. Information checked 2026-10-12; inclusion does not mean we have tested every feature.

Programme status: Teaching foundation; the official Canvassador page currently says applications are closed.

Published programme terms: Current rates not publicly verified. Affiliate access requires Canvassador membership; applications currently closed on the official help page.

Attribution: Not publicly verified for the current programme.

No tools match. Try a broader task or choose all categories.

Other useful companions

Already using one of these? Keep it if it does the job. They are still useful alternatives, but are not part of the numbered ten. The existing Brevo email-course setup is unchanged.

Claude

An alternative AI assistant for writing, reviewing documents and making explanations easier to understand.

A writing alternative if you already use it; you do not need two paid assistants. No commission assumed.

Ordinary product link.

Visit Claude

Calendly

A useful companion to your AI toolkit: let customers choose an available appointment instead of exchanging several emails.

Useful as a booking companion, but not an immediate affiliate earning priority.

Ordinary product link.

Visit Calendly

Brevo

Send permission-based educational emails and automate useful follow-ups, with optional AI assistance for content drafts.

Kept for existing email workflows. The AI on Toast Brevo course setup has not been changed; programme eligibility and reward amounts need confirmation before activation.

Ordinary product link.

Visit Brevo

Start with the task, then the tool.

A simple toolkit by business task
Your job	Look at	Check before paying
Draft and refine writing	ChatGPT; Claude as an alternative	Privacy settings, usage limits and your own fact-checking
Turn ideas into visuals	Canva	AI allowance, asset licences and brand requirements
Organise customer follow-up	HubSpot or Systeme.io; keep Brevo if it already fits	Contacts, consent, automation and plan limits
Schedule useful content	Buffer	Channel support and human approval before publication
Create video and narration	Descript, Synthesia or ElevenLabs	Export limits, commercial rights, accuracy and AI labelling
Move routine work along	Make; Calendly for appointment booking	Permissions, integrations, exceptions and extra-service costs
Sell products online	Shopify	Renewal price, payment fees, product claims and selling obligations

Build your own toolkit How recommendations work