I love a good tool.
But I don't love paying for 37 different platforms that basically do the same thing.
In this solo episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, I'm opening up my actual business toolbox and sharing the platforms, apps, and resources my team and I use to run my businesses and retreats every day.
These aren't random tools I found online.
These are the tools we actually use.
From creating marketing content and scheduling social media to managing my team, booking clients, selling retreats, hosting courses, protecting the business legally, and making sure both my guests and I are properly insured when we travel.
Some are absolute must-haves.
Others depend on the type and size of retreat business you're building.
And one I completely forgot to mention while recording the episode: CapCut, which I use for creating and editing Reels.
If you're a retreat leader or entrepreneur trying to figure out which technology and resources are actually worth using, this episode will give you a look behind the scenes of my own businesses and help you decide what belongs in yours.
I am listing all the tool links below, some are affiliate links that I do earn a commission on; you can use these or go grab them on your own.
The Tools I Use
If I could only keep a handful of tools, Canva would absolutely be one of them.
We use it for social graphics, presentations, PDFs, retreat materials, marketing pieces, and countless other things across the businesses.
For retreat leaders who aren't professional graphic designers, Canva makes it possible to create professional-looking marketing without outsourcing every single piece of content.
Creating content is only half the job.
It also has to get published.
We use Metricool to help manage and schedule social media content, which becomes increasingly important when you're marketing consistently across multiple channels and businesses.
BONUS TOOL I forgot to mention during the recording!
I use CapCut for editing Reels and short-form video.
Video continues to be an important part of visibility, and CapCut makes it relatively easy to turn the videos you're already recording into polished social content.
Once you have a team, you need somewhere for the work to live besides texts, emails, and your brain.
We use ClickUp to organize projects, assign responsibilities, track tasks, and keep everyone moving in the same direction.
The goal isn't adding more technology.
It's creating systems so everyone knows what needs to happen and who's responsible for doing it.
HoneyBook is one of the tools we use for managing client relationships, bookings, contracts, payments, and the administrative side of the business.
For retreat leaders, having an actual system becomes increasingly important as your business grows.
Depending on the retreat and business model, dedicated retreat and travel booking platforms can make managing registrations, payments, and guest information much easier.
I talk about both Retreat Guru and WeTravel and where these types of platforms can fit into a retreat business.
Podia: Courses + Digital Learning Your retreat doesn't have to be your only offer.
We use Podia for online courses and digital education, which is especially relevant if you're building an ecosystem around your retreats.
Courses can support guests before or after a retreat, become standalone offers, or create another way for people to work with you without attending an in-person experience.
This isn't the sexy part of hosting retreats.
It IS the important part.
Retreat leaders need to think seriously about contracts, waivers, policies, and the legal structure protecting both themselves and their businesses.
Destination Legal is one of the resources I use and recommend for the legal side of retreat and travel businesses.
I require travel insurance for my guests when applicable, and I purchase it for my own travel too.
Things happen.
Flights get canceled. People get sick. Family emergencies happen. Weather happens.
A cancellation policy doesn't replace travel insurance, and retreat leaders shouldn't become their guests' insurance company when something outside everyone's control happens.
Event insurance is another important piece of risk management.
We use The Event Helper for hosts who need event insurance at Retreat Ranch, and I use event insurance myself when I'm hosting at another venue when applicable.
It's one of those expenses you hope you never need to use, but protecting the business needs to be part of your retreat budget and planning process.
In This Episode You'll Learn
- The business tools my team and I actually use
- My go-to tools for content creation and social media
- How we organize projects and communicate across a team
- Different options for retreat booking and payments
- The platform I use for online courses
- Why contracts and waivers are non-negotiable
- Why I require travel insurance for applicable retreats
- How event insurance fits into retreat planning
- How technology can help you create a more scalable retreat business
- The bonus video-editing tool I forgot to mention while recording
Key Takeaways
You don't need every tool. More software doesn't automatically create a better business. Choose tools that solve an actual problem.
Build systems before you desperately need them. The system that feels unnecessary with five clients may save your sanity when you have 50.
Your tech stack should support the guest experience. The point isn't fancy technology. It's making booking, communication, payments, and the entire customer journey easier.
Don't only invest in marketing tools. Contracts, waivers, travel insurance, and event insurance may not feel exciting, but protecting the business is part of running a professional retreat.
Think beyond the retreat itself. Tools like Podia can help turn your expertise into courses, education, and offers that exist before and after the in-person experience.
The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:
Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together!
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TIMESTAMPS
Introduction to Top Tools (00:00:02) Shannon introduces the episode's topic: the top tools and software she and her team use to run their business.
Canva for Visuals (00:02:01) Shannon praises Canva as the essential tool for creating all visual content, from social media graphics to workbooks and branding.
AI Tools: ChatGPT & Claude (00:03:31) Discussion on using AI to boost content like blogs and newsletters, emphasizing it should enhance your voice, not replace it.
MetriCool for Social Media (00:07:11) Shannon explains why MetriCool is her favorite social media scheduler for its reliability, ease of use, and multi-platform posting capabilities.
MetriCool's "Flow" Feature (00:11:29) A breakdown of MetriCool's automated messaging feature, which responds to comments and DMs to deliver information to potential clients instantly.
ClickUp for Team Management (00:13:31) Shannon shares how her team uses ClickUp, a project management tool, to stay organized, track projects, and maintain accountability.
Podia for Learning Platforms (00:14:21) The speaker discusses using Podia for digital courses and products, highlighting its ease of use and affordability compared to competitors.
Booking Software Options (00:15:05) An overview of booking software used, including HoneyBook, Retreat Guru, and WeTravel, explaining the pros and cons of each.
Legal Documents & Waivers (00:16:41) Shannon recommends Legal Destination for contracts and waivers, stressing the importance of a lawyer familiar with the retreat industry.
Travel & Event Insurance (00:17:35) A distinction between requiring travel insurance for guests and securing event insurance as a host, with recommendations for providers.
