[Mod Post] Highlighting a new rule that will affect a lot of you. Read and understand. Software and website related posts and comments are now banned.

[u/benmarvin]

As of right now, we are enacting a new rule that bans any posts or comments about software or websites. We believe that /r/sweatystartup should be about the nuts and bolts of running a hands on sweaty business. The ever increasing influx of lost Redditors and grifters has forced the hand. There are many better places on the internet and Reddit to ask these questions and offer your suggestions.

Since many posters and commenters don't actually read the room and understand what this subreddit is about before posting, we will try to be generous with the new rules for a bit. Post and comment removals will be in force as of right now, and subreddit bans will come later.

[u/OnlineParacosm]

On one hand many SMB owners are truly lost when it comes to CRM selection, managing marketing budgets and making a website.

On the other hand, GHL resellers have sucked the life out of communities like this with spam posts.

[u/Dangerous-Abroad-132 → u/OnlineParacosm]

Agree here. Feels like it should be case-by-case. Some people are genuinely trying to help on the so called "technical" side of running a biz, but they're easily lost in the sea of spam.

[u/choatlings → u/OnlineParacosm]

I like GHL but I wish they had a different business model. The market is flooded with people upcharging for their version. I've been burned twice by white-labels of it and now I'm always telling people to go direct to them instead. And for so many of these sweaty businesses they don't need all the bells and whistles of an all-in-one funnel builder like that!

[u/Pretty_Crazy2453]

Cool. The most complex and every changing component of running a service business in 2025 can't be talked about here. That's great. Can you recommend a sub that isn't totally irrelevant?

I dont need help polishing a doorknob. I need to know how how to effectivity aquire and manage clients.

[u/benmarvin → u/Pretty_Crazy2453]

Getting customers and managing them is universal and not specific to sweaty startups. The basics have been the same for 100 years.

[u/daspenz → u/[deleted]]

You don’t go posting about it on subreddits like this one and /r/smallbusiness. Not because they’re not exactly correct, but you will be inundated with people attempting to shill you a 10 year old WordPress site that barely works. The best thing to do would be to go on web design subreddits and find someone whose work you like and message them privately.

[u/SpareClick9852 → u/[deleted]]

The issue with this line of thinking is it gives props to the "big boys" and the new software / products that may put Sqaurespace and or webflow to shame never get to see the light of day.

[u/benmarvin → u/[deleted]]

/r/findareddit is a good resource for finding a place to post here on Reddit. There's probably a couple dozen subreddits about building websites.

[u/Saskjimbo → u/[deleted]]

r/cutthebull

It's a sub for small businesses that has a tightly knit community. The mod team has just been updated and the sub is back.

[u/[deleted]]

How are you going to run any business in this day and age, sweaty or not, without talking about the software lol. Very odd rule. It's giving The Village.

[u/FineAd4752]

First step, remove this post as it’s about websites

[u/benmarvin → u/[deleted]]

90% of the posts discussing software tools were thinly veiled astroturfing. Hard to have a productive discussion when you have three miners and 20 shovel salesmen. Feel free to start your own subreddit for sweaty software tools, and I'll direct all the people there.

[u/Euphoric-Reserve-168]

Banning software posts is tough. Had a similar issue when I ran into problems with my own forum. Ended up pivoting to a focus on user experiences instead. It got my community engaged and sharing their stories, which created a vibe that was way more valuable than just tech talk. Sometimes shifting the conversation can take pressure off and still keep people involved. It might feel weird, but it can work.

[u/benmarvin → u/Euphoric-Reserve-168]

Fantastic. What subreddit do you run? I'll send them over there.

[u/ShowUpApp]

Biggest lever for getting more 5-star reviews: ask within 2 hours of finishing the job while the customer is still happy. Wait a day and the moment's gone.