A practical SME stack map — CRM, email, work OS, automation, invoicing, and light AI marketing — that you can keep under $200 a month if you refuse duplicate tools. Verify current pricing.
Buy / build your ops stack
Lean SaaS stack for SME founders and small teams
LeanStack HQ is a desk for SME founders and small teams who need a CRM, email automation, a work OS, workflow glue, invoicing, and a light AI marketing layer — without buying an enterprise suite they will not run.
The lean stack, in order
Under $200 / month →010203040506
CRM
One place for pipeline, contacts, and follow-up.
Email automation
Sequences that run after a form, a deal stage, or a missed invoice.
Work OS
Projects, ownership, and the weekly operating rhythm.
Workflow automation
Move data between tools so nobody copies rows by hand.
Invoicing
Quotes, invoices, and getting paid without a bookkeeper on staff.
AI marketing & SEO
Research, drafts, and reporting — not a second marketing department.
Start here
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How these guides are written
Comparisons stay practical: who the tool is for, where it gets expensive, and what to skip. Pricing is described in ranges and always marked “verify current pricing.” We do not invent testimonials, commission rates, or partnership status.