The life of a freelancer can be pretty great. You get to touch a wide variety of projects, meet lots of new people, and have more control over your schedule and work environment.
But anyone who has ever given freelancing even a passing thought knows that there are some unique challenges to being a business of one. You have to be extra diligent about managing your own time, have a solid network of customers so you always have lots of gigs lined up, and you’re your own human resources and IT department. It’s almost enough to send you running to the nearest recruiter or giant corporation to find a traditional nine to five…almost.
There is a wide range of online tools and resources that can help make any freelancer’s life a little bit easier. Here are a few worth looking into.
Trello
Whether you’re a freelance graphic designer or a wedding planner, keeping organized is key. That’s why Trello, the online management tool, is at the top of your list. While it bears some similarity to Basecamp and other project management tools, Trello’s focus on visuals is what makes it so special. So whether you’re sharing designs for a new logo or organizing wedding reception color schemes, Trello has you covered.
Wave
When you’re a business of one, it’s crucial that you have a solid grasp on your finances. Whether you’re trying to figure out how much to save for taxes or estimate pricing for a big project, Wave can come in handy. The site boasts that over 1 million small business owners use the service to track receipts, invoice clients, and more. With numbers like that, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Dropbox
It’s 2015, which means you need a cloud-based storage system supporting your business. With so many out there, it might be hard to decide on one that’s right for you. We still believe in the old standby, Dropbox. It’s easy to share documents via a link, or access them on a phone or tablet via the Dropbox mobile app. Best of all, Dropbox is known for security and reliability, which is crucial in the business world.
Clear
The to-do list is the one of the oldest business tools out there, and it’s still one of the most useful, for many good reasons. While everyone will have their own preference when it comes to a to-do list, we’re fans of Clear. The product comes with a beautiful interface and can be accessed from your iPod, iPhone, or Mac. (Sorry Android and PC lovers; no Clear for you just yet.) Even The New York Times likes it.
HelloSign
One of the pains of being a freelancer is that there’s no one around to take care of the more boring aspects of running a business, things like payroll and contracts. HelloSign helps make the legal aspect of doing business a bit easier by offering legally binding documents that integrate seamlessly with many other programs. Tiered pricing allows you to choose a plan that’s right for you without paying for services you might not need.
Any we missed that you recommend? Leave them in the comments below.
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