Do you work as a Freelancer? Own a computer consulting company? Do you remember spending last March/April organizing your invoices for Tax time? I am guessing you have a few clients, maybe 10+ and have all this overhead associated with collecting payment, submitting invoices, and keeping the cashflow coming in. I know this past year, invoicing is almost all of my overhead, I have had a lot of small clients for projects. Keeping track of billing and managing all of this overhead is a pain, and I hate pain, I like to automate tasks that are “painful”. I have been playing around with various free/cheap solutions that make this pain go away (And always looking for new ones!) and wanted to post up some of the great web apps that I have used/use now.
Although I originally planned to create my own apps, I am a BIG supporter of leveraging someone else’s work and standing on the shoulder of others. Thinking about it, do you want 2 projects: 1 to create something that could make the task simpler and, and another to actually do what was requested, NO! So on that note, check out some websites/webapps that can make your life easier!
Since Invoice sucks!
Invoice Journal
Fast Simple and easy to use. This site is great for international invoices, because they include the various taxes and currency amount. The site offers a variety of invoice templates and integrates with paypal.
Fresh Books
This service is awesome for the people who may have a bit more then those 10 clients. I would HIGHLY recommend them if you are also looking for a custom solution, but don’t want to start from scratch. They have an awesome API.
Blink Sale
Okay last invoice website, but pretty slick. I love the user interface and user experience with this website. This site is web 2.0 savvy site is just a great way to send those basic invoices in a simple fast and friendly solution.
Tracking Time
toggl
Work on a lot of smaller tasks where you need to keep track before invoicing them. This software works pretty nicely on keeping track of all of those 10+ minute features that add up quick.
Faxing, bringing the 80′s back!
eFax
Yes, Faxes are that 80′s technology that we are still stuck using in today’s world. We can scan in an image and email it, but most of the business world have these legacy devices call fax machines. So rather then invest in a machine that is going to sit there and collect dust (as well as get fax spam!) and possibly another phone line, just sign up for efax. You can send and receive faxes by email, yes you can bring yourself into the 21st century while maintaining your 80′s retro look of faxing.
Notes
Jott
We all have little notes that we write down on paper napkins, index cards, and post its. Rather then have a pocket full of small paper that you can’t read, why not email yourself the idea/concept by placing a call. Jott offers an amazing service that I have been using for some time now that I just love. I have an idea, I would normally find some paper and a pen and write it down and/or try and remember it in some fashion, but with Jott I just place a phone call, listen to the “Who do you want to Jott”, say myself wait for beep and start explaining it. What a great service, and its FREE!
Selling Digital Products
Pay Loadz
Sell that ebook you created, take the pain of charging and money away for a small percentage.
E-Junkie
They offer a simple and free shopping car for those who are selling 1 or 3 products such as (setup/install WordPress). They also have a great pro option for only $5/month!
Meetings
Free Conference
Conference calls are a must in the biz. You have to talk to 3 or 10 people at a time to make a decision, well simplify it! This service is great and I have used it a number of times for small meetings when each person is in a different remote location. I HIGHLY suggest using them for your business and even upgrading the account for some great features like recording. Yes, you can record the conference call so you can go back and make sure they said “these requirements” and don’t try and sneak in features.
Twiddla
Whiteboard collaboration software for FREE! This software is great, no downloads, just amazing on collaboration and creativity. When you are working with a small team in remote areas, this software is a must to communicate various design changes and layout ideas. You can surf the web and draw directly on the website, brilliant!
Newsletters
Breeze
Email campaigns, simple easy and affordable. Flat rate system of $10 + 2cents per recipient. So for emailing 2,500 people is only $60.
Aweber
Simple email newsletters, website signups, follow up auto responders and scalable. If you want to automate your business and take the teachings of the 4 Hour Work Week, sign up for as low as $19/month!
Send Big Files
YouSendIt
Transferring 2GB+ files that would normally require a FTP server and all that technical stuff that you DON’T have time for, then check out you send it. I know gmail limits attachments to 20MB, which is pretty high and great for the PSDs, but when you are transferring that MPEG video of last weekends presentation to possible investors in your startup, you may want something a bit more reliable.
I have my own computer consulting company, Nomad Thinking and tend to use some of the applications listed above. If you have others please post them in the comments.
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Don’t forget Harvest – they offer time tracking and invoicing all an one service, and have a solid-looking API to boot.
If you are shopping around for a fax service, Callwave and Trustfax are alternatives to efax, but I haven’t used them.