Tools

In order to provide a quality and growing service, freelancers need to take advantage of the abundance of tools and applications available to them on the web. It makes managing clients, projects and deadlines much easier when you’re using a pre-built system, than if you’re relying on written documents. That is why we have complied this list of all the tools you’ll ever need as a freelancer.

Note: There are many, many tools out there available, so I thought I’d narrow the selection down to a select few I think are really worth mentioning. Also, this page will constantly be updated when I come across new useful web applications for freelancers.

Client Management & Invoicing

1) FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a brilliant invoicing tool that I would recommend to every freelancer; whether they’re a writer, web design, web developer, or whatever. It’s very easy to use and you can customize it to your own tastes or business image. It’s free to check out as well.

2) Basecamp

Basecamp is an AMAZING online application. Made by the masters at 37signals it really is something to check out.

Quote from Basecamphq.com:

Basecamp takes a fresh, novel approach to project collaboration. Projects don’t fail from a lack of charts, graphs, stats, or reports, they fail from a lack of clear communication. Basecamp solves this problem by providing tools tailored to improve the communication between people working together on a project.

Business Intranet & Collaboration

3) Backpack

Quote from Backpackit.com:

Backpack is a web-based service that makes organizing your information incredibly easy. Backpack lets you make pages which can contain any combination of notes, to-dos, images, files, etc. You can keep these pages to yourself or share them with colleagues, co-workers, friends, or family.

Contact Forms

4) Wufoo

Quote from Wufoo.com:

Wufoo strives to be the easiest way to collect information over the Internet.

Our HTML form builder helps you create contact forms, online surveys, and invitations so you can collect the data, registrations and online payments you need without writing a single line of code.

To-Do Lists

5) Remember The Milk

Quote from Rememberthemilk.com:

Manage tasks quickly and easily.
An intuitive interface makes managing tasks fun. Set due dates easily with next Friday or in 2 weeks. Extensive keyboard shortcuts make task management quicker than ever.
Learn more…

6) Ta-Da Lists

Quote from Tadalist.com:

Ta-da List is the web’s easiest to-do list tool. Make lists for yourself or share them with others. It couldn’t be simpler.