3 Must-Have Freelancer Tools to Improve Your Productivity

Understanding how to reach your highest level of productivity is one of the biggest keys to success as a freelancer. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into freelancing, or working toward building your empire, there are always tools that you can embrace to make life easier. Let’s move on into our discussion of the must-have freelancing tools to increase your productivity!

Contract Automation Platforms

Working as a freelancer means dealing with a variety of different clients. Throughout the course of your work, you are going to need reliable, legally-binding, and customizable contracts at the ready. Unless you specialize in writing and producing contracts, this likely isn’t how you are going to want to spend your time. As we’ve already discussed above, time is money and maximizing your ROI should be a priority.

Contract automation tools can provide a wealth of different services to entrepreneurs and freelancers of every stripe. From allowing you to sign contracts in the blink of an eye to saving paper with digital processing, automated contracts can make your life easier. Some contract automation software even interfaces directly with web hosts like WordPress!

Listed below, you will find three contract automation tools that can reduce your time investment while improving your productivity.

DocuSign

As one of the leading electronic signature applications on the internet, DocuSign can be the perfect piece of software for your business. DocuSign grants users the ability to quickly send, sign, and confirm documents while on-the-go. With DocuSign, entrepreneurs can access their contract information wherever and whenever they want, thus speeding up your workflow. As we are focused on ROI, it is important to note just how much time you will save with seamless paper transactions.

ApproveMe

One of our favorite contract automation platforms on the internet is ApproveMe’s WordPress e-sign application. This powerful WordPress powered document signature app provides plenty of utility without any of the associated high costs. Instead of owning a printer and dealing with faxes, simply integrate WP ESign into your existing WordPress website. With custom input fields and UETA/ESIGN compliance, you are sure to get value out of this application.

HelloSign

HelloSign is another prominent automated contract platform, this time owned by the team at Dropbox. HelloSign allows for the quick collection and dispatching of legally binding contracts. With three subscription levels available, you will be able to find the perfect plan for your business. Included in all HelloSign contract subscriptions is access to templates, Dropbox and Google integration, custom branding, and legally binding forms. From new-hire contracts and NDAs to contracts and loans, HelloSign can help protect you while saving you both time and money.

Bookkeeping Software

One of the most overwhelming aspects of life as a freelancer is dealing with financial documentation. When tax season comes, you better have your receipts ready. If you aren’t a natural tax professional, wrangling receipts and logging your business transactions can become a pain. Consider adding one of the following bookkeeping tools to your entrepreneurial arsenal to boost productivity!

QuickBooks Self-Employed

QuickBooks Self-Employed is one of the best pieces of accounting and bookkeeping software on the web. With this product, you can track expenses, handle invoices, and even track mileage. Backed by one of the most prestigious companies in the industry, QuickBooks is as streamlined as this sort of software comes. At the end of the year when you are ready to file with TurboTax or some other independent company, you can seamlessly port your information.

FreshBooks

If you are more interested in streamlined performance over the more elaborate features we listed above, FreshBooks can be a viable tool for your needs. Whether you charge by the hour or bill your clients after your job is complete, FreshBooks is designed to assist you. This bookkeeping software offers bargain-bin rates for a tool that allows you to manage multiple clients at once. With automated payment reminders and extensive self-employed bookkeeping customization, FreshBooks will keep your books in order. At the end of the day, that is all that many freelancers will ever need. FreshBooks is available for PC and Apple with iOS and Android applications..

Shoeboxed

Rounding out our top tools for bookkeeping is a lesser-known product named Shoeboxed. Shoeboxed is a fantastic option for Freelancers who want to have as little to do with their receipts as possible. Shoeboxed, like the name implies, allows you to capture all of your receipts and expenses in a single digital client. With the tap of a button, you can sync Shoebox with your business Gmail account to automatically sync receipts. At the end of the quarter, simply forward your documentation to your tax professional.

Project Management Tools

Staying organized is likely going to be one of the toughest tasks for seasoned freelancers. As your business grows, you are going to have to deal with more clients and thus more information. Having high-quality project management tools on deck can help you to keep your process organized.

Not only do project management tools give you a visual presentation of your efforts, but they also allow you to interface with your clients and colleagues. If you want to reduce the number of emails you send during the day while increasing workplace efficiency, consider one of the following project management tools.

Trello

Trello offers a visual Kanban board for freelancers and their associates to work off of. With an intuitive click-and-drag interface, it only takes a few minutes to set up a visual workflow that your team can adhere to. Gone are the days of shuffling through emails to find old information. You can interface with clients or colleagues in real-time as well as track edits to the board through an activity log. Apply instant email notifications to be alerted when changes are made to your job board. Best of all? You can have an individual Trello board for each client that you work with, thus allowing infinite utility. Save time, improve your productivity, and reclaim your sanity with Trello.

Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is a weighty project management tool that will change the way that you do business. If you are looking to accelerate productivity while increasing the efficacy of your work, Zoho projects can come in handy.

Zoho Projects offers extensive project planning, reporting, and document management features. With instant communication via several social clients within the program, you will be able to stay ahead of your projects without the need for ancillary applications. Zoho Projects can help you track your time with built-in timesheets. You can subscribe to one of three project management plans at Zoho to ensure that you are receiving the service that you need.

Wrike

Wrike is one of our favorite project management tools on the internet. Due to how easy the software is to set up, you need only a few minutes to really acclimate with what the product has to offer. One of the top benefits of Wrike is that it is highly customizable, allowing you to collaborate with your team in an environment that is conducive to constantly changing requirements.

Wrike offers visual workplace project management tools by way of kanban boards, Gantt charts, and text lists. Track your time investment, coordinate with clients, and print off details reports with the click of a button. Wrike is an affordable option with some weighty upgrades available.

Wrapping Up

Finding success in today’s digitally driven world is all about knowing what works for you. Every single day, more freelancers flood the market in search of their entrepreneurial dreams. Despite how saturated the market has become, it has never been easier to work efficiently while maintaining rigorous standards.

Over the past decade, we’ve seen freelancing turn from a niche industry to one of the fastest-growing job markets in the world. According to a report published by the team at Upwork, more than 30 million freelancers are looking at their profession as a long-term job. With more than 57 million Americans taking part in the industry on a part-time level, now is the time to make sure that you stand out from the rest of the pack.