Here is a list of both free and paid tools which I highly recommend for running your freelance business. I use these tools on a weekly basis to help me stay organized, communicate with clients, and remain professional. Use whichever ones work best for you.

Please note some of these the resources have affiliate links. I made sure to only include services I’ve used before so my recommendations would be free of bias.

Flywheel

One of the best managed WordPress web hosting companies that focus on serving designers and agencies. Amongst the best when it comes to customer service. A great place to host your business website.

BlueHost

One of the more popular and affordable shared hosting environments on the web. I have observed them improve their service over time. If you need to get a website up and running for a great price Bluehost should be considered.

Squarespace

What if you need a website quick fast and in a hurry, but you’re not a web designer? Squarespace allows you to get started quickly use one of their templates to get started and design your web page through and easy click and drag interface with a sleek design.

ZipBooks

ZipBooks is free accounting software that sends invoices, tracks time and expenses, integrates with your bank and lets you process credit cards. Get started! I like their clean interface and organization.

Freshbooks

One of the best cloud-based small business accounting software that’s available. Does an exceptional job at categorizing your expenses automatically.

Wave Accounting

A free accounting solution for small business owners. A suite of tools such as tracking expenses managing employees Texas and collecting payment from clients.

Harpoon

There are dozens of invoicing and time-tracking apps to choose from, but Harpoon focuses on financial planning, time‑tracking, billing, and budgeting. Allowing you to see if you’re on track to meet your revenue goals.

GoDaddy Bookkeeping

Online bookkeeping software for small businesses – track sales and expenses, pay estimated taxes. This is the tool I use to track expenses and prepare for tax season.

Nusii

Create, track and manage proposals for your creative business. An online proposal based software created by Nathan Powell. Proposal software for freelancers created by a freelancer.

Bidsketch

Online proposal software that will allow you to create professional client proposals in minutes. Collect all my signatures for your contracts.

Prospero

A new proposal tool from the team at nuschool.com that’s free to use. If a client signs your proposal, you pay $20, that’s it.

Duet App

Client management software you can install on a server. Duet is like combining Asana, Trello, Toggl and an invoicing application together in simple system. I would say this works like a low-cost basecamp.

Hector App

Hector is a project management app built 100% for freelancers. Easily manage all of your projects and tasks while collaborating with others.

Mailchimp

One of the best email marketing services on the Internet. They allow you to set up a newsletter to engage your audience for at no cost for up to 2,000 subscribers. I use MailChimp as a compliment to my blog and podcast.

ConvertKit

An email marketing tool that keeps things simple. One of the strings of convert kit is the fact that he utilizes automation. You can easily set up content giveaways as well as email courses as a way to engage your audience.

Stripe

Stripe is my favorite system to use to process online payments. It is becoming the new standard for accepting payments online because of his ease-of-use and reliability. Stripe connects to a number of online invoice systems to process online payments safely and securely.

Square

Square up serves as a point of sale application which equips you with all the tools necessary to accept payments from clients. You can keep track of cash checks and credit card payments. I use Square to accept deposits from clients by swiping the debit card in a face-to-face client meeting.

Sign Easy

An easy and quick platform that allow you to sign documents safely and securely. They have individual plans starting at $10 a month.

Adobe Echosign

This is the platform I use for my business. I find it simple and straightforward. When signatures are collected all parties involved are notified.

Docracy

Docracy is an open collection of legal contracts. Their service is free at no cost. Within their platform, they have a feature called Super Signing which will allow you sign and track your legal documents.