Whatever you call yourself, be it a solo contractor, solopreneur, or freelancer, one thing is for sure: You sometimes feel like you have bitten off more than you can chew. No matter your industry, freelancing requires you to manage many elements of the business, from social media and content creation to finances and time management.
Happily, there are some fantastic apps around that can lighten the load and help you manage your small business with precision and professionalism every time. Thanks to automation software, you don’t have to navigate these tasks alone. Once again, technology prevails.
Here we explore 5 of our top software apps for solo contractors in 2022. They’re all bound to up your freelancing game by saving you time, solving complex issues, and allowing you to navigate all elements of your business with ease.
1. Indy
Whatever your industry, when you are a solo contractor, you usually have to do it all, especially when you are starting out. This is why so many freelancers favor freelancer management systems like Indy. The all-in-one application offers freelancers everything they need to run their freelance business effectively and professionally. The site provides a comprehensive set of essential tools for small business owners and solopreneurs, including:
- An online calendar
- Task tracker
- Time checker
- Invoice software and simple invoice generator allows you to create your own invoice templates
- Proposal templates
- Contract templates
- Instant chat allows you to easily communicate with your clients
The website also offers users fantastic insight into the realm of entrepreneurship, organization, management, and freelancing via their blog, and users can upload a personal profile to their page.
2. FreshBooks
Managing finances properly is one of the cornerstones of any good business. Unless you have had comprehensive accounting training – and even then – you will want to utilize a program that can make this an easy feat and get all the financial elements of your business in order. FreshBooks is a fantastic option.
The cloud-accounting software is one of the most considerable bookkeeping solutions and takes the hassle out of managing finances. When you use this software, you can invoice easily, track expenses, produce reports, and manage projects. Since it is multi-currency software, you can easily manage various global projects.
Ensuring that all the financial elements are up to date is essential when running a comprehensive business and will make tax rebates and returns a breeze. While you might be able to hire an accountant down the line, FreshBooks is an excellent pick if you want to manage your finances yourself.
3. Pocket
Pocket is a must-have for any creative freelancer, especially if you find yourself scouring the internet for hours and finding riveting TedTalks and articles, only to lose them again when you want to revisit their insight. Pocket allows you to save all your favorite links (including videos and articles) and access them when you need them. Rather than bookmarking thousands of pages, save all those inspirational sites and sources in one secure place which you can access online and offline. This app is super helpful if you are in the creative arts and want to tap into creative inspiration with the click of a button.
4. Canva
You will most likely need to dabble in design whatever industry you are in. Whether for a website logo, an event indication, or the latest Instagram post, you want to entice potential clients with captivating visuals. In a dream world, you might have unlimited finances to hire the best designers; however, sometimes, when you are starting a business, you’ll have to navigate the treacherous waters of design alone. This is where Canva becomes a lifeline and can up your visuals tenfold.
The easy-to-navigate free platform allows you to access thousands of free templates and designs, making design an easy feat. With Canva, you can design the following (and much more) with efficiency and ease.
- Invites
- Business cards
- Etsy shop covers
- Gift vouchers
- Menus
- Social media posts
- Facebook banners
If you love navigating Canva, you can upgrade to the Premium site, accessing even more templates and exciting tools. This is a definite must for anyone who wants to explore their creative side and create some impressive visuals. While you might hire a graphic designer down the line, this is a great tool in the interim.
5. Headspace
While not explicitly business-related, Headspace is a must for any freelancer or entrepreneur. The mindfulness app has a super easy-to-navigate user interface, enabling users to manage stress and effortlessly access practical mindfulness techniques.
Headspace has over 30 million users, highlighting just how far-reaching the app is. You can access various features on Headspace, including guided meditation, focused playlists for tasks that require great concentration, gentle workouts by famed Olympians that strive to enhance the mind and body connection, and sleepcasts to help you get to sleep.
By diminishing stress, improving your sleep, and practicing mindfulness, you can better navigate any challenges that come your way and boost productivity. This makes Headspace a great option for freelancers – in our books – as it focuses on enhancing health holistically. When you are feeling calm and chilled, every aspect of your life will feel better.
The Takeaway
The internet is filled with incredible software applications that can streamline business operations and help you to succeed as you embark on the world of freelancing. These are some of our top picks, and there are plenty more to discover. Amazingly, there are many free options and many of the apps we have shared offer some free features before you choose to commit. This gives you the opportunity to explore their offerings and decide if they work for you.
What are some of your favorite software apps? Share with us and let’s get the conversation going, we would love to know!