10 Great apps for busy freelancers: accounting, contracts, etc.

Glory Edim for FreeLancersUnion.org writes: Becoming a freelancer means you’re the boss. Not only are you responsible for managing the project, you’re also in charge of accounting, creating contracts and tracking billable hours.  That means you have to be inventive handling your workload and find gadgets to GTD effectively.

Here is a list of 10 tools/apps to support your life as an fantastic freelancer. Whether you’re typing ideas on your smartphone, blogging at your local coffee shop or attending meetings at the latest co-working space, you’ll be synced up and ready to go:

To-do lists

Teux Deux

Teux Deux is an effective to-do list that will appeal to minimalist design lovers. With its simple white background, color-coded days, and clear display of tasks, the app forces you to focus on productivity. Users who prefer simple "bare-bone" layouts and simple functionality will benefit from this platform.

Wunderlist

Wunderlist is a task management tool that allows you to share your daily to-do lists. The app has a robust interface made up of tasks and lists, which easily syncs across all devices. You can prioritize projects with a star, create due dates, and add reminder alarms. The functionality also includes creating subtasks, assigning items to other users and adding specific notes via e-mail.

Project Management Tools

Evernote

Evernote is designed for unlimited note taking and archiving. The app allows you to take notes, save web pages, and even digitize documents. You can input notes directly into the mobile app or use the browser-based web clipper to capture inspiration you find online. The search feature and tags help keep your notes organized and enhance the tool’s functionality. By adding checklists and due dates you can use Evernote as your task manager. Plus, it syncs across all devices, serving as a catch-all for anything you want to remember, wherever you are.

Trello

Trello is a free web-based collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. You can easily organize all of the components for your projects into columns and cards, along with assigning task to team members and adding specific comments. The platform is modeled after the Personal Kanban system which helps you visualize, organize, and complete work. Trello is intuitive and ideal for any type of workflow. Additionally, it works in real time, making communication efficient and collaboration seamless.

Accounting

Wave

Wave Accounting is a free alternative for people who need accounting software to manage the day-to-day aspects of their business with ease. The tool caters to freelancers and offers detailed reports, along with the ability to add accounts and directly link bank information from the app's console. The interface for the Wave application is intuitive and there is helpful advice throughout the experience.

Cloud storage

Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based file sharing service that allows users to save files — including documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos, and music, to the cloud and sync it with your computers, phones, and the Dropbox website. Users get 2 GB of Dropbox for free and you have access to files across multiple devices, saving you from having to email documents back and forth. While you can easily collaborate on documents with Google Docs, if you’re a freelancer who needs to transfer files to other contractors or clients, Dropbox is an ideal solution.

Creating legal contracts

Shake

Shake is a mobile app that allows users to create, sign, and send legally binding agreements from their phones. The app is simple to use and everything from non-disclosure agreements to merger clauses can be generated and signed on the platform. Shake also offers contract agreements related to freelancing, confidentiality, buying/selling, renting, and loaning money.

Time tracker

Timely

Timely is a well-designed time tracking app. Timely’s tracking method is to work from people’s existing schedules rather than make them create and fill in details of events after they’ve happened. The interface is intuitive and easy to use. Users migrate their schedule to Timely and then move appointments around its calendar-like layout adjusting things accordingly. It’s particularly helpful in tracking hours spent on client work.

Harvest

Harvest is a versatile, convenient time management tool that compiles detailed reports so you can see the time distribution for your work . You can also create a quick invoice which retrieves project hours and expenses instantly.

Eliminating distractions

Focus Booster

Focus Booster is a simple software tool designed to help focus on the task at hand. The app uses the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method created by Francesco Cirillo.  The technique dissects work into 25-minute sections known as "pomodoros" that are separated by 5-minute breaks. If you find yourself easily distracted, (i.e. Twitter statuses and Facebook updates) this app may help you concentrate and minimize online interruptions.