The Freelancer's Toolkit

No matter your trade, whether you're a graphic designer, web developer, or social media manager, all freelancers have a lot in common. From dealing with clients to mastering time management, there's a ton to learn from others in the freelancing game. Here are some products and software that every freelancer could benefit from.

• Sighted Invoicing Software

  Staying on top of your finances is a necessity as a freelancer. If you're juggling multiple clients, it's easy to lose track of who you've invoiced, who's paid, and when another invoice is due. This free software will make tracking and online payment processing a cinch.

• Canva

  Depending on your speciality, Canva can be an awesome tool. It makes graphic design super simple, with free to use photos and shapes for making social media posts, mailers and more. Even if you're not involved in the design space, Canva makes it easy for everyone so you can add it to your skillset.

• Upwork

  Upwork is not loved by all freelancers, so proceed with caution. Depending on how you get your leads, Upwork could be another way to generate them. They connect freelancers with businesses looking for help. Look for clients with good ratings who have a history of paying appropriately.

• A Good Office Chair

  It should come as no surprise that working from home means you're sitting for a good portion of the day. Investing in a comfortable office chair could be a life saver (or a back savor). You could also consider a standing desk if you want to spend more of the day on your feet.

• Dry Erase Board

  Between email, to-do lists, and task software, sometimes it's helpful to have a dry erase board next to your desk. Perhaps you have a long term goal you'd like to keep at the top of your head, or need to jot down an important phone number. Having this board nearby will be a handy tool to have.

• Freelancer Resources to Help You Avoid Scams

  Both seasoned freelancers and new comers could always use a refresher of common scams in the community. This list from Reddit contains links of cons and scams to be weary of as you talk to prospective clients.

• Bublup

  Bublup is perfect for collaborating, and for solo freelancers as well. You can save all your assets for your various clients, like logos and PSD files, in one place, or create a group folder containing inspiration or important documents for an upcoming project.

• External Hard Drive

  Cloud storage is convenient and easy to use, and you should embrace it. With that being said, you should also keep an external hard drive that you routinely upload important files to. If something accidentally gets deleted, or an old client requests files you already took off the cloud, this is a wonderful backup to have.

• Grammarly

  Some of us could use a little help in the grammar department. This is an essential tool for copywriters and editors, but could also be vital for all freelancers. This app will double check all of your spelling and grammar to ensure all your messages and documents are mistake free.

• Self-Employment Tax Software

  One of the more complicated parts of being a freelancer is taxes. There are unique rules that apply to you, which you need to understand come tax time. Consider using tax software such as this one that will simply the process and allow you to file quarterly taxes.

• Trello

  Ditch the pen and paper to do list and upgrade to Trello. This free app is an awesome way to stay on top of all your tasks, allowing you to maintain multiple lists. This is helpful when you're working with multiple clients, or want to keep track short term and long term goals.

• Fast, Good, and Cheap

  If you ever have a client that wants a project done super fast, super cheap, and super well-done, just send them this.