When working for yourself you want to make the best use of all the benefits technology can bring. This includes communication with prospective clients, especially during that all-important first contact. Project quote request forms are a good example of technology helping to automate and speed-up these new client interactions. These small web page forms allow […]
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You’re probably reading this blog post in a browser window pointed to the Invoice Ninja website, so in all likelihood, you already know that it’s a web app that covers the basics of getting paid for your work and wares. No need to explain that our platform includes all of the invoicing, billing and time […]
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You might or might not have chosen the freelance life for the flexibility it offers you, but you must admit – being your own boss has its perks. You can determine your own hours, wear whatever you want and take your projects in whatever direction you feel is best. On the other hand, you aren’t […]
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Freelancers come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life. According to a 2015 study by Edelman, women represent 40% of the US freelance workforce. Most are young adults, but nearly one-fifth are 55 or more years of age. Freelancers are even somewhat more ethnically diverse than non-freelancers. With the rise of […]
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Millennials are hitting the workforce at full speed. According to US labor stats, they already outnumber boomers and Generation X. The impact of their arrival in the business scene has many watching apprehensively. While millennials tend to get a bum rap, the truth is that their approach is simply different from generations past. Not necessarily […]
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Are robots, artificial intelligence platforms and automation tools on the brink of rendering you obsolete? The jury’s out on that tricky question, but until tech reveals that it’s out to get us, it has plenty of help to offer. As time goes on and the tools advance in their capabilities, automation is becoming increasingly useful […]
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Freelance service providers and small business owners know full well just how challenging it can be to attract clients, fulfill orders and get paid efficiently and scalably. It’s unfortunate, but the extent to which you’re good at your job has little correlation with effective management of the customer life cycle. From finding your prospects to […]
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Today’s businesses are all about the cloud. With so many killer services and apps on the market today, it’s hard to argue against it. Servers are scalable on demand with zero necessary maintenance. Data is automatically backed up in multiple locations and accessible from anywhere in the world. And cloud-based apps that make all aspects […]
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6 Things You Need to Hear Before Opening Your Own Business You did it. You dreamed, you researched, you planned, and then you took the leap. The big leap – in faith, confidence and security. Deciding to open your own business is the first major step on your journey into the big unknown of entrepreneurship. […]
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Freelancers often work hard for many hours and don’t see much return in the way of income. They are often viewed by those who hire them as cheap labor, and the extra time they put in to find clients, create proposals and chase down payments are not valued by the clients. If you are one […]
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Twenty-first technology makes working remotely much more feasible than it used to be. The speed of email, instant messaging, project management apps, screen sharing and remote meeting software all make telecommuting possible. According to Forrester Research’s US Telecommuting Forecast, http://www.wired.com/2013/06/the-new-workplace-reality-out-of-the-office/ 34 million Americans work from home. And this number is expected to reach 63 million […]
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One of the scariest aspects of freelancing is pricing your services. You know you are talented and should be properly compensated for your work, but you don’t want to overcharge and be beat out by the competition. Or you undervalue your services because you’re so good at what you do that it seems like highway […]
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One of the first questions new acquaintances or people who haven’t seen each other in years ask each other is, “So, what do you do?” This is an easy question to answer if you have a defined position in an established company. But if you are just starting out in a new business, it can […]
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One of the first steps you have to take when you open a new small business is to hire an accountant. Most of us don’t know much about accounting, so we tend to trust the professionals implicitly. But it’s important to remember that your business’ financial future is at stake and to educate yourself about […]
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How are other small businesses managing their finances, what challenges must they overcome and what financial decisions have led them to success? A survey from CFED seeks to answers these questions [http://cfed.org/assets/pdfs/Understanding_the_Financial_Vulnerabilities_of_Michrobusiness_Owners_BRIEF_Updated.pdf], so that you can avoid pitfalls and incorporate the more successful ideas into your business. Until now, what has been known about microbusinesses […]
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When online payment became popular, it brought about revolutionary change both for consumers and for businesses. But it looks like this disruptive technology is about to be disrupted itself, as e-commerce moves from desktops to tablets and mobiles. New payment models and forms of payment (such as Bitcoin) which replace traditional cash are being developed […]
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Invoicing is an important aspect of running a small business, and though it seems simple, it’s important to create a system so that mistakes don’t happen. When you’re juggling more than one client and focusing on giving each client the best possible service, proper invoicing can get forgotten in the shuffle. If you can afford […]
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Once you’ve made the leap from employee to business owner, one of the first questions to consider is how to ensure that you are paid in a timely and organized manner. It’s easy for a business to go under due to lack of cash flow, too many customer debts and a lack of proper bookkeeping. […]
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Is your office in your bedroom? Are you embarrassed to tell your clients that you work from home? Conventional wisdom holds that it’s more professional to have an office. So freelancers often talk about being “out of office” for the day or mention an “in-house graphic designer” to give the impression that they are operating […]
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You’ve started your new business and gotten your first clients. Now it’s time to start organizing your accounting books. A shoebox full of invoices and statements, or even an inbox full of electronic receipts, just isn’t going to cut it. You need an organized system, and you need to understand how it works, if you […]
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