According to Fast Company, the number of self-employed Americans has been increasing over the past few years.
Some estimations project that the self-employed will make up over 40% of the American workforce by 2020. Whether you’re a writer, web developer, counselor, or one of the many other self-employed occupations, this work trend has led to an abundance of apps across all platforms to make self-employed life easier and more efficient.
Here are 10 apps that will make your life as a self-employed individual more organized and professional.
Time tracking
Hours Tracker for iOS and Android
If you work by the hour, this will come in handy. It uses GPS to automatically clock you in or out of a specific location. (If you go to your office, it’ll clock you in.) It also calculates overtime rates and sends reports.
Organization
Evernote for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Blackberry
Evernote is an organizational app that stores many types of content, like notes, images, video and audio files. It syncs all your devices, so if you make an edit on your phone, you won’t have to remember to edit your tablet later on. A nifty little feature that Evernote offers is the ability to create a notebook. Let’s say you want a notebook for your taxes. Not only will Evernote store your notes, but it can also store photos of receipts that you’ve taken– all in the same place.
Credit card payments
Square Register for iOS and Android
If you accept credit card payments from customers on location, a mobile payment system is essential. Square allows you to accept payments from all major credit cards for a small fee per swipe. Customers can include a tip and sign their receipt directly on the device’s screen using their finger. Should they want a receipt, they can have it printed or emailed to them.
Accounting
FreshBooks for iOS and Android
Not only does this cloud accounting app manage invoices and payments, it also manages and tracks your time for clients or simply for your own records. No matter how you use it, it will make accounting simple and painless.
Sign and send documents
CamScanner for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone 8
This document manager allows users to easily scan, sign and send documents. Easy and free? Yes, please!
Currency calculator (Attn: digital nomads)
XE Currency for iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and Windows 8
If you work for clients outside of the USA, this app is a must– mainly because calculating exchange rates over and over again can be confusing. This app keeps track of what your hourly rate is in foreign currencies, as well as how much cash you’d be making in US dollars before you accept a job. This gem is especially handy if you’re working or traveling abroad.
Sharing docs
Google Drive for iOS, Android, and Windows
Cloud storage is an essential tool for any freelancer. Google Drive allows you to create and upload documents, folders, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, drawings, images and videos. You can work solo or share with multiple users, allowing them access to the docs as you see fit.
Travel
TripIt for iOS and Android
TripIt is great for those who travel for work. It syncs your travel plans with your calendar, stores travel documents, receives real-time flight alerts and gives you a master itinerary. Now all that’s left for you to do is give big sigh of relief. Finally!
Mileage tracker
Everlance for iOS and Android
Everlance uses GPS to track mileage and calculates your reimbursement amount from the IRS. It can also be used to monitor expenses and payments. From there, everything can be saved on your cloud or exported.
Social media organizer
HootSuite for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac
Imagine a world where someone is working toward creating a strong social media presence but can easily post the same things across all the channels. Welcome to the wonderful world of HootSuite, where you can link and sync your social media platforms for ease, efficiency and organization.
Gun shy?
Most of these apps have free or “lite” versions. Try those first to see if you like how the app works, and if it has all of the features you need, you can upgrade.
In today’s mobile world, it’s easier than ever to be thorough and organized (and we mean thoroughly organized). Taking care of business tasks with the help of a few key applications is essential if you don’t want to be tied down to an office.
You may not have the safety net of an employer, but you have the freedom (and the tools) to make it happen– whatever “it” may be.
Want to protect what you work hard for? Get an online quote.
Pogo is an online business insurance agency dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and the self-employed get the right insurance, easily.Learn more about self-employed business insurance.