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Invoicing Tools for Writers
By Thursday Bram
Most writers want to write, rather than send out invoices or
spend time on other paperwork. It is necessary to take care of
such business details in order to get paid for your writing,
but there are tools available to make the process a little easier.
Rather than tracking which articles you've got paid for with a
spreadsheet, you can use an application to manage everything
from sending out the original invoices to reminding clients if
they're late with a payment.
Many invoicing applications are web-based, which is often less
expensive than buying a full bookkeeping software package. Such
tools can also be used from anywhere that you can get online.
Some can even be accessed through an iPhone or other smart phone.
New invoicing tools are debuting every day, but a few have proven
especially useful for freelance writers.
Harvest
When you look at Harvest (
http://www.getharvest.com ), you
quickly realize that it was developed with freelancers in mind.
In addition to being able to send out invoices and manage your
accounts receivable, the tool has time tracking built in — you
can determine just how much time you're spending on particular
projects, making it easier to determine if you're really charging
enough for each article you write. If you have expenses associated
with a particular story, you can also add those to the rate you're
charging quickly. Harvest offers a plan for freelancers priced at
$12 per month. You can also try the service out for free.
Blinksale
Write a column or a blog that makes it necessary to bill a client
every month? Blink Sale (
http://www.blinksale.com/ ) allows you
to create a reoccurring invoice that will go out to your client
every month without you needing to even touch your computer. The
service also makes it easier for your clients to pay you: you can
include a PayPal link in your invoice that allows your client to
pay your invoice immediately. If you're working with editors or other
clients who prefer printed invoices, Blinksale can help you format
professional invoices quickly. Blinksale's pricing is based on the
number of invoices you need to send out each month. For six or
fewer invoices, the service is priced at $6. For $12, you can
send up to fifty invoices. No matter how many invoices you need
to send, though, you can try Harvest out for free.
Freshbooks
Freshbooks ( http://www.freshbooks.com )
takes steps to automate as
much of the invoicing process as possible. If you need to send out
printed invoices, for instance, the service can print and mail
your invoices for a small fee. If you work with another writer or
freelancer on a project, he or she can also submit invoices to you
through the application and you can automatically bill those
invoices to your client's account. Freshbooks' prices are set
based on the number of clients you have, although the site does
offer a free trial. The 'Shuttle Bus' plan allows you to manage
25 clients for $19 per month, while the 'Limousine' plan lets you
manage 100 clients for $29. Freshbooks' prices go up from there.
Choosing Your Invoicing Tool
Most online invoicing applications offer a free trial that makes
it easy to tell if you'll be comfortable using it in the long run.
You do want to double-check the security policies of any invoicing
tool you are considering using: Blinksale, Freshbooks and Harvest
all offer SSL encryption, which guarantees that your clients'
information is protected. Not all applications provide that kind
of protection, however.
Bio:
Thursday Bram writes about small business and personal finance
topics. Her ebook, "Market Your Freelance Writing in 31 Days,"
is available through Thursday's website,
ThursdayBram.com, where
she also blogs about the business side of freelance writing.
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