1Free Google Apps

If you are starting out with a freelancing business and you are not sure what you will need, take advantage of Google management applications instead of spending money on things you are not sure you will need. If you have a free Google account you can add the Google applications as you need them and as your business grows.

You have complete access to Google Docs which includes spreadsheets and presentations and if you want to go mobile there is a way to collaborate on Google docs regardless of your location. You can also use Google calendar to keep track of your work and Blogger to help you promote yourself. If you investigate at www.google.com/intl/en/options/ there is a host of other free applications you can use to manage and promote your online business.

2Freelance Switch

If you haven’t already discovered this resource you can check it out at www.freelanceswitch.com. This is a really great resource for freelancers which offers plenty of advice and resources, directory and job board, and forum where you can network in a community of freelancers around the globe.

3Fax Zero

Forget about the fax machine which is now becoming a dinosaur and instead send your faxes online. Some clients will require you to fax documents and there is no need to go out and buy a fax machine that is going to create more dust and maintenance in your office. Fax Zero allows you to fax documents to companies who require a hard copy of the documents you sign.

4MailChimp

If you keep in touch with your clients through regular newsletter mailings or you are just getting started building an opt-in list, MailChimp is a real time saver for freelancers who need to get the message out without having to spend a lot of time. You can opt for a free subscription or if you have a large subscriber list, you can expand your service for a very reasonable monthly fee. MailChimp also allows you to split test your mailings and monitor the number of emails that are being opened.

5Creative Commons

This resource is a non-profit organization which provides a way for freelancers to grant copyright permissions for creative work. You can allow others to share your work with “some rights reserved” instead of “all rights reserved.” You can keep the copyright on your work while allowing your work to be used for certain purposes.

6Zoho

Zoho works like Google Apps except that it offers more applications than Google for business management. Some of the tools include a database creator, online organizer, online forms, apps for small businesses, and Web conferencing. The pricing is very reasonable and starts as low as $12 per month and then there are other charges for meetings and discussions as well as a variety of other tools that are available.

7You Send It

If you are a graphic designer or you simply have files that are large there is no need to worry about whether or not your client will be able to download it. You can use You Send It at www.yousendit.com to forward files as large as 2GB in size and the file is sent to your client in accordance with security compliance so it is click-safe.

8Go To Meeting

This is a great resource for collaborating with small groups and presenting online demonstrations. Depending upon the package you choose you can have up to 1000 attendees or a small group of 15-25 attendees. If you are a freelance consultant this is a great tool for reaching your audience in an effective way and the service will help you with pre-meeting arrangements and post-meeting follow up.

9My New Company.com

If you are just starting a new freelancing business My New Company removes all the complexities and expenses of forming an LLC or incorporating. Instead of getting lost in a bunch of forms which do not tell you where to begin, My New Company will walk you through the process and then guide you after you have formed your company. This resource is specifically designed for small business and has a reliable track record for helping new business owners.

10Protolize.org

For freelance Web designers and developers, Protolize.org is a great resource to contribute tools that you have found useful. The site only lists the tools which have received positive reviews and are considered to be the most useful. If you want to keep up on the latest development tools, this site will provide you with recommendations for tools which are the highest quality.