Freelancers/ Self Employed

[LMW1990]

A bit of a boring one for a Friday night!

I'm currently self employed/ freelancing as an audio transcriber. It's going really well and I'm building up a solid client base.

Can anyone who is freelance recommend a program whereby I can invoice customers, keep a track over due invoices (and potentially send reminders), see a projection of earnings based on invoices etc.

I'm currently using a basic spreadsheet and separate invoice template but it would be great to have everything in one place and would really help me come tax return time!

TIA!

Xero or Sage Cloud

I use free agent but my partner swears by xero.

Wave Apps. It’s free! Used it for years

Xero (it's cheaper than Sage too)

Another vote for feeagent and xero. Try them, usually able to have one month for free

I use xero too. It’s good and easy to use.

Watching with interest!

Do these programmes depend on you 'ticking the box' once the customer has paid? (I'm assuming so, but then why is it better than just a word document, which is what I use at the moment?)

VT Cashbook - it looks clunky but works really well and is free

I too use FreeAgent. It works well for a Sole Trader.

I must have used a free month with all of them. I liked FreeAgent but kow othes who hate it.

Your best bet is to look at the government approved list and see which ones sound good then try them out, if they offer a free month.

www.gov.uk/guidance/software-for-sending-income-tax-updates

Sorry. I meant to add, I only do cash based accounting at the moment (easiest way to do your tax return if you are a Sole Trader) but wanted software just in case the rules change or I grew.

Do these programmes depend on you 'ticking the box' once the customer has paid? (I'm assuming so, but then why is it better than just a word document, which is what I use at the moment?) I used to use an Excel spreadsheet, worked very well for me fo a couple of years.

But then I got to a stage where reconciling paid invoices was too time consuming. Most of the Apps connect to your bank account and you confirm payments, they send thank you emails etc. It's quite an eye opener!

Sorry a totally cheeky question but I also do audio transcribing and just wondered how you found your client base? I work for a few of the sort of bigger transcribing companies but they don't pay very well so I just wondered! (Feel free to ignore me I realise I'm no help to you! )

Foxe I shall pm you in a moment!

freeagent is absolutely excellent for freelancers, which is who it was written for, and it also works out your taxes, including your self assessment return, which a lot of the others don't