Tech Tools for Entrepreneurs


PAPERLESS BILLING

There is nothing new about online accounting software, but some Web software services like Freshbooks.com provides paperless solutions through online invoicing to reduce the tedium of billing, time tracking, and expensing.

Pros: Freshbooks.com creates invoices based on time, expenses or fixed-cost services/ items and produces timesheets.

“The software is great for Web developers, graphic designers, and people that work on a lot of small projects,” Curtis says. “It [keeps project managers] on time and on budget because now everybody can work through one interface.”

Owners can file expense reports, send estimates, bill and re-bill clients without ever having to lick an envelope. Users can send customized invoices by email or by U.S. mail for $1.79 per invoice with first class business mail postage and return envelope included.

Cons: Some people may find Freshbooks inconvenient, since the user is bound to access his expense accounts and client billing exclusively online unless he purchases the download that backs up data locally.

Costs: The free version of Freshbooks allows one employee to manage three clients and send an unlimited number of invoices. Upgraded packages of the software range from $19 to $149 per month and provide increasing numbers of clients and employee access with each upgrade.

Other paperless billing software:

Quickbooks.com customers can start invoicing up to 20 customers for free.

GoToBilling.com offers paperless marketing, invoicing and billing software ranging from $99 to $449 for set up fees and from $29 to $129 for monthly charges.


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