4 Top-rated CRMs for Freelancers and Solopreneurs in 2022
The COVID–19 pandemic shook the world and called all sorts of disruptions. We have seen a lot of change over the past couple of years in terms of how people travel, live, and work.
Until very recently, freelancing was not considered a stable career path due to the uncertainty of income. It was an unthinkable career alternative for many who depend on a regular paycheque to support their lives.
Things have started to change now as freelancing has garnered considerable interest, particularly from the younger generation. We do not expect this trend to slow down any time soon which is why it is important to explore some of the best CRM tools available for freelancers.
Whether you are just starting your freelance career or handling multiple projects, you should be aware of this easy-to-use and affordable CRM tools.
As a freelancer who is handling multiple projects, you will require tools that streamline your project management. Right from the date of delivery and other small details, a CRM can help freelancers progress in their careers.
Without a CRM to sort your projects, you will be confused and may find it difficult to process the volume of information at your fingertips.
When you use a CRM, you are delegating most of your work in the hand of these tools that will help you stay streamlined.
Without wasting your time, let’s take a look at some of the best CRM software for freelancers.
SEE ALSO: 7 Accounting Software Trends to Watch Out in 2022
1. Hello Bonsai
Hello Bonsai is loaded with a wide range of features that enable you to manage your clients, tasks, projects, track time, and also draft contracts. The tool is primarily designed to organize a freelancer or a solopreneur’s workload.
The CRM has a simple and intuitive dashboard that gathers important information and presents it in the form of easy-to-navigate menus.
The dashboard allows you to manage your projects, clients, and track expenses, and your time to help you determine how much time you have spent on a particular task or a project.
Bonsai offers a free plan which is a dream for any freelancer or solopreneur. However, the free version has a limited number of features.
One of the drawbacks of the free version is that it allows users to work only on one project at a time, and up to three projects a year.
Clearly, this is not ideal for a freelancer who is very busy and handles multiple projects at once. However, the free plan is a good way to get acquainted to the platform by using the different features.
2. Betterlance
Betterlance adds new leads to your list each month. The tool utilizes different prospecting tools to find new leads based on the criteria of clients who may be interested in your services.
At the end of the day, the core focus is on offering freelancers leads by adding them to the CRM tool automatically.
However, Betterlance only provides basic functionalities. It hosts a list of your contacts along with the leads the platform finds for you. Users also have the option to email those contacts, similar to a subscription service.
The best part about Betterlance is that it is completely free. Users can add contacts, email them, and also follow up with them automatically on a weekly basis.
However, if you want a list of the guaranteed list each month, you will have to pay for the business service plans.
3. HubSpot
HubSpot is one of the most popular CRM tools for all types of users. The most recent update allows you to use HubSpot as an extension of Gmail as well, even if the functionality is not as robust as that of Streak.
If we talk about functionality, it is easy compared to some other CRM tools. However, there is a bit of a learning curve as it could take some time to get used to the different features in the beginning.
For example, every item and box on the platform is clickable.
Although most of HubSpot’s users are established companies, there is something for freelancers as well. A freelancer can explore the free CRM tool as it comes with all the key features you need including email tracking, content management, meeting scheduling, and more.
4. Flowlu
Flowlu is an ideal CRM tool for freelancers who are looking to streamline their finances. The free version is packed with an impressive number of features.
Although there is a limit to hosting only 20 contacts, you can still use all features that deal with a series of client communications that could materialize into a potential deal.
Users can create an unlimited number of projects and invoices for each contact, which is an excellent way to deal with recurring vendors and clients.
The tool also helps you project expenses swiftly, comparing them to cost limits and project budget. All expenses can be assigned to your bank account or companies stored in your CRM.
However, the free version is limited to two bank accounts and only one organization.
Few of the relevant features that are available include personalized finance categories, finance dashboard, records management, expense tracking, and records management.
Wrapping it up!
A customer relationship management (CRM) tool offers tons of benefits. As a freelancer, you are constantly on the lookout for tools that can streamline your work.
Thanks to advancements in technology, there are multiple free CRM tools that are available today. These tools help freelancers forge strong relationships with their clients, streamline their work, and provide opportunities to earn more.
With so many CRM tools to choose from, selecting a tool can become a bit confusing. Choose a tool according to the nature and level of your job. Besides, analyze the pros and cons of every tool before you arrive at a decision.
Our platform is designed to help you choose the right tool for your business. You can go through our tool reviews, check out the different features of each CRM tool, and decide whether it is a good fit for you.
SEE ALSO: Deep Dive into the Present and Future Project Management Trends
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Image 1 Source: HubSpot
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