When you’re working on your own as a solopreneur, having the right tools is more important than ever.

By Justin Shelby

Becoming a successful solopreneur doesn’t have to be difficult. You can find a ton of tools on the market today that you can use to ensure your business runs easily and efficiently. These seven tools will not only stop you from procrastinating, but they will make managing your business even easier.

#1| Rescue Time

Being your own boss can be tough, especially when you realize no one’s going to tell you to get off Facebook and actually get some work done.

Rescue Time allows you to set time limits on particularly distracting websites and even block them, so you’ve got no choice but to focus. It runs securely in the background on your computer and mobile devices, keeping track of everything you do. Detailed reports are then generated so you can actually see where the majority of your time is being spent.

#2| Google Drive

Working together on one document is annoying when you have to keep sending the updated file back and forth.

With Google Drive you can let others view, download and edit your files. You can even see this happen in real-time, making it easy for you to collaborate with others and save time too. Any file format can be saved and you can access your files from anywhere – as long as you have an Internet connection.

#3| Mention

It can be difficult to determine how prominent your presence is online, especially when you relate this to your competitors.

Mention allows you to monitor every time you’re viewed on the web in real-time. You can place the results against that of your competitors to determine your weakest areas and even locate influencers in your industry and reach out to them to boost your online presence.

#4| 17Hats

Are you sick of having to flick between multiple applications to manage your business successfully? 17Hats is the answer. As an all-in-one business management tool it contains a whole range of features. All designed to make running your business that little bit easier. From managing invoices and contracts to creating lead generation forms and work templates. You won’t have to look anywhere else for a better all-round tool.

#5| FreshBooks

Keeping track of your finances in daily life can be stressful enough, but when you add a business to the mix life just gets that little bit harder.

FreshBooks allows you to automate all those time-consuming tasks, including organizing your expenses and invoicing clients. And the best part: it lives in the cloud, so you can access it whenever you want, on any device – all you need is an internet connection.

#6| IFTTT

Automation is the next step for any solopreneur, especially when you have to take time out of your day to complete repetitive tasks.

IFTTT (If This Then That) lets you integrate multiple technology tools in the form of ‘recipes’. This essentially means that you can schedule tasks to occur that involve more than one app. By automating these tasks you save time and effort, allowing you to focus on what’s important and remain productive.

#7| Artichoke

Keeping track of client appointments is an important part of being a successful solopreneur, and the most important part for service businesses.

Artichoke is the perfect tool for appointment scheduling. It works from any device, and it’s the first mobile appointment-based tool that allows freelancers to set up and run their business in minutes. There’s a handy appointment reminder function too, so you’ll never miss a meeting again.

These seven tools are perfect for managing every aspect of your solopreneur business, cutting the stress out completely. This means you can easily create the lifestyle you want and actually spend time enjoying it. You’ll also appear more professional and successful in the eyes of your competitors. Becoming a successful solopreneur has never been so easy.

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Justin Shelby has held leadership positions in Fortune 500, growth stage, and startup companies, having launched over 100 products in 16 countries. Prior to founding Artichoke, Justin founded 3 businesses, including 2 subscription-based operating ones.

Learn more at getartichoke.com or write to Justin at info@getartichoke.com.