I am constently asked what tools are you using to run your business? Many times it is just a client trying to figure out if they should be paying what they are for the design or graphics work that we are doing. For those times that it someone that is looking to get into the business, or looking for a better solution to what they are using, I normally tell them it is a long complicated list of products and sites.
Well, in the effort of sharing, and growing the industry as a whole I am giving up the secrets to what I am using and why. Now many of these sites and products you are already going to know, but there might be a few that surprise you, or some that you have never known.
Ok, the list…..
Design Templates = WooThemes, Studiopress, iThemes, Elegant Themes, Wordprezzie, Gorilla Themes, Rocketthemes, Pure-joomla, Praisejoomla, psdtowordpress, psdtoxhtml, Flashden
Design Tools = Coda, Illustrator CS4, Fireworks CS4, Flash Proffesional CS4, Basecamp, Backpack, Highrise
Financial = Freshbooks, Outright, Paypal Pro, Google Checkout, HRBlock
Hosting = 6sync, Hostmonster
So if you are looking to start a online company, and want to keep it simple I suggest invoicing with Freshbooks, Taxes with outright, and using WordPress for your site. Then use Basecamp to keep track of your projects (integrates with freshbooks) and Highrise to keep track of your clients.
If you have any other suggestions of companies that I should consider because you have found them very helpful, please let me and the world know. Feel free to comment on what you use.
About David McDougal
