So I'm starting out with freelancing now, and am kinda lost. I definitely don't want to use email to communicate with clients.<p>I tried looking for a lot of options, but couldn't find any that would fit my needs. What I need is this:<p>- Adding projects (duh)
- Adding client(s) to projects
- Invoicing and payment (optional, can use another solution)
- Milestones (I like to break my projects into smaller chunks)
- Milestone reviews. (Client should be able to leave reviews on milestones before we sign them off)
- Discussion with client (So we can share files, brainstorm etc)<p>It's just me so teams' features aren't required.<p>Any suggestions?
In my experience, you can't dictate the use of project management tools to a customer. If your customer likes email, that's what you're going to use.<p>I've tried Basecamp with limited success. But that's just my clients. Maybe your situation is different.<p>(Also, Basecamp gets astonishingly cluttered and hard to navigate when you get slightly busy. I have a group of 10 people creating a nonprofit organization from ground zero -- including legal work, website, etc. -- and it's pure shit to try to find stuff in Basecamp. Highly NON-recommended. So beware the curse of success in persuading people to use a tool like Basecamp.)<p>This means that you need to keep yourself highly organized in order to remain sane. For me, I am a happy IQTELL user. <a href="http://www.iqtell.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.iqtell.com</a><p>But you might find something else that you like.<p>See, the problem isn't the tool you use. It's you and your brain. Get that right and everything will be fine.<p>A piece of paper with a list of stuff on it is fine. Right now I have a list of 9 things on a piece of paper. If I'm not working on one of those, I'm off course.<p>The usual disclaimers: David Allen is God, etc. etc.<p>But seriously. Keep it simple. I would say get a Moleskine and a pen, but I lost my paper organizer in a cab in Riyadh and that kinda sucked the farts out of dead seagulls. So now it's all in the cloud and in my phone, courtesy of IQTELL.