There are more than one billion freelancers all over the world, and almost 60 million people work from home. The pandemic has made people in every country realize that this industry is extremely important, and it is said that the number of freelancers is expected to grow in the next few years. The country with the most self-employed people right now is the United States, and in second and third place are the United Kingdom and Brazil, respectively. This industry is worth more than one trillion dollars, and this number is rising by the day.

As we all know, it is a huge industry, with really height competition, no matter if you are a client, or a person looking for a job. One of the best things about this industry is that the advancement of technology is helping both freelancers and clients, and we are free to utilize different tools to make our projects easier. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the benefits of invoicing and accounting software that can help self-employed people keep track of their earnings, and easily connect with their clients and get their paychecks regularly.

Source: Ming Movers Pte Ltd

1. Quicker payment

The number one benefit of online invoicing software is that you are going to get paid faster. We all know how important timely payments are, and when you are a freelancer, you can never be too sure if you are going to have a job next month, week, or even tomorrow.

Some clients are responsible and they will send you the payment on the agreed date, but others may not have the needed information so they can release the payment. When you utilize these tools, you will be able to send an invoice a few days before the client needs to release the payment, and with that remind them. This will lead to faster payments, and you won’t have to worry if the client forgot to pay you for the finished work.

2. Decreased mistakes

When working as a freelancer, you cannot allow yourself to make mistakes, especially when it comes to payment. If you are working on several projects at the same time, you can easily lose track of the things you are doing, and you can send the wrong invoice to your client. This could lead to misunderstandings and you may even get fired.

If you make a mistake with even one digit, you risk looking like a person who is trying to trick the employer and get more money, or you may get less money than you are supposed to. The accounting software can help you keep track of all the projects, tasks, and ultimately, all the money that the client needs to pay you. It will decrease and even eliminate errors, and you will know you will get the exact sum you need.

Source: PlanMill

3. Automated payments

Automated payments are one of the biggest benefits that come from this type of software, and you won’t need to worry if the client is going to release your monthly payment on time. Know that not all clients are used to automated payment, so when you start working with them, you may need to use the more traditional online invoice options.

According to Billdu, with the right software, you can easily choose the right templates for you, create and save new templates, keep track of your finances, and you can even pick the logo, format, and the color of the invoice. With these tools, you will ensure there is no misunderstanding with your clients, and you can easily send them the bill automatically, and later on, get paid as soon as you send the monthly or weekly bill.

4. Professional look

When there are millions of people working in the same industry you are in, no matter if it is programming, graphic design, or content creation, you need to show that you are professional and reliable.

Choosing to go with online invoices will show your clients that you are a well-rounded professional who does not leave things to chances. You will explain to your clients that you are a reliable person and that they should continue their collaboration with you. You will show that you are organized, that you pay attention to details, and that you value their time, as well as yours.

Source: Accace

5. Improved relationships

The last thing we are going to talk about is your relationship with your clients and customers. No matter if you are working as an individual, or if you have an agency or a business, you need to get things done promptly and correctly.

Making your clients wait for you to get all things in order, and sending a chaotic invoice that is missing pretty much everything will show them that you are not the type of person they are looking for. When you choose accounting software, you will be able to get things done faster, you will decrease any errors, and you will show that you are a person they can rely on.

This will greatly improve the relationships you have with your customers, and they will be more likely to choose you for long-term projects or contact you whenever they need to get something done. With the right software, both you and your clients will be able to see which bills have been paid for, which ones are due, and which are overdue. This will decrease any confusion, and everyone will be able to access the data with ease. In addition, you will be able to send them a reminder if a bill is overdue, without having to contact them in any other way.

These are some of the benefits that come with online invoicing and accounting software, and it will make your life and your job easier. You can focus on more important tasks, and most of the things will be done automatically. You will show your clients that you have your business and your projects under complete control, that you are a transparent person who is efficient and communicative, and you will show a professional appearance that is going to boost your overall potential.

Nowadays there are a lot of different tools that can help you out with this, so make sure you know what you are looking for before you settle for one platform and software. Take your time exploring, check if they are offering all the features you need, and know that trial versions are always an option. You will be happy that you made this decision, and you will increase your profits and the number of clients you have just by introducing online invoicing in your work.