Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#31

Post by j21 » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:37 PM UTC

Agree with everyone saying to use something like Trello, Asana, Google Docs, etc.

Unless you need a "special" CRM feature, I think you can get by on using a generic tool that fits your workflow, and is simpler to get going with.

I'm building Notedock[0], it's really a general tool underneath all messaging on the homepage. I actually use it as a CRM, with a page for each contact (you can put all relevant details here, discussions, contact info, etc.)

If anyone's interested, send me an email and I can show how I get by with this "CRM".

[0] https://notedock.com

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#32

Post by mschuster91 » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:37 PM UTC

dmoo wrote: post #13

Try https://www.vtiger.com/open-source/ open source so you can install it on your own box or sign up to one of their plans.

Oh god no. Twenty steps to send out a newsletter and it STILL appears buggy on the clients (if it sends out at all).

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#33

Post by matttah » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:40 PM UTC

girvo wrote: post #30

Okay, so this is going to be a bit of a random one, but hear me out. I personally use Pancake[0]. It's a self-hosted, one-time-payment (but comes with updates) web application that will handle invoicing, CRM, time-tracking, and do it all with a really nice interface. Also, if you know PHP at all, it's quite fun to hack on, but of course a lot of people dislike PHP. Even if you don't do that, it's a brilliant web app…

Pretty cool app, never seen it before!

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#34

Post by marvin » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:45 PM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #26

keithwarren wrote: post #17

You are doing it wrong. I don't mean to be contrarian but if you want to be successful as a independent developer (I have been for almost 15 years now) and you are looking for a CRM you are off the rails. CRM systems are for the most part, for companies or sales individuals who need help managing the number of contacts they have at any given time and ensuring they follow a structured interaction pattern. I know about…

I'll go further and say that researching CRM's only feels like work. It isn't. Cold calling and chasing contracts and closing them and completing the contracted work is all that counts as actually working. Choosing and installing and learning a CRM is easier. That's why it doesn't count.

Perfect observation of real, honest-to-God procrastination. You are usually better served taking the time researching the CRM and slacking off. Or at the very least admitting that the CRM research is part of your time off, not your job.

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#35

Post by EC1 » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:53 PM UTC

soci wrote: post #11

In our company we use plain TXT files with an agreed formatting between the team mates. We have the plain TXT files stored in dropbox shared location. Easy, slick, cost 0, and accessible by search through OSX Spotlight. Also, we don't depend on third parties (we can move disconnect from dropbox at any time)

Could you post a template? That's a neat way of doing it.

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#36

Post by alexatkeplar » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:54 PM UTC

espeed wrote: post #18

See http://close.io by Elastic (YCW11)

Ouch, that's 6x more expensive for the Basic than Pipedrive, which we use and is awesome.

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#37

Post by ommunist » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 12:59 PM UTC

girvo wrote: post #30

Okay, so this is going to be a bit of a random one, but hear me out. I personally use Pancake[0]. It's a self-hosted, one-time-payment (but comes with updates) web application that will handle invoicing, CRM, time-tracking, and do it all with a really nice interface. Also, if you know PHP at all, it's quite fun to hack on, but of course a lot of people dislike PHP. Even if you don't do that, it's a brilliant web app…

Thank you for the link. This is a decent system for a simple small office.

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#38

Post by danvoell » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 1:00 PM UTC

ukoki wrote: post #23

Streak is a dead simple way for managing "things with workflows/pipelines". It lives in gmail so the overhead pretty low. http://www.streak.com/

+1. This is what I use as well. It is dead simple to use and free.

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#39

Post by Moru » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 1:00 PM UTC

andreash wrote: post #24

Google Spreadsheets Why? - Free - Collaborative - Supported by Google. Aka. will not close down in 6 months. - Customisable

You really sure about that 6 months term? Google does have a reputation of just shutting down stuff now and then, don't they? :-)

Re: Ask HN: Which CRM for a solo-freelancer in 2014?

#40

Post by davidctuck » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 1:03 PM UTC

gadders wrote: post #2

I always recommend Capsule CRM: http://capsulecrm.com/ You get a reasonably generous free allowance if you try it with Google Apps for your Domain.

Yeah completely agree. We're a very early stage startup w only very basic CRM needs at this stage. Capsule CRM has been great. Free up to 250 contacts (each person or company counts as one contact).