The Business of Design

Design is fun. It makes your heart skip a beat in a way your significant other will never understand. Design makes you fall in love again and again, even if the trend is the same one from years before (Coral spring dresses anyone?).

The business of design is not fun. It's boring. It makes my eyes water as I stare at an excel spreadsheet trying to make sense of numbers as they merge. I find myself questioning why I have to crunch numbers instead of making beautifully designed posters?

So far I've only found one tool to help me through the mess and am actively seeking more. As a slightly starving artist, of course it has to be free.

Does anyone have any suggestions on managing a budding freelance business?