This list considers apps that help run your design business so you have more time to run your life. The first 2 use a pay model—the rest are free. Yes. Free. For less than $50 a month you can have all the apps you need to create a revenue-making, client-centered virtual office infrastructure, as well as an auto-populating online reader that organizes your online resources so you don’t have to.

1. BaseCamp. Wow your clients with a complete dashboard of effective project management tools that you can share on-demand.

2. Share File. Tired of big files clogging your email as you work with your clients? 30-day free trial will help off-set the somewhat cheap monthly costs. There’s a psuedo pay-per-use plan as well that’s $8/month and $0.02 per MB transferred fee.

3. Posterous. Hum….The simplest blog to create and use EVER. Really. Can I please have virtual lunch with the folks who created this? Genius. A blog that can be populated via email, that uploads ANY type of file, customizable and that embeds any widget. Stop paying fees or someone else to manage your blog. Cut your time in half by using Posterous as a tool to populate your current blogs, twitter, or anything else.

4. Twitter. If you’re not using Twitter to learn, mine, find, or connect, you’re not only missing a boat, you’re missing the Queen Mary II. Jump aboard!

5. Google Reader. Cut the time you spend up-skilling and mining your resources by using a reader. Very easy.

6. Linked In. It’s the new resume. Want jobs? What are you waiting for? They should change its name to Cash-In.

7. Creative Commons. Your work is brilliant—put a license on it. Tell folks how you’d like them to use your work through this service. Don’t forget to donate. Thank you team at Creative Commons.

8. Slideshare. Virtual visual visionary vittles. It’s the brain candy library and you can be a full-on card-carrying member.

9. Moodle. Want to hold online classes or want to share an option to a client that doesn’t have an LMS? Check out this overview.

10. Dimdim. Need to review your storyboard with SME’s that live around the world? Or around the country? Forget the high-costs of air-fare. Wow your clients with a complete package of virtual meeting accessibility. Why continue to pay for any other virtual meeting app?

* Disclosure: I’m not being paid by or invested in any of these companies (I wish I was.)