As a creative and freelancer, I’ve tried A LOT of different online tools for tracking client projects, invoicing and scheduling. A while ago, I switched from Dubsado to HoneyBook because, after testing it out, it felt more streamlined and easy to customize for my business. If you are considering using HoneyBook for your business or side hustle, here is my HoneyBook review:
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HoneyBook Pros
One of the things I like best about HoneyBook is that the backend is laid out in a very simple manner with tiles that are easy to view and navigate. When you log in, you see a dashboard that includes your upcoming projects, calendar, bookkeeping, tasks and reports. You can toggle just below to view more items if you wish.
When you click through to your projects, you can see a pipeline (with customizable phases) of where each of your current projects is in development. I’m a visual person, so seeing projects in this manner really helps me prioritize what I need to do next.
The lead capture form in HoneyBook is also very easy to create and customize with your brand fonts and colors. When you are ready to share the form, you can do so via a link or by embedding it on your website. You can also share links on your site and social media for your different appointment types within the scheduling tool.
Things I love about HoneyBook:
- Streamlined visual layout
- Pipeline view of projects in progress
- Easy to create and embed lead capture forms
- Scheduling is included
- Variety of templates for forms
HoneyBook Cons
In terms of this HoneyBook review and areas of their platform that might need more improvement, I would say it’s in regard to the projects areas where your clients are automatically invited via email. Your clients can see all of the files in your project, unless you mark them private– so if you want to keep them private, double check that you have marked them as such!
If you are really married to your scheduling tool or invoicing system or whatever else it is, it’s important to understand that when you sign up for an all-in-one system, some bells and whistles will be sacrificed for functionality. For example, if you are a diehard Calendly user, HoneyBook is not going to have all of the features that you are used to– it will be a simplified scheduling too. That being said, if you are willing to sacrifice some of those bells and whistles for streamlined functionality, HoneyBook is a great option for you.
Areas where HoneyBook could improve:
- More customization options in forms and templates, rather than simply swapping out photos.
- Differentiating client and customer view of projects so certain documents you want to keep private remain so without you marking them as such.
- An tier in the pricing plan between the $9/month Starter Plan and the $39/month Monthly Package.
HoneyBook Overall Impressions
Having used Dubsado for several years, I can say that I’m happier after switching to HoneyBook and it’s made my projects and systems easier for me to visualize and implement, which equals more success in the systems department. I really like that the scheduling tool is user-friendly and seems to work better than the one that was recently added to Dubsado.
Another feature that I enjoy is that payments are processed by HoneyBook and automatically deposited into my account, minus the fees. Rather than using a third party processor like Stripe, the bookkeeping is a lot easier if you are currently using Quickbooks online (I’m pretty sure my bookkeeper is happy about that!).
20% Discount on HoneyBook When You Use this Link to Sign Up
I hope you found this HoneyBook review helpful and if you are ready to sign up for your free trial of HoneyBook you can use this link for the free trial and to get 20% off your first year if you choose a paid plan. Plans start at $9/month for the StarterPlan and go up to $39/month. If you pay annual for the $39/month plan, you’ll pay $390, so it’s like getting 2 months free!
You may also enjoy checking out some of my other favorite blogging and social media tools!
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