If you run a creative business—photography, design, events, coaching, you name it—you probably didn’t sign up for endless admin work. But keeping projects moving, clients happy, and your invoices paid is half the job. There are a ton of tools promising to “streamline your workflow,” but many just add more noise. If you’re evaluating platforms, here’s a clear-eyed look at what Honeybook actually does to make client management less of a headache, and where it might fall short.
The Basics: What Honeybook Is (and Isn’t)
At its core, Honeybook is an all-in-one client management platform built with creative freelancers and small businesses in mind. It combines proposals, contracts, invoices, payments, project tracking, and communication—all in one dashboard.
Here’s the straight talk: Honeybook won’t magically find you clients or do the creative work for you. But if you’re drowning in emails, struggling to keep track of who owes you what, or losing contracts in your inbox, it can absolutely help. Let’s dig into the key features that actually move the needle for creative entrepreneurs.
1. Project Pipeline: Get a Bird’s-Eye View
The “pipeline” is where you’ll probably spend most of your time. Every inquiry, booked project, and ongoing gig lives here. Think of it as a visual to-do list for your entire business.
What works:
- Drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to see where each client is in your process (inquiry, proposal sent, contract signed, payment received, etc.).
- You can customize stages to match how you work (no rigid templates).
- Clicking into a project gives you everything: emails, files, invoices, all in one spot.
What doesn’t:
- If you’re juggling a lot of projects (think: agency-level), the pipeline can get cluttered fast.
- There’s no Kanban-style “work board” for detailed task management. It’s for tracking client status, not every subtask.
Pro tip:
Keep your pipeline stages simple—too many, and you’ll waste time dragging things around instead of getting paid.
2. Templates: Save Time, Avoid Typos
Honeybook’s template feature covers proposals, contracts, invoices, emails, and even questionnaires. Set these up once, then tweak as needed for each client.
What works:
- No more copying and pasting from Google Docs or searching old emails for that one “perfect” proposal.
- Built-in e-signatures and smart fields pull in client names, event dates, and more automatically.
- You can share templates with team members, so everyone’s on the same page.
What doesn’t:
- The template editor is a bit basic—don’t expect fancy layouts or deep customization like you’d get in InDesign or Canva.
- Formatting can look “off” if you copy-paste from other platforms. Double-check before sending.
Pro tip:
Spend an afternoon creating your core templates. Even basic ones will save you hours in the long run.
3. All-in-One Communication: No More Lost Emails
Keeping track of every client email, contract change, or “quick question” gets messy fast. Honeybook centralizes all messages inside each project—no more digging through your inbox.
What works:
- Every conversation is tied to the project, so you can see the full history at a glance.
- You can send emails directly from Honeybook, and replies come back into the project thread.
- Automated reminders for clients to sign contracts or pay invoices (one less awkward follow-up for you).
What doesn’t:
- If you’re used to Gmail or Outlook, Honeybook’s messaging can feel clunky. Formatting options are limited.
- Attachments sometimes get lost if clients reply from their own email client outside Honeybook. Not a dealbreaker, just something to watch for.
Ignore:
- The in-app “chat” feature. Most clients still use regular email, and not everyone wants to log into a portal.
4. Proposals, Contracts, and Invoices: Get Paid Faster
This is where Honeybook really shines for most creatives. You can send a proposal, contract, and invoice as one seamless package. Clients review, sign, and pay—all in a couple of clicks.
What works:
- E-signatures are legally binding and dead simple for clients to use.
- Payment processing is built in. Clients can pay by card or bank transfer (ACH), and you get notified instantly.
- Partial payments and payment schedules are easy to set up—no more chasing deposits.
What doesn’t:
- Honeybook processes payments through Stripe (and takes a small cut), which is standard, but you’ll want to factor that into your pricing.
- If you need super-advanced invoicing (recurring retainer invoices, complex line items, tax calculations by region), you’ll hit some limits.
Pro tip:
Set up automatic payment reminders. It’s less awkward than chasing money, and clients usually appreciate the nudge.
5. Scheduling: Skip the Back-and-Forth
We all know the pain of “Are you free Thursday at 3?” emails. Honeybook’s built-in scheduler lets clients book time with you based on your real availability.
What works:
- Integrates with Google Calendar and Outlook, so you don’t double-book yourself.
- You can set buffer times, meeting lengths, and limits on how far in advance people can book.
- Works for both one-off calls (consultations, discovery calls) and ongoing appointments.
What doesn’t:
- It’s not as slick as dedicated schedulers like Calendly or Acuity—no group events, no payment with booking.
- Customizing availability for different types of meetings can get fiddly.
Ignore:
- The “add-on” scheduling features if you already use something else. Honeybook’s is fine, but not worth switching if you’re happy with your current tool.
6. Automations: Free Up Mental Space
Honeybook lets you automate repetitive stuff—sending a welcome email, reminding clients to sign, or following up after a project wraps.
What works:
- Set up simple workflows: When client signs, send invoice. When invoice is paid, send thank-you note. That kind of thing.
- You can trigger automations based on pipeline stage, date, or client action.
What doesn’t:
- Automation options are basic. If you’re hoping for full-blown “if this, then that” branching logic, you’ll be disappointed.
- No integration with outside automation tools like Zapier (as of early 2024), which is a missed opportunity.
Pro tip:
Start small. Automate your most repetitive task first, then build from there.
7. Client Portal: One Place for Everything
Honeybook offers a client portal where your clients can view proposals, sign contracts, pay invoices, and see project updates.
What works:
- Professional and branded (your logo, your domain).
- Clients get a single link to see everything related to their project.
- You can track when clients view files or sign documents.
What doesn’t:
- Not every client wants to log into another portal—some will just use email, and that’s fine.
- The portal isn’t super customizable—what you see is what you get.
Ignore:
- Fancy “engagement” features. Most clients just want to sign, pay, and move on.
8. Reporting and Bookkeeping: Keep It Simple
Honeybook tracks payments, outstanding invoices, and basic business stats.
What works:
- See at a glance what’s been paid, what’s overdue, and what’s coming up.
- Export data for your accountant or import into QuickBooks.
- Tax summaries and annual reports are handy at tax time.
What doesn’t:
- This isn’t a full bookkeeping tool. You’ll still want something like QuickBooks or Wave for serious accounting.
- No double-entry bookkeeping, inventory, or payroll features.
Pro tip:
Use Honeybook for what it’s good at—tracking client payments and revenue. Don’t try to force it to do your taxes.
A Few Things to Watch Out For
- Mobile app: Serviceable for checking messages and basic tasks, but you’ll probably want to do setup and heavy lifting on a laptop.
- Integrations: Limited compared to bigger platforms. There’s calendar sync and QuickBooks export, but not much else.
- Price: Not the cheapest, but if it saves you an hour a week, it often pays for itself. There’s a free trial—test before you commit.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Honeybook can be a real lifesaver for creative entrepreneurs who want to spend less time chasing signatures and more time doing what they love. But no system is magic. Start with the basics: set up your pipeline, get your templates in order, and automate one or two things that drive you nuts. Don’t overthink it. As your business grows, tweak your setup. The best workflow is the one you’ll actually use.
If you find yourself wrestling with the software more than working with clients, step back and simplify. Tools should serve you, not the other way around.