Step by step guide to setting up your first project in Clutch b2b software

So, you’ve picked Clutch to manage your B2B projects. Maybe you’ve tried spreadsheets. Maybe you’re just tired of endless email chains. Either way, you want to get a real project up and running without getting buried in features or sales fluff. This guide is for you: no-nonsense, practical steps for your first project in Clutch. If you’re hoping for magic, look elsewhere. If you want something that works, read on.

What You Actually Need to Get Started

Before you even log in, let’s clear something up: Clutch is designed for B2B teams juggling projects, clients, and deliverables. If you’re solo or have a tiny team, it can feel like overkill at first. But if you’ve got clients, tasks, and deadlines to wrangle, the structure will help.

Here’s what you’ll need on hand: - Your client’s basic info (company name, point of contact, email) - A rough idea of project scope (what are you delivering, and when?) - List of teammates who’ll need access - Optional: any files or assets you’ll want to attach (contracts, briefs, etc.)

That’s it. Don’t overthink it.

Step 1: Sign Up and Get Oriented

  1. Create an Account
  2. Go to Clutch and sign up. You’ll probably need your work email and a password.

  3. If your company already has an account, ask for an invite. Saves time.

  4. Set Up Your Profile

  5. Fill out your basic info. This isn’t just for vanity — clients will see it.
  6. Add a photo if you want, but don’t sweat it. Nobody’s hiring you for your headshot.

Pro tip: Skip the product tour if you’re in a hurry. You can always poke around later.

Step 2: Create a New Project

  1. Find the “New Project” Button

  2. Usually it’s in the sidebar or dashboard. If it’s hidden, Clutch’s search works decently.

  3. Enter Project Details

  4. Project Name: Make it clear and specific. “Acme Website Redesign” is better than “Client Project.”
  5. Client: Either select an existing client or add a new one. Don’t stress over tiny details; you can always edit later.
  6. Start and End Dates: Be honest. Padding deadlines helps nobody.

  7. Description: One or two sentences about what’s actually being delivered. Don’t write a novel.

  8. Assign a Project Owner

  9. Pick who’s responsible. If it’s you, own it. If it’s someone else, tag them so they get notified.

What works: Keeping descriptions short and assigning clear ownership right away.
What doesn’t: Getting bogged down in the “advanced settings.” Most of it can be set later.

Step 3: Invite Your Team

  1. Add Teammates

  2. Enter their emails. Decide if they’re admins or just collaborators. If you’re not sure, make them regular users — you can always promote them.

  3. Set Permissions

  4. Clutch lets you control who can see what. Honestly, for your first project, don’t fuss with granular permissions unless you’re dealing with sensitive info.

  5. Send Invites

  6. People get an email with a link. If someone says they didn’t get it, check their spam folder (still happens, even in 2024).

Pro tip: Don’t invite the whole company just because you can. Start with the folks who’ll actually do the work.

Step 4: Add Tasks (The Right Way)

  1. Create and Prioritize Tasks
  2. List out the actual work. Be specific: “Draft homepage copy” beats “Content.”

  3. Set due dates if you have them, but don’t make up dates just to fill boxes.

  4. Assign Owners

  5. Every task should have a name next to it. If it’s floating, it won’t get done.

  6. Group Tasks (Optional)

  7. Use sections or tags for phases or categories. Don’t get lost in color-coding.

  8. Attach Files or Links

  9. Drop in contracts, briefs, or relevant docs, but don’t treat Clutch as your primary file storage.

What works: Assigning one owner per task.
What doesn’t: Turning your task list into a dumping ground for “nice to haves” you’ll never do.

Step 5: Set Up Client Access (or Don’t)

  1. Decide If Clients Need Access
  2. Clutch lets you add clients to see progress, comment, or upload files.
  3. If your client likes micromanaging or giving feedback directly, this is handy.

  4. If you dread extra messages or “just checking in!” comments, you can keep clients on email updates instead.

  5. Control What Clients See

  6. Clutch lets you hide internal notes and certain tasks. Use this, especially if you don’t want clients seeing your sausage-making.

  7. Send the Invite

  8. Keep the intro simple: “Here’s a project dashboard where you can follow along.” Don’t overpromise.

Pro tip: Start with limited client access. You can open up more later, but it’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle.

Step 6: Set Up Status Updates and Notifications

  1. Choose How You Want Updates
  2. Clutch can send notifications for everything. Spoiler: most are annoying.

  3. Start with notifications for task assignments and project status changes. Turn off the rest.

  4. Set Up Automated Status Reports (Optional)

  5. If you want Clutch to email you (or your client) weekly summaries, set it up now. Or just send manual updates for now — sometimes automation adds noise.

  6. Customize Your Dashboard

  7. Pin your project so it’s easy to find.
  8. Hide widgets you don’t care about. Less clutter, less stress.

What works: Minimal notifications and a focused dashboard.
What doesn’t: Letting your inbox get spammed by every tiny update.

Step 7: Track Progress and Adapt

  1. Use the Kanban or List View

  2. Pick whichever view makes sense to your brain. Don’t let the software dictate your process.

  3. Update Tasks Regularly

  4. Mark things as “In Progress” or “Done.” Don’t let tasks go stale — it’s not just for looks.

  5. Flag Blockers

  6. Use comments or tags to call out anything stuck. If you’re waiting on a client, make it visible.

  7. Review and Adjust

  8. Weekly, check if tasks are moving. If not, ask why — don’t just hope things get better.

Pro tip: Don’t try to make your project plan perfect on day one. Adjust as you go.

Step 8: Wrap Up and Archive

  1. Mark the Project Complete

  2. When you’re done, mark it finished. This tells everyone it’s over — and stops the updates.

  3. Archive Old Tasks

  4. You can hide or archive tasks you don’t want cluttering things up. Out of sight, out of mind.

  5. Export What Matters

  6. If you need to save a record (for compliance or client handoff), download what you need now. Don’t assume you’ll remember later.

Honest Pros and Cons (What to Ignore)

  • What works: Clutch does a good job of keeping B2B projects organized and giving clients a window into progress — if you want that.
  • What doesn’t: Resist the urge to use every feature. You don’t need to automate your lunch breaks or set up a hundred project templates.
  • Ignore: Fancy analytics until you’ve run a few projects. Focus on getting work done, not looking busy.

Keep It Simple — And Iterate

You don’t need to master every corner of Clutch on day one. Set up your first project, get your team moving, and see what actually helps (and what just gets in the way). The best project management setups are the ones you’ll actually use, not the most complicated ones. Start simple, adapt as you go, and don’t be afraid to ignore features you’re not ready for. That’s how you get real work done.