HoneyBook Review: The Ultimate CRM for Service Professionals

If you're a service professional — whether you're a web designer, photographer, social media manager, copywriter, or coach — and you are looking into client relationship management (CRM) tool, or looking to learn more about HoneyBook, specifically, you’ve come to the right place. You know that running a business comes with a lot of moving parts. From contracts and proposals to invoicing and client communications, staying organized can feel like a full-time job in itself. This is where HoneyBook comes in.

As an entrepreneur working primarily online with clients around the world, I was on the hunt for a CRM tool that would meet all my needs. I wanted a solution that would help me deliver the best possible customer experience without breaking the bank. My ideal CRM would streamline and automate processes across the entire client journey—from prospecting and sales to onboarding, project management, and offboarding. I needed a platform that allowed clients to easily complete onboarding, sign contracts electronically, receive and submit invoices and intake forms, access a client portal to share and upload content, and, importantly, customize the process to reflect my brand. After exploring several options, I found that HoneyBook checked every box on my list. Since using HoneyBook in 2020, I can confidently say that I LOVE it and highly recommend it to any service professional looking to simplify their workflow.

HoneyBook is an all-in-one platform designed to help service-based professionals manage their business more efficiently. It offers a suite of features that can save you time, reduce administrative stress, and help you provide an exceptional experience to your clients. If you’ve been searching for a tool to help you stay organized and automate your workflow, HoneyBook could be the solution you've been waiting for.

What is HoneyBook?

HoneyBook is a business management platform designed specifically for service professionals. It’s perfect for businesses that rely on contracts, proposals, invoices, and client management. It combines multiple essential tools into one streamlined platform, helping you reduce the need for scattered apps and systems. With HoneyBook, you can manage client relationships, automate tasks, and customize your services — all in one place.

Key Features of HoneyBook

1. Client Relationship Management (CRM)

As a service provider, staying on top of client communication is crucial. HoneyBook’s CRM allows you to easily track client interactions, conversations, and project details. You’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips, making it easier to nurture relationships and provide a high-quality experience. Personally, I love the convenience of using HoneyBook’s mobile app. It is super user-friendly, however, not all features are available on the app. Some actions will need to be made using the desktop version, which you will find with most CRM’s.

2. Inquiry Forms for Prospects

HoneyBook makes it simple to create customized intake forms for prospects. These forms allow you to collect key information from potential clients right from the start — whether it’s project details, goals, or preferences. What I love about HoneyBook’s inquiry forms is that I can ask all of the questions I need for the discovery call with the prospect.

With HoneyBook’s intuitive form builder, you can create fully branded intake forms that reflect your business’s look and feel. These forms are easy to share via email or a link, and can even be embedded directly into your website. Once submitted, the forms automatically sync with the client’s project, so all their information is stored in one convenient location. The intake forms can also be set-up to redirect to my scheduler so prospects can book their own discovery calls. I have had several prospects complete the intake forms and book on my calendar, all on their own, so I know it is very user-friendly.

By streamlining the intake process, you ensure that you have all the necessary details to kick off projects efficiently, while creating a seamless and professional experience for your prospects.

3. Scheduler for Discovery Calls and Client Calls

As mentioned above, clients can book on your calendar, using HoneyBook’s scheduler feature. The calendar allows you to schedule and track appointments, meetings, and important deadlines with ease. You can sync your calendar with your Google or Outlook accounts, ensuring all your events are in one place.

For client-facing activities, you can offer a direct booking link, allowing clients to schedule appointments based on your availability. This reduces back-and-forth emails and makes the booking process smoother for both you and your clients. Whether you’re booking consultations, project meetings, or follow-up calls, HoneyBook’s calendar ensures you stay organized and on top of your commitments, helping you maximize productivity and minimize scheduling conflicts.

4. Contracts and Proposals

With HoneyBook, you can create professional, contracts and proposals with ease. The platform offers customizable templates, so you can quickly send them to clients for e-signatures. No more hunting through emails for the latest version of a contract — everything is stored in your client portal for easy access.

5. Invoices and Payments

HoneyBook takes the headache out of invoicing and payment collection. You can send beautifully designed invoices that are fully integrated with the platform. Plus, HoneyBook supports online payments, meaning your clients can pay quickly and securely through the platform. You’ll get notifications when payments are made, keeping your cash flow in check.

My favorite way to get paid with HoneyBook is the Instant Deposit option. For an additional 1% fee (minimum of $5), HoneyBook will pay you with a same-day deposit. For me it always happened pretty much instantly. In my opinion it was absolutely worth the added fee to have my money deposited the same day. When I started with HoneyBook in 2020, the feature was not available right away for new accounts, but it did not take long before my account was eligible. I am not sure if there is still a waiting period, as of the publishing this article.

Pro Tip: You might want to turn off the option for your client’s to pay via bank draft. I learned the hard way that if you have bank drafts enabled as an option for your client to pay, it took my bank 7 days to pay that out. HoneyBook notes that it can take 7-8 business days to payout. In all honesty, I do not know if it was because of HoneyBook’s or my bank’s policy but I was not happy to have to wait another 7-8 business days for payment. Options can be set within the invoice under Payment Settings.

6. Project Management

Stay on top of your projects with HoneyBook’s intuitive project management tools. From timelines and tasks to project notes, everything you need to manage your client work is neatly organized in one place. You can assign tasks, set reminders, and even collaborate with team members, ensuring that deadlines are met and expectations are exceeded. I love being able to add notes that only I can see, regarding my client’s project. It is very helpful.

7. Client Portal

Providing a seamless experience for your clients is essential. HoneyBook allows you to set up a custom client portal, where clients can view documents, track project progress, make payments, and communicate with you directly. This enhances the client experience and adds a personal, professional touch. You can easily send clients a link to your account’s portal. You can also add the login page for your portal to your website, making it easy for your clients to find. This not only improves accessibility but also showcases your professionalism and organization to both prospects and clients.

8. Automations

Save time by automating your business processes. HoneyBook allows you to set up workflows that automatically send emails, follow-ups, and reminders at the perfect time. Whether it’s a welcome email, a reminder for an upcoming meeting, or an invoice follow-up, you can automate the process to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

9. Branding Customization

As a brand and web designer, this is one of my favorite features of HoneyBook. I love to be able to control how my client experience is presented. Your brand is your business's identity, and HoneyBook lets you showcase it in every interaction. You can personalize contracts, proposals, invoices, and the client portal with your logo, colors, and fonts. This ensures that every piece of communication you send is in line with your brand’s look and feel. HoneyBook also has some gorgeous presets ready-to-customize templates, for anyone who struggles with design.

Why HoneyBook is a Must-Have for Service Professionals

1. Time-Saving

HoneyBook helps you streamline administrative tasks, freeing up time to focus on the aspects of your business that matter most. Instead of switching between multiple apps to handle contracts, invoicing, and client communication, you can do everything from one centralized platform.

2. Professional Image

With HoneyBook’s customizable templates and branding options, you can present your business in the best light possible. Clients will appreciate the professional, polished look of your contracts, proposals, and invoices. Plus, the seamless client portal creates a premium experience that can set you apart from the competition.

3. Improved Organization

Running a service business often means managing multiple clients and projects at once. HoneyBook helps you stay organized by tracking every client interaction and keeping everything in one place. You can easily see project timelines, tasks, and communications, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

4. Automation for Efficiency

Setting up workflows and automations means you don’t have to manually follow up with clients or send repetitive emails. Automation allows you to handle the busywork efficiently, so you can focus on growing your business.

5. Flexibility for Various Professionals

Whether you're a photographer, fitness coach, or web designer, HoneyBook can be customized to suit your needs. It’s a versatile platform that supports a wide range of service-based businesses, making it a great option for professionals in many industries.

Who is HoneyBook ideal for?

HoneyBook is ideal for any service provider who uses contracts, proposals, invoicing, or project management in their business. If you’re a web designer, photographer, online coach, or any other type of professional offering services, HoneyBook can help you run your business more smoothly. Here are some examples of service professionals who could benefit from HoneyBook:

• Web Designers and Developers: Manage client projects, contracts, and proposals from one platform. Create a seamless client experience and automate your workflows.

• Brand Designers: Keep track of design projects, share client deliverables, and send branded invoices, all from a single platform.

• Photographers: Organize shoots, manage contracts and payments, and offer a client portal to share galleries and albums.

• Online Coaches and Consultants: Track client progress, send personalized contracts and proposals, and schedule appointments all in one place.

• Social Media Managers and Copywriters: Automate client communications, manage multiple projects, and send professional proposals and invoices with ease.

HoneyBook has been a game-changer for me, as a service provider and my clients appreciate the ease of use. HoneyBook is a great CRM for any service provider looking to streamline their business operations. Whether you need a CRM, project management tool, or a way to automate contracts and invoices, HoneyBook has you covered. By implementing this platform into your workflow, you can save time, stay organized, and present a more professional image to your clients. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, HoneyBook could be the perfect tool to help you do just that.

Ready to experience the benefits of HoneyBook? Click here to get 30% off of HoneyBook, the all-in-one powerful CRM that will transform the way you run your service business!

Disclaimer:

Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I truly believe in and have used personally. Thank you for supporting my work!