If you’re an online business owner or service provider and don’t have a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool yet – what are you waiting for? 

Implementing a CRM tool is one of the 3 Key Systems I recommend having in place as you build the foundation for systems that will allow you to finally scale your business. Here’s why:

Why You need a CRM platform as an Online Biz Owner in 2023:

CRM platforms offer these key features, all in one tool:

• Set up workflows
• Automate invoices + contracts
• Book + schedule calls (automated, of course)
• Automate emails for payment and call reminders
• Track your income and leads

Are you ready to learn which CRM tool will best support you & your biz so you can grow faster and onboard more clients with ease?

If you’re thinking, ‘do I really need another tool?!’

The answer is YES! If you’re currently managing and communicating back and forth with clients through your email inbox. It’s time to set up a tool that compliments the 6-figure business owner you are or plans to have. 

CRM tools create a more professional, polished experience for your clients, which in turn, will generate more referrals and new clients with you in the long run, supporting the sustainability of your business. In short, it makes implementing one of these tools a no-brainer…

Now the question is, which one will work for you?

Getting the systems in place now makes it much easier to serve more clients, hire team members and take your income to the next level– All because you are spending way less time on tasks you can automate!

So let’s get into it. 

In this post, I’m comparing two of the main CRM tools out there that offer similar capabilities to gain back your valuable time and make your processes with clients more seamless.

And while these aren’t the only two options for CRM systems, they’re two of the best options out there right now for online businesses. 

Dubsado’s Best Features

Dubsado is super customizable compared to Honeybook. While it takes a little longer to set up, there are so many cool features and other tools you can integrate.

What Makes Dubsado Stand Out

• Dubsado offers advanced workflows and supports more automation.
• It integrates with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Zapier, Zero, and Quickbooks.
• Dubsado has no additional fees other than standard ACH rates and credit card processing fees
• It’s fully customizable, which is a real selling point for designers and service providers

The biggest downside to Dubsado:

It feels like a lot of pieces that you have to put together, which can involve a lot of your valuable time invested in learning how to properly use it.

It’s a great tool for service providers if you have the time to set it up or the money to hire someone to set it up for you.

Dubsado has everything you need, but the scheduling feature could be more advanced. If it had a scheduler that was more designed for coaches with text reminders, then it would definitely be top-notch, but you can also use another tool like Calendly alongside it.

Personally, for my business, I use Dubsado because I have a lot of experience setting it up for clients- but that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect tool for you. So, let’s explore some of Honeybook’s top features.

Honeybook’s Best Features

Honeybook is SO intuitive – especially if you’re new to using tech in your business; Honeybook might be an easier place to start (so that you will actually use it!).

If you’re a coach or service provider with a super simple onboarding process, this tool will fit your needs.  However, it’s worth noting that it’s not entirely as customizable as Dubsado.

What Makes Honeybook Stand Out:

• It’s beginner-friendly, perfect for those just starting out, and generally simple to set up.
• It has an App to support online biz owners on-the-go
• It’s excellent for managing multiple projects or gigs at one time: bulk emails 
• It integrates with Calendly, Quickbooks, Zapier, Gmail & Google Calendar.

Cons of Honeybook:

• There are fewer options for automations in your workflow
• It’s more limited in customization than Dubsado

What Dubsado & Honeybook Have in Common:

Learning curve: Building out each platform has a bit of a learning curve- just like any new platform or tool! Both Dubsado and Honeybook offer helpful training and tutorials on how to get set up for success. 

Contracts: Both systems offer contract templates that you can customize to simplify your client onboarding process.

Packages: With either tool, you have the ability to create custom packages for your clients.

Emails: Both tools are pretty similar, with the ability to send emails, including templates and scheduling options. Honeybook also has a helpful Chrome extension for G-suite users.

Managing Leads: Both have a lead capture form that allows you to collect contact information from prospective clients, embed it on your contact pages, and add leads to projects– which allows you to track your main client lead sources. However, Dubsado’s lead tracking needs to be customized manually.

Invoicing, Payments & Accounting:  Both systems integrate with Stripe, Paypal, and Quickbooks and offer templates for invoices. Both platforms allow for using multiple currencies and the option for clients to add gratuity.

Customer Support: Both tools have great customer service and Facebook communities you can join for additional support for all your questions.

The Main Differences:

Customization

While Dubsado is fully customizable from branding to custom URL, Honeybook is more limited here, while it does offer some brand customization. Additionally, with Dubsado you can manage multiple brands.

However, Honeybook offers more of a done-for-you, all-in-one CRM platform for getting started without needing the knowledge required to fully set up Dubsado yourself.

Dubsado offers a free trial for three clients, without a time limit, while Honeybook has a 7-day trial.

Invoicing

Honeybook’s invoicing allows for more customization with invoicing, including adding photos to products and distinguishing products and packages, versus Dubsado’s packages, which are all pretty similar in appearance.

Workflows

While both platforms have a workflow feature, Dubsado is superior in creating advanced, customized workflows: it allows for status updates on projects, pauses in actions within a workflow, if parts of the project end up having unexpected delays, or if the client request revisions, etc.

So, Which CRM is right for you? Dubsado or Honeybook?

As the CEO of your business and your life, you make the final decisions. You know what’s best for you, intuitively. You know whether you want to spend the time learning and customizing a tool yourself or if you’d benefit more from hiring someone and delegating this task.

You probably already know whether you want a beginner-friendly and simplified tool or a tool that offers the most advanced customizations and integrations with other apps. 

But, If you’re still unsure which tool is best for you: Don’t worry!

I promise it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and once you get used to it – you’ll find so much more flow and ease in running your business. You’ll be amazed at the amount of time you’ll gain back to work in the areas of your business you love the most.

Are you ready to get started with Systems to support your Success in 2023?

Get started on your business goals today with my Free Systems Masterclass. 

Watch this free, mini-masterclass that will walk you through the three main areas of setting up systems for yourself, your clients, and building your team!

If you’re ready to take the next step in getting your systems in place this year, I’m here for you.

Check out my Systems Starter Store, where I have walkthroughs and templates for Dubsado and Honeybook that will help you ditch the tech overwhelm and set up your tool of choice with ease! 

Just to clear the air, some the links in this post may be affiliate links. I promise to only recommend tools I love and use regularly with clients… and I also love earning a bit of a kickback from it.