Please note: Affiliate links are used throughout this article, but I use (and love!) HoneyBook myself. And, if you sign up through my link, you'll get 20% off your HoneyBook subscription AND we’ll give you a $50 gift card to The Contract Shop® if you forward us your receipt.

As a creative business owner, you’re used to wearing all the hats. Most days you’re the CEO, some days you’re the accountant, and some days you’re the IT whiz. You get the idea.

To make things even more complicated, it feels like there’s a different tool to go with each of these hats. You need one software to handle all your inquiries, something else for your meetings, another tool for your invoices… I could go on and on.

The day I discovered that I didn’t need a gazillion tools just to get all my work done was basically Christmas morning. That’s the beauty of a CRM, aka a “customer relationship management” tool. It’s like bringing all those hats into a nice, neatly organized closet.

A lot of creative entrepreneurs preach Dubsado but — spoiler alert — I’m not one of them. There are plenty of great programs out there, but I’ve personally found a lifelong CRM BFF in  HoneyBook. Here’s why.
 

HoneyBook has the integrations you really need

The number one thing you want to look for in a great CRM is functionality, and let me tell you,  HoneyBook has it! They’ve got a whole slew of features and integrations that make using it a total walk in the park.

HoneyBook simplifies everything by integrating its software with all those tools you’re already using. Some of my favorites integrations are:

• Integrated contracts: Is it any surprise this is at the top of my list? HoneyBook makes it super easy to send contracts to clients. We’ve even licensed our  Independent Contractor template to them, so when you start your first project, you already have a contract template available to use!

• QuickBooks: This is sorely lacking in a lot of alternative CRM systems out there, but HoneyBook has that QB magic. Just send your invoice through HoneyBook and it will automatically sync with your QB account. Easy peasy. 

• Stripe: Want to get paid faster? Stupid question, of course you do! HoneyBook’s Stripe integration means faster payments into your bank account. (Yes, it’s OK to swoon.)

Never one to sleep on the job, HoneyBook is always rolling out new features and integrations. Just when you think it can’t get any easier — BAM! — here they come with a new integration. It’s magical.

It delivers better analytics

I get it, we all have a love-hate relationship with data. We know we need it, but it can be tricky to get the insights we need, let alone understand them. After all, that’s why we’re all creatives here, not statisticians.

One thing I love about HoneyBook is that it delivers really comprehensive, easy-to-understand analytics. At a glance, it’s easy to see how well you’re doing at converting leads into paying clients, how many inquiries you’re receiving, and everything else you need for that little confidence boost each month that you’re actually doing okay. 

HoneyBook also gives you a great idea of where your leads and bookings are coming from, so you can make sure you’re focusing your time, effort and dollars in all the right places.

The income analytics are also super helpful when it comes to doing your books each month and at tax time. Yep, everyone’s favorite time of the year.

It gives more professional looking results

You give a damn about your brand, and so does HoneyBook. Everything you send out using the system — invoices, surveys, you name it — can be totally customized and match the look and feel you work so hard presenting to your clients. You can even connect your email so that emails get automatically logged into your project, giving you a central location with all of your correspondence.

Everything is streamlined so that each touchpoint screams professionalism and class. It’s up-leveling  your client experience in a beautifully branded way.

You give a damn about your brand, and so does HoneyBook. Everything you send out using the system — invoices, surveys, you name it — can be totally customized and match the look and feel you work so hard presenting to your clients. You can even connect your email so that emails get automatically logged into your project, giving you a central location with all of your correspondence.

Everything is streamlined so that each touchpoint screams professionalism and class. It’s up-leveling your client experience in a beautifully branded way.

Setup is a breeze

The absolute worst part about using a new CRM system (or any tool for that matter) is figuring out how the darn thing works. You can spend days, or sometimes  weeks, going through the setup, uploading all your templates, creating your projects, blah blah blah.

HoneyBook goes above and beyond and uses a white-glove setup of your account. You just send them the login info for your current software, or however you’re currently organizing your projects, and they take care of the rest. We’re talking invoices, contracts, templates — the whole shebang.

And, if you don’t know where things are, there are clear, comprehensive tours that can guide you every step of the way.

Kickass customer service

There’s nothing worse than running into a problem and having to wait days for an answer. HoneyBook's amazing customer support team answers all your questions in a matter of hours, even minutes. Their chat box is always open to answer your questions as they pop up, and I’ve never come up against a problem they can’t solve.

In business, it’s so important to surround yourself with people who lift you up and actually care about your success — and I can honestly say that the HoneyBook team is one that cares. I feel like they’ve taken care of my every need since day one.

It's a community

There are so many businesses out there that preach about community, but how many of them actually follow through? I mean, how nice is it to feel like you really belong to something — a place where your voice is heard and you’re collaborating every day with people who get you?

That’s a lot of what being part of the HoneyBook community feels like, and since they’ve teamed up with the  Rising Tide Society, the community keeps getting bigger, with more resources than ever before. Their community has an amazing opportunities feature that lets you find creatives to collaborate with. I found a videographer this way and couldn’t be happier!

They have all the resources you need

HoneyBook also places a huge emphasis on learning and educating the people that use their system. From product orientation through frequent webinars to walkthroughs to feature deep dives, they’ll send you everything you need to know about making the most of your subscription.

They also go beyond the system to bring you information about running your business with topics like legal, SEO, money, and client relationships.

Streamline and scale your biz with HoneyBook

OK, OK, I feel like that was a huge HoneyBook love fest, but I could go on forever about this incredible system and the amazing team behind it.

HoneyBook has streamlined my business way more than any other CRM system I’ve tried. It helps me save money and look good while doing it. It’s a game changer, guys. But don’t just take my word for it! Go on and try it yourself.

Remember, if you  sign up through my link, you'll get 20% off your HoneyBook subscription AND we’ll give you a $50 gift card to The Contract Shop™ if you forward us your receipt.