Honeybook CRM
We’ve ran multiple businesses on Honeybook and here’s why you should too.
*this page contains affiliate links to Honeybook where you get a discount for signing up and I get a kickback for referring you
I've been running service-based businesses since 2009
and I've tried nearly every client management system out there.
QuickBooks for invoicing. Google Sheets for tracking. Random payment processors. Email threads that turned into nightmares.
By 2021, when I opened Studio 87 event space in Baltimore, I was drowning in administrative chaos—juggling multiple business tools that didn't communicate with each other.
Then I found Honeybook CRM, and everything changed.
I'm not exaggerating when I say this software transformed how I operate. I have managed five separate businesses through Honeybook: Studio 87, Studio 87 Photo Booth, Willis Aybar Photography, OpenDoors360, and Another Monday.
That's event spaces, photography services, 360 virtual tours, and digital marketing all running through one unified system.
And here's the thing, I'm not just using Honeybook for my own businesses. I've coached my event space clients on how to use this platform to make smarter, data-driven decisions that directly impact their bottom line.
As an independent business owner managing everything solo, I needed a solution that would help me stay organized without requiring a team to manage the software itself.
If you're a small business owner juggling client communications, project management, contracts, invoicing, and online payments across multiple tools, you need to keep reading.
This isn't another generic software review. This is real talk from someone who lives in Honeybook every single day.
Real Results From My Businesses
I don't recommend tools I haven't personally proven. Everything I'm telling you about Honeybook comes from years of actual use across multiple business models. Let me break down how I use this CRM in each of my companies.
Studio 87 Event Space: This was my testing ground for everything I now teach venue owners. We managed over 380 events through Honeybook, and the organized pipeline system meant I never missed follow-ups or lost track of inquiries. The automated workflows handled 80% of the client communication, which was essential since I was running the venue while also operating other businesses. Our proposal templates included venue rental, furniture packages, bar service, and coordination services. Clients loved the clean, professional presentation, and we saw consistent upsell adoption because everything was right there in the proposal, easy to add, easy to pay for.
Willis Aybar Photography: Photography businesses live and die by organization. Between weddings, portraits, commercial shoots, and event coverage, I needed a system that could handle different service types with different workflows. Honeybook lets me create package-specific proposals with detailed shot lists, delivery timelines, and usage rights. Clients book directly through online scheduling, and the automated reminder emails mean fewer no-shows for portrait sessions. The file sharing features let me deliver galleries through the platform, keeping everything connected to the original project.
OpenDoors360: Virtual tour and real estate photography services require fast turnaround and clear communication about deliverables. With Honeybook, real estate agents can book services through my website, get instant confirmation, and receive their virtual tours through the project workspace. The invoicing automation handles recurring clients who book multiple properties per month, and the payment processing makes it easy for agencies to pay by credit card and expense it properly.
Studio 87 Photo Booth: Event add-on services like photo booths need seamless integration with the main event booking. Honeybook lets me track photo booth inquiries separately while connecting them to venue bookings when relevant. The contracts include equipment details, setup requirements, and overtime pricing. Clients sign digitally, pay deposits online, and receive automatic reminders before their event date.
Another Monday: Running a digital marketing agency means managing ongoing client relationships with monthly deliverables, reporting, and invoicing. Honeybook handles my retainer agreements, recurring billing, and client communication. I can track project status for SEO clients, share monthly reports through the platform, and maintain organized records of every strategy conversation. The CRM features help me remember client goals, preferences, and the specific context of what we're working on. Couple this with Notion, Google Workspace and integrations and I have systems that keep me organized and my clients happy.
Across all five businesses, the common thread is organization and automation. I'm not manually tracking which clients need invoices or which leads I haven't followed up with. The system tells me what needs attention, automates the routine stuff, and keeps everything accessible from my phone or computer. That's what lets me run multiple businesses without burning out or dropping balls.
The financial impact is significant. Better organization means I book more clients because nothing falls through the cracks. Automation means I can handle higher volume without hiring administrative help. Professional proposals increase conversion rates and average project value. Integrated payment processing means I get paid faster with less manual bookkeeping. All of this adds up to more revenue with less stress.
What Makes Honeybook Different From Other CRM Systems
Let's start with what a CRM actually does.
Customer relationship management software helps you organize client information, track leads, manage your sales pipeline, and automate repetitive tasks.
Most CRM platforms focus on one or two of these areas. Honeybook does all of it, and it does it specifically for service-based businesses and creative professionals.
The biggest difference between Honeybook and traditional business management platforms is that it's built around the client experience.
From the moment someone fills out your contact form to the final invoice payment, every touchpoint is designed to be professional and seamless.
Your clients aren't navigating clunky interfaces or receiving generic automated emails.
They're getting a branded, cohesive experience through a professional templates client portal that makes them feel taken care of.
But here's what matters more than the feature list; everything is connected!
When a prospective client submits an inquiry through your contact form, Honeybook automatically creates a new project in your pipeline, sends your automated response, and tracks that lead source.
You're not manually copying information between systems or wondering where that email thread went.
The platform handles the entire client process from inquiry to payment.
Your inquiry form feeds into customizable workflows. Those workflows trigger automated emails at the right time with payment reminders built in.
Your proposals combine service selection with add-ons, contracts, and invoicing in one beautiful document.
Clients can sign contracts invoices and pay deposits without leaving the proposal, making it incredibly efficient for both parties.
For small business owners who wear every hat, this level of automation and organization is critical.
You're not just saving time on administrative tasks. You're creating systems that let you scale without hiring a team or losing the personal touch that makes your business special.
Honeybook features include:
lead capture forms
proposal templates
contract management
invoice creation
online payment processing with bank transfer payments and credit cards
scheduler integration for scheduling appointments
email automation
and detailed reporting.
How Service-Based Businesses
Use Honeybook CRM
If you're running a photography business, consulting practice, design studio, or any service where you work directly with clients on projects, Honeybook was built for you.
The platform understands how service businesses operate, you get inquiries, you send proposals, you book projects, you deliver services, you get paid, and hopefully you get referrals.
Honeybook supports every step of that process, helping you save time while looking more professional.
Lead Capture
The lead capture system with lead forms is incredibly flexible.
You can embed contact forms on your website, create standalone booking pages, or use Honeybook's mobile app to collect information at networking events.
Every form submission creates a new lead in your pipeline with all the client details automatically organized. You can customize these forms to ask exactly what you need to know, and shorter forms consistently generate more inquiries because clients aren't intimidated by lengthy questionnaires. This efficient approach to gathering new leads means you're never missing opportunities.
Once you have a lead, the automation features take over.
You can set up workflows that send immediate confirmation emails, schedule follow ups for yourself, and trigger different communication sequences based on the type of service requested. This kind of marketing automation typically requires expensive third-party tools, but it's built into Honeybook's core functionality as part of the management platform.
Proposal Templates
The proposal templates with customizable templates are where Honeybook really shines for service providers.
You can create multiple packages within one proposal, allowing clients to choose the service level that fits their budget. Each package can include detailed descriptions of what's included, pricing breakdowns, and optional add-ons.
The contract is embedded right in the proposal, so clients aren't juggling separate documents in a single file. They select their package, sign the contract, and pay their deposit all in one smooth experience designed to impress clients.
This streamlined booking process significantly improves conversion rates.
When you remove friction from the client journey, more people follow through. I've seen this across all my service businesses, cleaner proposals with integrated contracts and payment options book more clients than sending separate emails with PDFs attached.
Invoicing
The invoicing system handles both one-time projects invoices and recurring payments with payment plans for larger commitments.
You can create payment schedules for larger projects, send automatic reminders when invoices are due, and accept payments through multiple methods to accept payments easily.
Clients can pay via credit card, bank transfer, or ACH, and you get paid quickly without chasing people down. The payment tracking features even let you add late fees for overdue invoices and send automatic payment reminders, taking the awkward conversations out of collections.
Project Management
Project management tools within Honeybook let you organize files, share documents with clients, and keep all communication in context.
Instead of searching through email threads to find that one attachment, everything related to a specific client lives in their project workspace under one roof. You can upload contracts, share final deliverables, and maintain a clean record of the entire relationship.
Calendar Scheduler
The scheduler feature integrates with your Google Calendar or other calendar software, letting clients book consultation calls or appointments without the back-and-forth email dance.
You control your availability, set buffer times between upcoming meetings, and send automatic reminders. It's a small feature that saves hours every week for any job that requires client meetings.
Team Access
For teams or solo operators who want to grow, Honeybook offers collaboration tools with unlimited team members that let you assign tasks, share project access, and maintain consistent client communication even when multiple people are involved. The contact management system with unlimited clients keeps detailed records of every interaction, so you always know the history when you're talking to a returning client.
Whether you're managing client relationships solo or with a team, the platform scales with you.
Why Event Spaces Need Honeybook
(And Why TripleSeat Is Garbage)
We Do Not Recommend TripleSeat
Let me be very direct about this: if you own or operate an event space and you're using TripleSeat, you're getting ripped off.
I've dealt with TripleSeat directly, and it's an overpriced nightmare with terrible UI, limited features, and customer service that literally told me to hire a coder when I needed a custom contact form.
They charge around $350 per month for software that barely does the basics. Meanwhile, Honeybook costs $49 per month and does everything TripleSeat does, plus a whole lot more. That's a massive difference that adds up to over $3,600 per year you could save.
TripleSeat markets itself as the industry standard for event venue management, but that's only because they got to market early and convinced venue owners that event spaces need "specialized" software.
The truth is, event businesses need the same tools as any other service business, lead capture, client management, proposals with payments proposals combined, contracts, invoicing, and automation.
Honeybook handles all of it better, costs a fraction of the price, and actually has good customer support that doesn't tell you to hire developers.
Here's what TripleSeat lacks: customization. You're stuck with their rigid templates and workflows. The interface is clunky and outdated. The reporting is basic at best. And when you need help or want to change something, good luck. Their support team is notorious for slow response times and unhelpful answers. I was literally told to hire a developer to code a contact form because their system couldn't handle a simple customization.
That's absurd for software that costs over $4,000 per year.
Honeybook, on the other hand, gives event space owners complete flexibility.
You can create custom inquiry forms that capture exactly the information you need; event date, guest count, rental preferences, add-on services. Those inquiries automatically flow into your pipeline where you can track them through every stage: inquiry, proposal sent, contract signed, deposit paid, event confirmed.
One of my clients, White Vine Venue in East Riverdale MD, was managing her entire event business with pen and paper, spreadsheets, and a mix of Zelle, Square, and CashApp for payments. It was an absolute mess for her taxes and made it nearly impossible to track where leads were coming from or which marketing efforts were actually working.
After we implemented Honeybook, everything changed.
We set up short, optimized lead capture forms that increased her inquiry rate.
The automated email responses meant potential clients got immediate confirmation even when she was busy.
The proposals we created included her venue rental packages plus all the upsell options, tables, chairs, linens, decor, bar service, coordination.
Those upsells now generate over 100% more revenue than her base venue rental fees. The booking experience became so smooth that her upsell rate increased by more than 50%.
But the real game-changer was the data.
Honeybook's lead source tracking showed her that SEO was driving the majority of her quality inquiries. She could see exactly which marketing channels were worth investing in and which ones to cut. That kind of insight is what separates profitable event spaces from struggling ones, and TripleSeat's reporting can't touch it.
Event venues using Honeybook can create multiple proposal templates for different event types, weddings, corporate events, private parties, etc.
Each template includes service packages with detailed pricing, contract terms specific to that event category, and payment schedules. Clients receive one professional proposal that covers everything. They select their package, add the services they want, sign the contract, and pay their deposit. The whole booking process takes minutes instead of days of email back-and-forth.
The automation features are crucial for event businesses that get high volumes of inquiries. You can set up workflows that send different follow-up sequences based on event type or date.
Couples booking wedding venues get a different communication flow than corporate clients booking conference space. These automated touchpoints keep you top-of-mind without requiring manual effort.
Calendar management for event venues is built into Honeybook's system. You can block out booked dates, show availability on your inquiry forms, and prevent double-bookings.
The scheduler lets clients book venue tours or consultation calls directly from your website. Everything syncs with your Google Calendar so you're never out of sync.
The file management capabilities matter for event venues that need to share floor plans, capacity charts, vendor lists, and other resources with clients.
Instead of sending attachments back and forth, you can upload documents to each project workspace where clients can access them anytime. This organized approach makes you look more professional and prevents the "I can't find that PDF you sent" emails.
For venues that work with event planners or coordinators, Honeybook's collaboration tools let you share project access without giving full account access.
Planners can see the details they need, communicate with clients through the platform, and stay updated on contract and payment status. This creates transparency while maintaining your control over the business operations.
If you're currently using TripleSeat, switching to Honeybook will immediately cut your software costs by over $3,600 per year while giving you better features, better support, and better results. That's not a small decision, that's a significant line item in your budget that could go toward marketing, equipment, or actually growing your business instead of padding some legacy software company's profit margins.
Honeybook CRM Features That Actually Matter For Small Business Owners
Let's talk about the specific Honeybook features that make the biggest difference in day-to-day operations. Some CRM platforms are bloated with features you'll never use. Honeybook focuses on what small business owners actually need to run an efficient operation.
Smart Files and Smart Fields: This is Honeybook's template system for proposals, contracts, invoices, brochures, and other documents. You create master templates with your branding, standard terms, and package details. Then you can generate client-specific versions in seconds by selecting the template and using smart fields to auto-fill client information. This eliminates the copy-paste errors and formatting issues that happen when you're manually creating documents for every client. Your contracts are consistent, your proposals look professional, and you're not recreating the wheel every time.
Pipeline Management: The visual pipeline shows every lead and project organized by stage. You can customize the stages to match your business process—maybe you have inquiry, quote sent, follow-up, booked, completed. Drag projects between stages as they progress. Filter by date range, service type, or project value. Set reminders for follow-ups so nothing sits stagnant. This bird's-eye view of your business is what keeps you proactive instead of reactive.
Workflow Automation: This is where Honeybook separates itself from basic contact management tools. Workflows are "if this, then that" sequences you set up once and let run automatically. When a new inquiry comes in, send a welcome email and create a reminder to follow up in 48 hours. When a contract gets signed, send a thank you message and schedule the pre-project questionnaire. When an invoice is paid, trigger the project kickoff sequence. You can build complex automation without any coding knowledge.
Payment Processing: Honeybook integrates with payment processors to accept credit cards, ACH bank transfers, and international payments. You set your preferred payment methods, and clients pay directly through proposals and invoices. The platform tracks every transaction, making bookkeeping straightforward. You can set up payment plans for larger projects, automatically charge remaining balances, and send dunning emails for overdue invoices. Getting paid becomes systematic instead of awkward.
Client Portal: Every client gets their own branded portal where they can view proposals, sign contracts, make payments, access shared files, and communicate with you. This creates a professional experience that stands out from competitors who are still sending email attachments and PayPal requests. Clients appreciate the organization, and you benefit from having all project information in one accessible place.
Mobile App: The Honeybook app lets you manage your business from your phone. Respond to inquiries, send proposals, check your pipeline, and process payments on the go. For service businesses where you're often away from your desk, this mobile access is essential. You can capture leads at networking events, follow up with clients between appointments, and stay on top of your business without being chained to your computer.
Lead Capture Forms: Customizable forms that you can embed on your website or use as standalone pages. These forms feed directly into your Honeybook pipeline and trigger your automation workflows. You can create different forms for different services, include conditional logic that shows relevant questions based on answers, and style them to match your branding. The mobile-responsive design means forms look good on any device.
Scheduler: Built-in appointment scheduling that syncs with your calendar. Set your availability, define appointment types, include buffer time, and let clients book themselves. The scheduler sends automatic confirmation and reminder emails, which dramatically reduces no-shows. You can limit how far in advance people can book, require certain information before scheduling, and even charge for appointments if your business model includes consultation fees.
Email Templates: Pre-written email templates for common client communications. Welcome emails, follow-ups, booking confirmations, pre-project questionnaires, thank you notes, review requests. You write them once with placeholders for client-specific details, then send personalized versions in two clicks. This maintains consistent communication quality without typing the same email repeatedly.
Reporting and Analytics: Track your business performance with built-in reports. See your revenue by month, average project value, lead sources, conversion rates, and pipeline velocity. Understand which marketing channels drive the best clients. Identify bottlenecks in your sales process. Make informed decisions based on real data instead of gut feelings. For businesses serious about growth, these insights are invaluable.
Team Collaboration: If you have contractors, assistants, or partners, Honeybook supports team workflows. Assign tasks, share project access, and maintain communication continuity. Set permissions so team members see only what they need to. Track who's responsible for each client touchpoint. This keeps everyone aligned without constant status update meetings.
Integrations: Honeybook connects with tools you're already using through various apps and integration options. Google Calendar, QuickBooks, Zapier, Gmail, and others integrate seamlessly. These integrations extend functionality and let Honeybook fit into your existing tech stack rather than forcing you to change everything at once. If you need to sell digital products or connect to other platforms, the Zapier integration opens up hundreds of possibilities.
The key thing to understand is that these features work together as a system. Your lead capture forms feed your pipeline. Your pipeline triggers workflows. Your workflows generate proposals. Your proposals become contracts and invoices. Your invoices process through integrated payments. Your payments generate reports. Everything connects, creating a cohesive client management system that runs largely on autopilot once you set it up properly.
Why Most Businesses Set Up Honeybook Wrong
Here's the tough truth: Honeybook is powerful, but most people implement it badly. They sign up, create one generic proposal template, connect their calendar, and think they're done. Then they wonder why they're not seeing results.
The problem isn't the software. The problem is the implementation.
Effective CRM implementation requires understanding your business model, your client journey, and your specific bottlenecks. A wedding photographer needs different workflows than a corporate event venue. A consultant selling retainer packages needs different proposal structures than a designer selling one-off projects.
The setup should be customized to how you actually work.
The automation workflows are where most people fail. They either don't set them up at all, or they create overly complicated sequences that feel robotic. Good automation should feel like you're extremely organized and responsive, not like clients are interacting with a machine.
Proposal templates are another weak point. Business owners create one proposal that tries to cover every scenario, making it confusing. Or they're too sparse, missing upsell opportunities. Effective proposals are service-specific, clearly structured, and designed to guide clients toward yes.
Lead source tracking gets ignored entirely, which is crazy because it's one of the most valuable features. If you don't know where your best clients are coming from, you're marketing blindly.
This is why I offer implementation services. I've spent years learning what works across multiple business types. I can get you properly implemented in days instead of months of trial and error.
How I Can Help You Get Set Up
If you're ready to stop juggling disconnected tools and start running your business through one organized system, I can help you implement Honeybook the right way.
I offer three service tiers depending on how much support you need.
- Account setup with proper branding
- Conversion-optimized lead capture forms
- Basic automation workflows
- One professional proposal template
- 1-hour training session
- Access to personalized Loom video support
- Everything in Essentials Setup
- Custom workflows for your business type
- Multiple proposal templates
- Pipeline management setup
- Lead source tracking configuration
- 2 hours of training
- 30 days email support with video responses
- Everything in Full Implementation
- Advanced automation sequences
- Data analysis and decision-making setup
- Custom Zapier integrations
- Quarterly performance reviews (3 months)
- Ongoing monthly optimization ($200/mo after)
All packages include personalized video support. When you email with questions, I respond with custom Loom videos showing exactly how to solve your specific issue. My clients love this because it's way easier to follow along than written instructions.
I've coached event venue owners, photographers, consultants, and other service businesses through Honeybook implementation. My goal is to get you organized quickly so you can focus on delivering great service instead of wrestling with software.
The implementation process typically takes 2-4 weeks. We'll start with a kickoff call to learn about your business, then I'll build out your Honeybook system while keeping you updated. You'll leave with a fully functional system and the knowledge to operate it confidently.
Ready To Try HoneybookCRM?
If I've convinced you that Honeybook is worth trying and you want to set it up yourself first before investing in implementation services, you can sign up using my affiliate link.
Honeybook offers a free trial so you can test the platform before committing. It's free to try with no credit card required for the initial trial period, so there's no risk in exploring whether it's the right solution for your business. The pricing after your first year is $49 per month for the Starter plan or $79 per month for the Essentials premium plan, which includes advanced features like team collaboration and additional integrations. Compared to the $350+ per month that venues pay for TripleSeat or the combined cost of multiple disconnected tools, Honeybook is absurdly affordable for what you get.
The Starter plan includes everything most solo business owners need: unlimited proposals and contracts, client management, pipeline tracking, automation workflows, payment processing, scheduler, and mobile app access. The Essentials plan adds team collaboration, advanced automation, priority support, and premium integrations. Most of my clients thrive on the Starter plan and only upgrade if they're adding team members.
Even if you decide to implement it yourself without my help, I strongly encourage you to invest real time in setting it up properly. Don't just sign up and wing it. Think through your client journey, plan your proposal structure, and build automation that actually serves your business model. Watch tutorials, read documentation from the Honeybook community, and take it seriously. Request feedback from early clients about their booking experience. A well-implemented CRM system is one of the highest ROI investments you can make in your business operations because it helps you save time, look professional, and capture revenue you'd otherwise miss.
And if you start the setup and realize you're stuck or not sure if you're doing it right, reach out. I'm happy to jump in and optimize what you've started, even if you've already been using Honeybook for a while. Many of my implementation clients come to me after months of using the platform ineffectively—they know it should be doing more for them but can't figure out what they're missing.
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