Dubsado and HoneyBook are two of the more popular client management platforms around when it comes to drafting contract templates or submitting proposal templates. Pitched at the creative industry, they’re designed to simplify the business workflows, processes and reporting for graphic designers, writers, web developers, photographers, and more.
On this page, we examine Dubsado vs HoneyBook, look at features, and address their pros and cons.
How do these client management software platforms stack up when we pit their features head-to-head?
So, clearly there’s not a lot to separate them when it comes to features and price. But what about the pros and cons of each client management platform?
First off, let's dive into the pros.
Dubsado boasts a wide range of customizable options when it comes to the overall client-facing experience. This means the fonts, colors and images on forms, contracts, invoices and reports can be tweaked to reflect your brand’s look and feel.
You can also use custom CSS styling to embed media into forms such as proposals or questionnaires.
Some client management platforms (like HoneyBook) only allow for manual entries when it comes to time-tracking. Others, like Dubsado, build time-tracking into the software.
This means you don’t need to pay for and use a third-party time tracker over and above your subscription. Instead, you have confidence that the billable hours you’re tracking are fully integrated with your workflow and seamlessly applied to your invoice.
If your creative business is split up into multiple brands (i.e. wedding photography and stationery) you can manage these brands within Dubsado while presenting them as separate to the outside world. It costs an additional $10 per brand, per month.
With so many features, Dubsado has a steep learning curve. Setting it up and tailoring it to your specific business needs and wants can be difficult and time-consuming, and many of its more complex features and functions can go unused while you get to grips with the basics.
Now, taking further our Dubsado vs HoneyBook comparison, we observe the following looking at the latter.
In contrast with Dubsado, HoneyBook is a lot easier to use straight off the bat. You can have it up and running, just the way you want, in a few hours. Although it’s not as customizable as other client management platforms, all the basics are there, including template contracts and emails.
Both HoneyBook and Dubsado allow you to build custom step-by-step workflows, guiding clients from the point of inquiry through to booking, onboarding, and payment.
The difference?
HoneyBook’s are so much simpler to set up and use. This level of task automation allows you to save time while presenting a polished and professional process to your client.
HoneyBook can be used by any number of creative professionals, but where it stands apart from Dubsado is as a platform for events.
Wedding planners, event managers, and photographers will appreciate the option to create a timeline covering pre-event organisation through to the day-of-event tasks and services.
The biggest downside to HoneyBook is its lack of customization. Although recent changes have seen the introduction of certain custom options for forms, it pales in when comparing Dubsado vs HoneyBook.
HoneyBook is still well-designed, with a clean and clear interface, and it can be personalized up to a point. But if you’re looking for more control over your client management software’s output, it definitely falls short.
When it comes to Dubsado vs HoneyBook, there’s no clear winner. The choice comes down to your industry, your expectations, and your desire for customization.
If you value a clean and simple design with easy-to-use functionality, HoneyBook could be the answer.
But if you want full control over how your brand is perceived from initial contact through to project completion, Dubsado gives you that option.
Of course, there is another option. A client management software that’s designed to help you do more and work less from the get-go.
We're of course talking about Bonsai, which you can try out by signing up for a free trial.
Using deep integration and smart automation, we help you save valuable time and make sure you get paid. In other words, you focus on what you do best, and we’ll handle the rest.
Bonsai automatically creates and populates all of your documents as soon as you start a new project; no time-consuming data entry.
Bonsai keeps you covered with templated contracts and legally binding e-signatures.
With international contracts and invoices, 180 currencies, and worldwide payments, there are no borders with Bonsai.
Using Bonsai, freelancers are paid on average 13 days faster and have 3 times fewer late payments.
A verbal contract (formally called an oral contract) refers to an agreement between two parties that's made —you guessed it— verbally.
Formal contracts, like those between an employee and an employer, are typically written down. However, some professional transactions take place based on verbally agreed terms.
Freelancers are a good example of this. Often, freelancers will take on projects having agreed on the terms and payment via the phone, or an email. Unfortunately, sometimes clients don't pull through on their agreements, and hardworking freelancers can find themselves out of pocket and wondering whether a legal battle is worth all the hassle.
The main differences between written and oral contracts are that the former is signed and documented, whereas the latter is solely attributed to verbal communication.
Verbal contracts are a bit of a gray area for most people unfamiliar with contract law —which is most of us, right?— due to the fact that there's no physical evidence to support the claims made by the implemented parties.
For any contract (written or verbal) to be binding, there are four major elements which need to be in place. The crucial elements of a contract are as follows:
Therefore, an oral agreement has legal validity if all of these elements are present. However, verbal contracts can be difficult to enforce in a court of law. In the next section, we take a look at how oral agreements hold up in court.
Most business professionals are wary of entering into contracts orally because they can difficult to enforce in the face of the law.
If an oral contract is brought in front of a court of law, there is increased risk of one party (or both!) lying about the initial terms of the agreement. This is problematic for the court, as there's no unbiased way to conclude the case; often, this will result in the case being disregarded. Moreover, it can be difficult to outline contract defects if it's not in writing.
That being said, there are plenty of situations where enforceable contracts do not need to be written or spoken, they're simply implied. For instance, when you buy milk from a store, you give something in exchange for something else and enter into an implied contract, in this case - money is exchanged for goods.
There are some types of contracts which must be in writing.
The Statute of Frauds is a legal statute which states that certain kinds of contracts must be executed in writing and signed by the parties involved. The Statute of Frauds has been adopted in almost all U.S states, and requires a written contract for the following purposes:
Typically, a court of law won't enforce an oral agreement in any of these circumstances under the statute. Instead, a written document is required to make the contract enforceable.
Contract law is generally doesn't favor contracts agreed upon verbally. A verbal agreement is difficult to prove, and can be used by those intent on committing fraud. For that reason, it's always best to put any agreements in writing and ensure all parties have fully understood and consented to signing.
Verbal agreements can be proven with actions in the absence of physical documentation. Any oral promise to provide the sale of goods or perform a service that you agreed to counts as a valid contract. So, when facing a court of law, what evidence can you provide to enforce a verbal agreement?
Unfortunately, without solid proof, it may be difficult to convince a court of the legality of an oral contract. Without witnesses to testify to the oral agreement taking place or other forms of evidence, oral contracts won't stand up in court. Instead, it becomes a matter of "he-said-she-said" - which legal professionals definitely don't have time for!
If you were to enter into a verbal contract, it's recommended to follow up with an email or a letter confirming the offer, the terms of the agreement , and payment conditions. The more you can document the elements of a contract, the better your chances of legally enforcing a oral contract.
Another option is to make a recording of the conversation where the agreement is verbalized. This can be used to support your claims in the absence of a written agreement. However, it's always best to gain the permission of the other involved parties before hitting record.
Fundamentally, most verbal agreements are legally valid as long as they meet all the requirements for a contract. However, if you were to go to court over one party not fulfilling the terms of the contract, proving that the interaction took place can be extremely taxing.
So, ultimately, the question is: written or verbal agreements?
Any good lawyer, contract law firm, or legal professional would advise you to make sure you formalize any professional agreement with a written agreement. Written contracts provide a secure testament to the conditions that were agreed and signed by the two parties involved. If it comes to it, a physical contract is much easier to eviden in legal circumstances.
Freelancers, in particular, should be aware of the extra security that digital contracts may provide. Many people choose to stick to executing contracts verbally because they're not sure how to write a contract, or they think writing out the contract terms is too complicated or requires expensive legal advice. However, this is no longer the case.
Today, we have a world of resources available at our fingertips. The internet is a treasure trove of invaluable information, platforms, and software that simplifies our lives. Creating, signing, and sending contracts has never been easier. What's more, you don't have to rely on a hiring a lawyer to explain all that legal jargon anymore.
There are plenty of tools available online for freelancers to use for guidance when drafting digital contracts. Tools like Bonsai provide a range of customizable, vetted contract templates for all kinds of freelance professionals. No matter what industry you're operating in, Bonsai has a professional template to offer.
A written contract makes the agreement much easier to prove the terms of the agreement in case something were to go awry. The two parties involved can rest assured that they're legal rights are protected, and the terms of the contract are sufficiently documented. Plus, it provides both parties with peace of mind to focus on the tasks at hand.
Bonsai's product suite for freelancers allows users to make contracts from scratch, or using professional templates, and sign them using an online signature maker.
With Bonsai, you can streamline and automate all of the boring back-office tasks that come with being a freelancer. From creating proposals that clients can't say no to, to sealing the deal with a professional contract - Bonsai will revolutionize the way you do business as a freelancer.
Why not secure your business today and sign up for a free trial?