Small business owners know how important it is to stay on top of your clients, projects, and finances. But managing all these aspects of your business can be overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s why you need a CRM (client relationship management) tool that can help you streamline your workflow and automate your tasks. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best one for your needs?
In this article, we’ll compare two of the most popular client management software tools for small businesses: HoneyBook and 17hats. We’ll look at their features, pricing, user-friendliness, and great customer service and support, and help you decide which one is right for you. Whether you’re a creative professional, a freelancer, or a service provider, you’ll find valuable insights in this comparison. So let’s get started!
What is HoneyBook?
HoneyBook is an all-in-one clientflow platform designed to streamline the way you manage your business. From sending professional invoices and accepting online payments to creating secure contracts and scheduling appointments, HoneyBook has you covered. This user-friendly platform offers powerful automations to help you stay organized with booking and invoice reminders, track inquiries, and manage projects with ease.
HoneyBook is the go-to tool for independent professionals who want to simplify their workflow and impress clients with interactive, customizable proposals. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with popular tools like QuickBooks, Calendly, Zapier, and more, making your life even easier.
What is 17 Hats?
17hats is the premier business management platform specifically designed for creative entrepreneurs and solo business owners. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help you manage your workload and save time, including online scheduling, a CRM platform, online payments, quotes, email templates, invoices, payment plans, and lead capture forms.
With packages starting as low as $15/month, 17hats consolidates all your essential tools under one platform, providing the most interconnected features on the market. Catering to businesses at every stage, 17hats offers three packages – Essentials, Standard, and Premier – each designed to meet your unique needs.
Key Features
Client Management Features of 17Hats vs HoneyBook
HoneyBook and 17hats are both client management software that help a busy business owner manage their clients, projects, invoices, contracts, tasks reminders and workflows. However, they have some differences in their features and functions that may affect your choice depending on your needs and preferences.
HoneyBook is designed for creative professionals who want a simple and streamlined solution for their client management needs. It allows users to:
- Effective and secure client communication through its integrated messaging system
- Create and send branded proposals with images and videos
- Generate and sign contracts online
- Send invoices and payment reminders to their clients
- Accept online payments through credit cards or bank transfers
- Manage their bookings and schedules with a built-in calendar that syncs with Google Calendar and iCal
- Automate their workflows with templates and triggers
HoneyBook has a user-friendly and attractive interface that makes it easy to use and navigate. It also has a mobile app that allows users to access their data and communicate with their clients on the go.
17hats is designed for solopreneurs and small business owners who want a versatile and customizable solution for their client management needs. It allows users to:
- Track and manage their leads with a CRM system
- Create and send quotes, invoices, contracts, questionnaires, and forms
- Accept online payments through Stripe, PayPal, Square, or Authorize.net
- Manage their projects and tasks with a project management system
- Track their time and expenses with a time tracking and bookkeeping system
- Manage their appointments and events with a calendar that integrates with Google Calendar
- Automate their workflows with workflows and automation
17hats has a customizable and flexible interface that allows users to tailor it to their specific needs. It also integrates with various applications, such as QuickBooks, Zapier, Mailchimp, Gmail, Outlook, and more.
Both HoneyBook and 17hats are great tools for client management, but they have some differences in their features and functions that may appeal to different users.
HoneyBook is more suited for creative professionals who want a simple and elegant solution for their client management needs. It has a more comprehensive templating feature than 17hats and provides secure online payment options. However, HoneyBook is more limited in its integrations and has fewer features than 17hats.
17hats is more suited for solopreneurs and small business owners who want a versatile and customizable solution for their client management needs. It has more features for the price than HoneyBook offers, and integrates with a wider range of applications. However, 17hats is more complex and less streamlined than HoneyBook.
Project Management Features of HoneyBook vs 17 Hats
17Hats and HoneyBook both have project management software that help small businesses and freelancers manage their projects, tasks, timelines, and team collaboration. However, they have some unique approaches in their features and functions that may influence which one the busy small business owner chooses.
HoneyBook is designed for creative professionals who want a robust and streamlined solution for their task management needs. It allows users to:
- Manage their projects from start to finish with a visual pipeline that shows the status and progress of each project
- Create and assign tasks to themselves or their team members and track their completion
- Set deadlines and milestones for each project and get notified of any changes or updates
- Collaborate with their team members and clients through chat, comments, and file sharing
- Sync their projects with their calendar and other tools, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Zapier, and more
HoneyBook has a user-friendly and attractive interface that makes it easy to use and navigate administrative tasks. It also has a mobile app that allows users to access their projects and communicate with their team members on the go.
17hats is designed for solopreneurs and small business owners who want a versatile and customizable solution for their project management needs. It allows users to:
- Manage their projects with a project management system that shows the details of each project, such as the client, budget, timeline, invoices, contracts, forms, and more
- Create and send quotes, invoices, contracts, questionnaires, and forms to their clients
- Track their time and expenses with a time tracking and bookkeeping system
- Manage their appointments and events with a calendar that integrates with Google Calendar
- Automate their workflows with workflows and automation
17hats has a customizable and flexible interface that allows users to tailor it to their specific needs. It also integrates with various applications, such as QuickBooks, Zapier, Mailchimp, Gmail, Outlook, and more.
HoneyBook is more suited for creative professionals who want a robust and streamlined solution for their project management needs. It has a more visual and intuitive pipeline than 17hats and provides more collaboration tools.
17hats is more suited for solopreneurs and small business owners who want a versatile and customizable solution for their project management needs. It has more features for the price than HoneyBook and integrates with a wider range of applications.
Contract Management
Imagine HoneyBook and 17hats as two talented artists, each with their own unique flair, painting the perfect contract management landscape for small businesses and freelancers. While they share a common canvas, their features and functions create distinct masterpieces to cater to your distinct tastes and requirements.
HoneyBook, the creative virtuoso, effortlessly weaves simplicity and elegance into its contract management solutions. With a flourish of its brush, it empowers users to:
- Craft and sign contracts with the stroke of a legally binding e-signature
- Customize contract templates with vibrant images and captivating videos
- Deliver contracts through the seamless harmony of email or HoneyBook's integrated messaging system
- Keep a keen eye on the status and progress of each masterpiece
- Automate contract workflows with the finesse of templates and triggers
HoneyBook's user-friendly and visually appealing interface is akin to a serene art gallery, making it a delight to navigate. It also presents secure online payment options as the cherry on top of all the features.
On the other hand, 17hats is the versatile maestro, orchestrating a customizable symphony for solopreneurs and small business owners. It conducts users to:
- Compose quotes, invoices, contracts, questionnaires, and forms that resonate with clients
- Sign contracts with the authority of legally binding e-signatures
- Personalize contract templates with dynamic variables and placeholders
- Dispatch contracts through the harmony of email or 17hats' integrated messaging system
- Monitor the status and progress of each composition
- Automate contract workflows with a well-timed crescendo of workflows and automation
17hats' customizable and flexible interface allows users to fine-tune it to their unique rhythm. It also collaborates with an ensemble of applications such as QuickBooks, Zapier, Mailchimp, Gmail, and Outlook.
Both HoneyBook and 17hats are brilliant maestros in the realm of contract management, yet their distinct features and functions cater to different audiences.
HoneyBook is the go-to choice for creative professionals seeking a simple and elegant solution, offering comprehensive templating features and secure payment options. However, its repertoire of integrations and availability may be more limited than 17hats.
Meanwhile, 17hats captivates solopreneurs and small business owners with its versatility and customization, providing more features for the price and a wider range of application integrations.
Invoicing Features
HoneyBook is an online invoicing software that allows you to create professional and custom branded invoices in less than 30 seconds. You can easily accept online payments from your clients, set up recurring or scheduled payments, and automate reminders and follow-ups. HoneyBook also integrates with other tools like contracts, proposals, and online scheduling service, so you can manage your entire project workflow in one place.
17 hats is another online invoicing software that helps you create and send invoices to your clients with a few clicks. You can also track payments, send reminders, and sync with your accounting software. 17 hats offers more than just invoicing, as it also includes features like a lead capture form, quotes, contracts, questionnaires, time tracking, and more .
Both HoneyBook and 17 hats are platforms that help small businesses manage their clients, projects, invoices, contracts, and workflows. However, they differ in some aspects of their invoicing features. For example, HoneyBook charges a flat 3% fee for online payments, while 17 hats charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. HoneyBook also allows you to combine invoice, contract, and payment into one seamless proposal, while 17 hats requires you to send them separately. On the other hand, 17 hats lets you create multiple invoice templates and automatically import them with your logo and colors, while HoneyBook only offers one invoice template that you can add your logo to.
HoneyBook vs 17Hats Workflow Automation
HoneyBook workflows are sequences of messages, files, and tasks that you can automate based on your rules and triggers. You can use workflows to reply to inquiries, send contracts and create invoices, schedule meetings, follow up with clients, and more. You can also customize your workflows with your branded templates, approve before sending, and delay actions by minutes, hours, days, or weeks. HoneyBook workflows help you save time, create a consistent client experience, and manage your entire project workflow in one place.
17hats workflows are templates that allow you to automate the tasks you usually take to complete a project and guide your contact through your client experience. They can also complete tasks for you or remind you to complete a task. You can use workflows to send emails, quotes, contracts, invoices, questionnaires, and more. You can also trigger workflows based on client behavior or relative dates, create multiple workflow templates for different services or products, and delegate tasks to other team members. 17 hats workflows help you streamline your process, stay organized, and scale your business.
Both HoneyBook and 17hats are platforms that help small businesses manage their clients, projects, invoices, contracts, and workflows. However, they differ in some aspects of their workflow functions. For example, HoneyBook allows you to combine invoice, contract, and payment into one seamless proposal that can be triggered by a workflow1, while 17hats requires you to send them separately as different workflow steps. HoneyBook also allows you to start a new workflow or archive a project as a workflow action1, while 17hats does not have these options. On the other hand, 17hats lets you sync your workflows with your accounting software, while HoneyBook does not have this feature.
17Hats vs HoneyBook: Pricing
HoneyBook Pricing Plans:
- Starter: $16 per month (billed annually) or $19 per month (billed monthly). Includes unlimited clients and projects, invoices and payments, proposals and contracts, calendar, all professional templates, client portal, basic reports, and more.
- Essentials: $32 per month (billed annually) or $39 per month (billed monthly). Includes everything in the Starter plan, plus scheduler, automations, QuickBooks Online integration, up to 2 team members, expense management, profit and loss, remove “Powered by HoneyBook”, standard reports, and more.
- Premium: $66 per month (billed annually) or $79 per month (billed monthly). Includes everything in the Essentials plan, plus unlimited team members, priority support, multiple companies, dedicated account manager, advanced reports (coming soon), and more.
17Hats Pricing Plans:
- Essentials: $15 per month (billed annually) or $25 per month (billed monthly). Includes online scheduling, auto lead response, full CRM, online payments, quotes, email templates, invoices, payment plans, lead capture forms, and more.
- Plus: $25 per month (billed annually) or $45 per month (billed monthly). Includes everything in the Essentials plan, plus workflows and automation tools.
- Unlimited: $45 per month (billed annually) or $65 per month (billed monthly). Includes everything in the Plus plan, plus bookkeeping tools and unlimited projects.
Indy: The Freelancer's Alternative to 17hats or HoneyBook
If you are looking for an alternative to 17hats and HoneyBook, you might want to check out Indy, the freelancer all-in-one toolkit. Indy is a platform that helps you manage your freelance business with one subscription, one website, and helpful tools for your important tasks. Whether you need to create and send invoices, contracts, proposals, forms, or questionnaires, Indy has you covered. You can also accept online payments, track your projects and tasks, sync your calendar, and automate your workflow with Indy.
Some of the top features of Indy are:
- Client flow management: Manage your freelance business with tools that help you create and send invoices, contracts, proposals, forms, and questionnaires. Accept online payments with PayPal and Stripe. Track your projects’ status, tasks, chat messages, and related documents from one dashboard. Sync your calendar with Indy to schedule meetings and sessions. Use automations to trigger actions based on rules and triggers.
- Productivity: Create tasks and get reminders when they’re due. Track time by project to easily invoice your billable hours. Use templates to create professional and branded documents. Integrate with Zapier to connect Indy with other apps you use. Embed forms on your website or social media to capture leads and feedback.
- Customization: Customize your documents with your logo, colors, fonts, and images. Embed forms on your website or social media to capture leads and feedback.
- Customer support: Get email and live chat support from the Indy team. Access helpful resources and tutorials on the Indy website. Join the Indy community of freelancers to share tips and insights.
- Pricing: Choose between a Free plan or a Pro plan depending on your needs. The Free plan gives you unlimited use of basic tools such as proposals, contracts, invoices, people, projects, calendar, forms, tasks, time tracker, files, chats, and more. The Pro plan gives you access to advanced features such as recurring invoice series, Zapier integration, Google Calendar sync, embedded forms, white labeling, custom fonts, and more.
Indy represents good value for money because of its pricing plan. You can start with the Free plan and use all the basic tools you need to run your freelance business at no cost. You can also upgrade to the Pro plan for only $9 per month (billed annually) or $12 per month (billed monthly) and unlock advanced features that will help you grow your business. Compared to 17Hats and HoneyBook, which charge $15-$45 per month (billed annually) or $25-$65 per month (billed monthly), Indy offers a more affordable and flexible option for freelancers.
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
As you can see, 17Hats and HoneyBook are both platforms that help freelancers manage their business with various tools and automation features. However, they also have some drawbacks, such as high pricing, limited customization, and complex workflows. If you are looking for a simpler, cheaper, and more flexible alternative, you might want to give Indy a try. Indy is the freelancer all-in-one toolkit that helps you run your freelance business with one subscription, one website, and helpful tools for your important tasks.
You can start with the Free plan and use all the basic tools you need at no cost. You can also upgrade to the Pro plan and unlock advanced features that will help you grow your business. Indy is designed by freelancers for freelancers, so you can trust that it understands your needs and challenges. Why not sign up for a free trial today and see for yourself how Indy can make your freelance life easier?
