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Author

Tiwalade Joanna Okedara-Kalu

Founder, CEO and CTO at startbuddi

Tiwalade Joanna Okedara-Kalu is the founder, CEO and CTO of startbuddi, the business system that brings clients, bookings, invoices, projects, marketing and the Chip AI assistant into one place. Tiwalade builds software around how service businesses really work day to day, and writes about client management, getting paid on time and why small businesses outgrow the tools they start with.

Founded startbuddi and leads its product and engineering

Client managementGetting paidBusiness softwareAI for small businessProduct

Published by Tiwalade Joanna Okedara-Kalu

Website builder9 min read · Sep 28

Local SEO for small businesses: how to get found on Google

How local SEO works, what Google looks at when it ranks nearby businesses, and a 30-day plan to get your business found…

Money9 min read · Sep 28

How to write a business proposal that wins the job

The eight parts of a business proposal that wins, a template you can copy, how to price it and how to follow…

Invoicing9 min read · Sep 28

Retainer agreements: how to sell and bill monthly retainers

How to choose, price and pitch a monthly retainer, what your retainer agreement should say, and how to bill it without chasing.

Payments10 min read · Sep 28

Deposits and upfront payments: how much to ask for and how

How much upfront payment to ask clients for, how to explain it, what to write about refunds, and the easiest ways to…

CRM9 min read · Sep 15

How to organise customer information without searching through chats and notes

A practical system to organise customer information in one place: what to record, how to move it out of chats, and the…

CRM10 min read · Sep 7

How to set up a CRM for a small service business: a step-by-step guide

A ten-step CRM setup guide for service businesses: goals, stages, clean data, fields, forms and bookings, follow-ups, delivery, training and a monthly…

AI10 min read · Aug 31

AI assistant for small business operations: what it should and shouldn’t do

What an AI assistant should handle in a small business, what it should never do on its own, how to protect client…

CRM10 min read · Aug 20

How to manage multiple freelance clients without losing track

How to manage multiple freelance clients with one system: vet the fit, agree terms in writing, onboard, block your time, control scope,…

Booking10 min read · Jul 21

How to automate client bookings and reminders without Calendly

How to automate client bookings end to end: services and availability, booking questions, deposits, automatic reminders and follow-ups, with or without Calendly.

Booking10 min read · Jul 18

Appointment tracking for consultants: manage your calendar without the back-and-forth

How consultants can track appointments and stop the scheduling emails: meeting types, availability rules, time zones, intake questions, deposits, reminders and follow-up.

Invoicing11 min read · Jul 17

Invoice vs receipt: what is the difference, and when do you need each?

An invoice asks for payment and a receipt proves it was paid. Here's when to use each, what they must include, and…

CRM10 min read · Jul 6

CRM implementation: 5 signs your agency needs it today (and the first fix for each)

Slow replies, client details in one person's head, no view of next month's revenue: the five signs your agency needs a CRM,…

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startbuddi gives you bookings, invoices, an inbox and Chip AI in one place. Free to start.