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Projects your team can follow
Won the work? Start a project for the client and share progress in their portal.
Explore Projects your team can follow
Client management
Client management software, from first message to paid invoice
One record per client with their messages, bookings, contracts, invoices and work, plus a private portal where they follow progress. Built for small service businesses.
Free plan, no card needed. Or book a demo.
Your clients are spread across too many apps
Most small service businesses run clients from WhatsApp, an email inbox, a spreadsheet, a booking app and an invoicing tool. Each one holds part of the story, so a simple question like "what did we quote, and have they paid?" means searching all five.
startbuddi keeps the whole relationship on one client record: their messages, bookings, quotes and contracts, invoices and the work you are doing for them. Your team works from the same record, and the client follows along in their own portal.
What you can run from one place
- One page per client, with notes, tasks, deals, files and a money tile: invoiced, paid, outstanding and overdue.
- A shared inbox for WhatsApp, email, SMS, website chat, Instagram and Facebook.
- A booking link that can take a deposit before the slot is confirmed.
- Estimates that convert to invoices, and contracts sent for e-signature.
- Invoices clients pay online through Paystack or Stripe.
- A client portal for each client, with approvals, invoices and messages.
New to the category? Read our guide to choosing client management software, compare options in the best client management software list, or see startbuddi vs HoneyBook.
- One recordMessages, deals, notes, files and money on the client's page.
- One inboxWhatsApp, email, SMS and social messages on the right client.
- Quote to paidEstimates, e-signed contracts and invoices with online payment.
- Client portalsApprovals, invoices and messages, with email-link sign-in.
Contacts
One record per client, with the whole relationship.
Messages, deals, notes, tasks, files and money for each client on one page. Add someone with just a name, an email or a phone number, or import a CSV.
- Email, Call or WhatsApp straight from the contact
- A money tile: Invoiced, Paid, Outstanding, Overdue
- Companies fill in their logo and details from their website
Channels
Every client message in one shared inbox.
WhatsApp, email, SMS, website chat, Instagram and Facebook land on the right client, so the team replies from one place. WhatsApp and SMS unlock on Starter.
- WhatsApp, Email, SMS, Website Chat, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and Voice
- Open, Snoozed and Closed tabs, sorted Newest, Oldest or Unread first
- Filters: Unassigned, Assigned to me, Unread, Chip has a reply
Deposits
Clients book, and pay a deposit, from one link.
Turn on "Require payment to book" and take the full amount or a deposit through Paystack or Stripe. Every booking creates or updates the client.
- "Customer must pay before the booking is confirmed"
- Full amount or a deposit
- The slot is held while they pay
Contracts
Quotes and contracts, signed without printing.
Send an estimate, convert it to an invoice when the client agrees, and send contracts for e-signature from a template.
- Freelance, Photography, Brand Design, Website Development and Event Planning templates
- Several signers per contract, with x/y signed at a glance
- Drafts, Awaiting signature and Signed, all in one list
Pay online
Invoices clients can pay online.
Send the invoice from the client's record. They pay by card, bank transfer or mobile money, and the invoice is marked paid on its own.
- Accept payment via Paystack and Stripe, toggled per invoice
- A Pay by bank transfer block with your account details
- Copy the invoice link and send it on WhatsApp, or email it from startbuddi
Approvals
A private portal for each client.
Share projects, deliverables for approval, invoices and messages. Clients sign in with an email link, with no password and no paid seat.
- Link each deliverable to a document, a file, a page or any web address
- Switch on approvals and a shared task cannot be marked done until the client says yes
- Every approval and change request in the Activity log
Same workspace
The client record is shared by the rest of the business.
Projects, time, forms and follow-ups all use the same client, so nothing is typed twice.
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Forms that feed your records
Intake and enquiry forms add new clients to your contacts on their own.
Explore Forms that feed your records
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Follow-ups that run themselves
Welcome emails, follow-up tasks and reminders that start when a form, booking or deal changes.
Explore Follow-ups that run themselves
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Video meetings with clients
Clients join video calls from a link, with no account. Recording and Chip notes start on Starter, and on Growth clients can call you from their portal chat.
More about meetings
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Client reports
Client reports drafted by Chip from the numbers only, shared as a PDF or a link with a password, or in the client's portal from Growth.
More about Analytics
Plans
Start free, unlock channels and portals when you need them
Client records, bookings, contracts and invoices are on every plan. Free keeps 250 contacts and sends 5 invoices a month, and you can build and preview a client portal. Starter ($29 a month) keeps 2,500 contacts and adds WhatsApp, SMS, automations and 1 live client portal. Growth has 10 live portals and Scale 50.
- Free Included, free forever $0
- Starter Included, 30-day trial $29/mo
- Growth Included, 30-day trial $79/mo
- Scale Included, 30-day trial $199/mo
Questions people ask
What is client management software?
Software that keeps each client's details, messages, bookings, quotes, work and payments in one record, so you can reply, follow up and get paid without searching five apps.
Is startbuddi a CRM or client management software?
Both. Customers is the CRM part: contacts, companies, a shared inbox and deals. Bookings, contracts, invoices and client portals are linked to the same client record.
Can clients sign contracts and pay online?
Yes. Send a contract for signature from a template, and let clients pay invoices by card, bank transfer or mobile money through Paystack, or by card through Stripe.
Do my clients need an account or a seat?
No. Clients invited to a portal sign in with a one-time email link. They never take a paid seat.
Can clients call me or get reports in their portal?
Yes, on Growth and above. The portal chat has a Call button on both sides, and clients join from a personal link with no account. Reports from Analytics can be shared in the portal too.
How much does it cost?
Start on Free with 250 contacts. Starter costs $29 a month with a 30-day trial and adds WhatsApp, SMS, automations and a live client portal.
Run every client from one place.
Start with your client list and your messages. Add bookings, contracts, invoices and portals when you are ready.
Free plan available. Every paid plan starts with a 30-day trial.