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Welcome to another episode of the Business Journey Podcast! Today, we’re diving deep into Comparing Crms specifically tailored for mini-sessions. If you’re a photographer, or any business owner running short, focused sessions, choosing the right Client Management System (CRM) is crucial. A CRM helps streamline your workflow, from tracking client progress to sending essential documents and emails. In this episode, we’ll break down a detailed comparison of three popular CRMs: Honeybook, Dubsado, and Session, to help you decide which best fits your mini-session needs. And speaking of mini-sessions, with the season fast approaching, are you feeling the pressure to choose the perfect theme? Take the guesswork out of planning with my free guide: 12 Proven Mini-Session Themes. Grab it today and start planning sessions that book!
Choosing Your CRM: Honeybook vs. Dubsado vs. Session
One of the most frequent questions I encounter from students is, “Which CRM should I use – Honeybook or Dubsado?” The truth is, the best CRM is a very personal decision, deeply intertwined with your unique business needs and preferences. However, to make this choice easier, I’m going to dissect the key differences between these platforms, empowering you to make an informed decision. Having used Honeybook for a year before transitioning to Dubsado (which I absolutely love!), I’ve gained firsthand experience with these systems. Additionally, Session, a CRM specifically designed for mini-sessions, has emerged as a contender. While I found Session didn’t fully meet my more complex workflow requirements, it might be the perfect fit for you. For many, the real debate boils down to Honeybook versus Dubsado. But, let’s explore all three to give you a complete picture.
Session: Simplicity and Streamlined Booking
Session is priced at $19 per month and stands out for its user-friendly design, particularly appealing to those who might not consider themselves tech-savvy. There’s absolutely no shame in preferring simplicity! Session is remarkably streamlined and easy to set up, offering a smooth onboarding experience. It excels in helping you quickly establish dates for your mini-sessions, allowing clients to select their preferred time slots with ease, and incorporates automated client reminders – all valuable features for managing bookings efficiently.
However, if you require a more intricate client experience, Session’s simplicity might also be its limitation. For instance, I like to provide a detailed client experience guide as part of my process, and Session didn’t accommodate this level of customization. While its booking link is incredibly user-friendly for clients, simplifying the sign-up process, Session operates as a fundamentally basic system. If your workflow is straightforward and requires minimal steps, Session could be an excellent, cost-effective choice. However, for photographers or businesses with more involved workflows, Honeybook or Dubsado will likely offer the necessary depth and flexibility.
Honeybook: User-Friendly Interface with Robust Features
Honeybook is currently priced at $30 per month (and you can get a 20% discount using my code!). My year-long experience with Honeybook was overwhelmingly positive. It boasts a very intuitive and visually appealing user interface. Honeybook strikes a balance between user-friendliness and functionality, though it was, at the time of my use, not quite as feature-rich as Dubsado in certain areas. A significant advantage of Honeybook is its workflow customization. You can build and tailor workflows to a greater extent than with Session, offering more control over your client process.
One feature I particularly appreciate in Honeybook is its workflow pipeline. This visual tool provides a quick, at-a-glance overview of each client’s stage in the booking process, from contract signing to payment completion. Honeybook also offers reporting capabilities, allowing you to analyze data and gain insights into your business performance – a feature absent in Session. However, Honeybook’s scheduler has a notable drawback. Unlike Session or Dubsado, scheduling a session through Honeybook’s calendar does not automatically trigger a workflow. This necessitates manual intervention to initiate subsequent steps, which, for me, somewhat undermines the purpose of workflow automation. Despite this scheduling limitation, Honeybook offers a wealth of valuable features and remains a strong contender for businesses seeking a user-friendly yet capable CRM.
Dubsado: Deep Customization and Automation Powerhouse
Priced slightly lower than Honeybook at $28 per month (and I also have a 20% off coupon for Dubsado!), Dubsado shares Honeybook’s capacity for customized workflows, which is a major advantage for tailoring your client experience. However, Dubsado takes customization even further. It allows for pipeline customization, enabling you to visually track clients’ progress through your unique booking stages, much like Honeybook, but with added flexibility. Furthermore, Dubsado allows you to incorporate workflow steps that automatically advance a client’s project through the pipeline – for example, moving a project to an “editing” stage post-session. I am a huge advocate for automating every possible step in my business, and Dubsado excels in this area.
Dubsado’s workflow triggers are also more extensive and versatile, offering a wider array of automation possibilities. For instance, you can set up automated reminders for clients who haven’t completed questionnaires – a feature that can significantly reduce manual follow-up. Crucially for mini-sessions, Dubsado’s scheduling integrates seamlessly with workflows. When a client books a mini-session slot, it can automatically trigger subsequent workflow steps, such as sending contracts and invoices, requiring absolutely no manual input from your side. If the prospect of setting up such an automated workflow feels overwhelming, I’ve created a resource to simplify the process: my Dubsado Workflow. It provides a step-by-step guide to setting up my workflows, making automation accessible and manageable.
On the downside, Dubsado can sometimes feel less polished in its user interface compared to Honeybook. It can occasionally be slower to load and might not have the same aesthetic appeal as Honeybook. If Honeybook were to enhance its automation capabilities to match Dubsado’s level of customization, I might consider switching back. However, for now, Dubsado’s powerful automation and deep customization make it my CRM of choice.
CRM Comparison Recap: Choosing the Right Fit
To summarize our CRM comparison: If you prioritize simplicity and ease of use, especially if you’re new to CRMs or less tech-inclined, Session is an excellent starting point for managing mini-sessions. Honeybook is ideal for those who value a user-friendly and visually appealing interface with solid workflow capabilities, suitable for both full sessions and mini-sessions, though its scheduling automation is less robust than Dubsado’s. If you demand extensive customization options and the most powerful automation features to streamline your mini-session workflows, Dubsado is the clear winner.
Ultimately, any of these CRMs will elevate your business professionalism compared to using basic tools like Google Docs or spreadsheets. For those just starting out, more budget-friendly options like Shootproof are also available as entry-level CRMs. The most important thing is to start somewhere and choose a CRM that aligns with your current needs and business stage, with room to grow as your business evolves.
Useful Links Mentioned:
- Honeybook Discount Code
- Session Discount Code
- Dubsado Discount Code
- Shootproof Free Trial
- 12 Proven Mini-Session Themes
- Dubsado Workflow Guide
Episode Topics Covered:
Session CRM (3:03)
Honeybook CRM (5:24)
Dubsado CRM (8:24)
CRM Recap and Recommendations (12:44)
