An unbiased Honeybook review

My honest take on the CRM

If you're a small business owner looking to streamline your operations, HoneyBook is a game-changer. At Good Brand Partners, we use HoneyBook as our business management platform to get paid, sign contracts, manage projects, and maintain relationships with clients—all while using on-brand, digital files that help us make better decisions.

While we’re big fans of the software, there are some folks who may be on the fence about whether the platform is right for them. So I put together this HoneyBook review to give you a clear and balanced perspective. Below, I highlight the top five reasons why service providers like myself use the software, as well as some of its pitfalls so you can make an informed decision.

use HoneyBook as our business management platform to get paid, sign contracts, manage projects, and maintain relationships with clients—all while using on-brand, digital files that help us make better decisions. While we’re big fans of the software, there are some folks that may be on the fence as to whether the platform is right for them.

So I put together this HoneyBook review so you can get a better understanding why service providers like myself use the software and how it could benefit your business. In this blog I'll highlight the top 5 reasons to integrate HoneyBook into your tech stack this year:

‍5 Reasons Why HoneyBook is Worth It for Small Businesses

1. Boost Efficiency and Stay Organized with HoneyBook

Say goodbye to constantly switching tools for every task! HoneyBook allows you to manage all your important documents, payments, and client communication in one place.

With a shared client workspace, everyone stays on the same page. These workspaces enable easy access to all project details, documents, emails, and client information. Plus, you get read receipts on proposals, invoices, and contracts and can track where each client or project stands with a customized pipeline.

2. Elevate Your Client Experience with HoneyBook

Give your clients a seamless and delightful booking experience that reflects the quality of your services from start to finish.

Features to Highlight:

• Design and share fully branded and interactive proposals, brochures, and questionnaires.
• Allow clients to easily sign contracts and pay invoices online in one step.
• Schedule free or paid sessions based on real-time availability—no need for Acuity or Calendly!
• Respond quickly to customers from your mobile device with email templates.
• Stay on top of client communication with custom reminders, read receipts, and more.

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3. Save Time and Automate Workflows with HoneyBook

Save time and scale your business without losing the personal touch. HoneyBook's automation tools handle repetitive tasks while you maintain control over where you want to step in.

• Use workflows to automatically send emails and files, with the flexibility to make last-minute changes.
• Automated payment reminders help you avoid those awkward "how y’all doin'" check-ins.
• Set some automations to only send upon your approval—ensuring files, messages, and task reminders only go out when you're ready.
• With the new Conditional Logic feature and Automation Templates, you can trigger even more actions than before, streamlining your processes like never before.

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4. Strengthen Your Brand Identity with HoneyBook

HoneyBook lets you put your brand front and center. Showcase what makes your business unique in every client interaction, helping you stand out and connect with clients.

• Use pre-made templates customized to your brand, industry, and clients.
• Incorporate your own fonts and logos on invoices, contracts, proposals, brochures, emails, and your client portal.
• Customize all client-facing documents to reflect your brand.
• Pro-tip: Hiring a professional to help with branding your business can take things to the next level.

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5. Make Smarter Business Decisions Using HoneyBook

HoneyBook helps you make better business decisions, almost like having a virtual assistant on your team.

• The lead source report shows you where leads are coming from and breaks down which sources have higher conversion rates, guiding your marketing spend.
• Monitor your revenue trends to better understand what to expect each month and decide when to make bigger purchases.
• Keep track of outstanding payments to better benchmark your bank account.

Bonus: HoneyBook’s Team is Next-Level

One of the best but often overlooked aspects of HoneyBook is its incredible support team. The people behind the software truly care about their users. From support and design to marketing and project management, they really listen to their audience day in and day out, constantly improving the platform based on real feedback from the HoneyBook community. Having a customer support team that genuinely wants you to succeed is rare, and it makes a huge difference in how effective a software platform can be.

‍HoneyBook Cons: What You Should Consider Before Signing Up
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1. HoneyBook’s Rapid Growth Can Feel Overwhelming

HoneyBook has come a long way, adding powerful features like automations, scheduling, and smart files. But for early adopters who joined when the software was more lightweight, the constant evolution can feel overwhelming. Some users who initially loved the platform for its simplicity now feel like the possibilities are endless—but not always in a good way.

2. HoneyBook’s Transaction Fees (But It’s Industry Standard)

Like any payment processor, HoneyBook charges a transaction fee on payments. While this is standard across the industry (Stripe, PayPal, and Square do the same), it's still something to consider if you're dealing with high-ticket transactions. That said, it's a small price to pay for the convenience of integrated payments, and the fees are on par with most competitors.

3. Payment Processing Time Can Be Slow

One downside of HoneyBook is the time it takes for funds to clear. Payments can take up to three business days to deposit into your account. While this isn’t unusual for payment processors, it can be frustrating when you need cash flow quickly. There is an Instant Deposit feature, but if you’re like me and too cheap to use it, you’ll just have to wait it out. That said, it’s still faster than waiting for a client to mail a check from across the country!

4. The HoneyBook App Can Be Laggy

While HoneyBook’s desktop experience is solid, the mobile app sometimes lags and slows down. This can be frustrating when you need to check a client’s project or send an invoice on the go. The good news? HoneyBook’s team is actively working on improving app performance, so this will likely get better over time.

5. Recent Price increase: What You Need to Know

HoneyBook recently increased its prices for the first time in over a decade, which shocked many members, myself included. The new membership plans started on February 4, 2025, with the increase aimed at helping HoneyBook continue to innovate and improve its platform.

Note: I actually have a full blog post breaking down the pricing structure (plus a quiz to help you choose the right tier for your business)—feel free to check it out!

Why the higher investment?

There’s been plenty of discussion about whether this price hike is too high, with some users even switching to other software. I completely respect everyone's budget, but I also see why HoneyBook made this move. Over the years, it has evolved from a simple CRM into a robust, AI-powered, automation-packed business management tool. The expanded capabilities—like smart automations, AI tools, and premium design templates—make it a far more comprehensive system than it was a decade ago.

Will I stay or move off of HoneyBook?

Some may say I’m a brand loyalist. After all I am a HoneyBook Pro so why would I go anywhere else. But the truth is that even if I wasn’t certified to train others in the software, I still would stay. And that’s because I see the value of it for me and my business. Full stop.

I would never tell anyone they needed to stay on something that didn’t suit them. That said, if you're only using a small portion of HoneyBook’s features, the price jump probably might not feel worth it. But for those utilizing the platform’s full power, the added cost may be justified.

If you're on the fence, I recommend auditing your workflows to see if you’re maximizing HoneyBook’s potential before making a decision.
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Final Thoughts: Is HoneyBook Right for You?

By integrating HoneyBook into your business, you can streamline operations, provide an excellent client experience, save time with automation, enhance your branding, and make informed business decisions. Plus, their support team is second to none.

If you want to see how HoneyBook could work for you, sign up for a free trial here or you can take my quiz to see which HoneyBook plan is right for you.

Remember, my link above will save you 30% off at checkout (a little thank you for reading my content and supporting my educational business).

Either way, I hope you found this blog helpful—until next time, keep making good out there!