Dubsado For Every Phase of Your Business
During this past month I’ve had the opportunity to speak to many business owners. People from many different niches and at different phases in their business.
What I’ve observed is that depending on the phase you’re at, Dubsado may or may not make sense for your business.
I’ve broken down these different phases of building a business and which ones are a good fit for using Dubsado.
Are you wondering if it's the right time to start using Dubsado? Keep reading.
Phase 1: Just Starting Out
You have a business idea and you’re getting started. Maybe you haven’t signed a client yet or maybe you’ve signed your first few paid clients.
I don’t recommend using Dubsado in this early phase because things may change in your business. You’re still gaining clarity around your niche, ideal client and offers. So things may change as you gain more experience and begin working with clients.
Taking the time to learn how to use Dubsado, to create forms, emails and other assets - might not be the best investment of your time.
However, there are certain software or applications that are very helpful in this phase:
Business email account: it comes across as more professional. It also helps with email deliverability if you start an email list. Google workspace is an affordable and easy option to use.
Social media apps: this is a great place to send people who want to learn more about you and your business. There are a lot of options to choose from, pick one you enjoy where your ideal client hangs out too.
Appointment scheduler: so people can book a time to talk to you. Calendly is a good option and has a free plan.
Payment processor: so you can receive payment from your clients. Paypal is a common option or you can also use invoicing software like Wave.
Website: you don’t need a website when you’re starting out, but I understand if you want one. Because things may change, a simple one page website is all you need. You can create one with Canva and connect it to your custom domain (this is a new feature).
When you’re getting started, your time is best spent meeting people and sharing what you do and how you can help them.
Phase 2: Gaining Client Experience
At this stage you’ve had the opportunity to work with some clients.
You've gained more clarity around who you want to work with, which packages you want to offer, etc.
At this point, the Dubsado Starter plan is worth investing in. It will help you:
Streamline your proposals, contracts and invoices, saving you time.
Send automated payment reminders to your clients.
Create canned emails for those emails that you send every time you sign a new client.
For some of you the Premier plan might be a better option at this point if you need access to the appointment scheduler.
Phase 3: Steady Client Work
At this stage you’ve worked with many clients and have a steady stream of clients coming in.
You have created a client process you feel comfortable with and helps you deliver the results you want for your clients.
At this point your backend/admin tasks might be taking more time than you’d like - causing you some frustration. Saving time becomes important as it would allow you to work with more clients.
This is when the Dubsado Premier plan is worth investing in. The advantage of the Premier plan is access to the automated workflows.
This is when the Dubsado Premier plan is worth investing in. The advantage of the Premier plan is access to the automated workflows.
Once workflows are set up you can automate tasks in your client process so things happen in the background without you needing to lift a finger 🎉.
Working with a Certified Dubsado Specialist (like me!) at this point can be a good option for you. I can help setup streamlined workflows tailored to your business and client experience, and help save you even more time (& mental space).
Phase 4: Scaling Your Business
At this stage you may find yourself fully booked, and in order to grow your business further you transition from a 1:1 service to a group offer - like group coaching or an online course.
Depending on your offers, you may or may not need Dubsado when you reach this phase.
You may still need Dubsado for the initial part of your client process: to manage inquiries, send proposals, contracts and invoices.
The remaining part of your client process can move to an online course platform like Kajabi or Teachable.
But for some of you, Dubsado may no longer make sense because the course platform may do everything you need.
These are the four phases I’ve identified and where Dubsado fits into each one.
I just want to point out that you might be in one of the phases above but are doing things differently from what I’ve described.
If what you’re doing works for your business and feels right to you - you’re on the right track.
Hopefully breaking things down in this way is helpful. I wanted to share what I've observed and what I’ve recommended to some people I’ve had the opportunity to talk to.
An invitation
If you're overwhelmed trying to keep track of sending proposals and contracts, tracking payment, scheduling calls, remembering what emails to send out, and more - let's talk.
Book a free no obligation consult and let's see if a Dubsado setup is right for your business.
Click the link to schedule your call