How to Build Packages in Dubsado

By Ema Katiraee, Certified Dubsado Specialist

TL;DR: Packages in Dubsado are reusable templates for your services and pricing. Set them up once and use them across proposals and invoices without retyping anything. Here's how to build them, duplicate them, and use them effectively in both proposals and custom invoices.

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If you’ve ever found yourself retyping the same service descriptions and prices over and over again, you’ll love what packages in Dubsado can do for you. Packages act like building blocks - you set them up once, and then reuse them in both proposals and invoices.

Whether you offer set service bundles or you create fully custom invoices for every client, packages are one of the easiest ways to save time and keep your process consistent.

What Are Packages in Dubsado?

Packages are reusable templates for the services or products you sell. Instead of typing out pricing and descriptions from scratch every time, you can set up a package once and then use it across invoices and proposals.

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How to Create Packages in Dubsado

Here’s a step-by-step guide to building a package:

1. Go to Invoicing → Packages

2. Click + to Create a new package

   • You can also click on an existing package and click duplicate (copy icon)

3. Click the Title to edit

4. Add an Item name

5. Add a Description. If you’re listing items in multiple lines in the description, click the bullet point icon to add bullet points to the description. For single-item packages, turn bullets off to keep things clean.

6. Update the Quantity if needed

7. Enter the Price

8. Add tax items if applicable

9. Assign a Category. This lets you track revenue by service type (e.g., branding, websites, etc.)

10. Click Apply to add the item to the package

Example of a package in Dubsado that uses one line item

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Single vs. Multi-Item Packages

Not every package needs to be a single item. Depending on your industry, you might:

• Keep it simple with one line item. Great if you want your package to display the full price and not include a breakdown.

• Break it into parts with multiple line items. Great for instances where a single package includes multiple parts that need to be listed and priced separately - like lighting, sound, video, etc.

Adding more line items is as simple as clicking + Add Item and filling in the details.

Example of a multi-line item package in Dubsado

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Duplicating Packages

Once you’ve created one package, you don’t have to start from scratch again. Use the duplicate feature to copy a package, then tweak the details. It’s a quick way to keep consistency while offering variations of your services.

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Packages for Custom Invoices

Even if you rarely send the same invoice twice, packages can still save you time. Instead of manually typing every service, create packages for each possible offering (e.g., photography add-ons, consulting sessions, design extras).

When you’re building a custom invoice, just pull in the relevant packages, adjust quantities or prices as needed, and you’re done.

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Using Packages in Proposals

Packages are the backbone of your Dubsado proposals. They allow you to present your services clearly, give clients choice, and connect everything to an invoice so booking feels seamless. With packages, you can control:

• Which packages appear in a proposal.

• Which package(s) are required for booking.

• Whether clients can select one package or multiple.

• Whether the invoice is attached so they can choose and pay all in one form.

This turns your proposals into a polished, interactive tool that helps clients see exactly what’s included and makes booking you much simpler.

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Key Proposal Settings for Packages

• Allow multiple selections: In the proposal Settings, toggle on Multiple packages can be selected if you want clients to choose more than one package.

• Include the invoice: In the same settings, toggle on Include invoice to automatically generate an invoice based on the client’s selections.

Proposal settings to allow for multiple packages

• Preselect a package: Click on the package element in your proposal and toggle on Pre-selected.

  • Best used when you have a main package that’s required to work with you.

  • Add-ons can remain optional for clients to choose.

  • To avoid confusion, remove the Select button from the pre-selected package so it’s clear that it’s included by default.

Pre-select a package inside of a proposal in Dubsado

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FAQ: Packages in Dubsado

Do I need to use categories when creating packages?
Not necessarily, but categories make reporting much more useful. They help you see which services bring in the most revenue.

Can I edit a package after I’ve added it to a proposal or invoice?
Yes. You can tweak quantities, prices, descriptions, taxes, and categories after adding a package to an invoice or even a proposal.

Are packages required to use proposals?
Yes, you can add specific packages to your proposal but you can also create quote like proposals, that pull information from the invoice rather than having clients select a package - this is great for industries that require custom quotes / invoices.

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Watch the Tutorial

Want to see exactly how to create and use packages in Dubsado? Watch the full step-by-step walkthrough here:

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Ready to Stop Building Packages From Scratch Every Time?

If you've made it this far, you probably already know your Dubsado setup needs some work. Getting your packages, proposals, and workflows built properly from the start is exactly what I do. Book a discovery call and let's talk about what that looks like for your business.