A client portal is a single, password-protected page where your client can log in and find everything tied to their work with you: invoices, forms, appointments, project details, and more, all in one place. Client portals are completely optional, so this article helps you decide whether one fits how you work and points you to everything you need to set one up.
What is a client portal?
A client portal centralizes the forms, invoices, appointments, email communication, and project details you share with a client in one login-protected page. It's client-facing, meaning your client logs in to see it, which makes it separate from the Dubsado dashboard you use to manage your business.
Each client has one portal. If a client has multiple projects with you, they all show up in that same portal.
Do you need a client portal?
Client portals are completely optional, so having one may not be necessary for your business. Whether it's worth turning on depends on how you and your clients prefer to work together.
You might want a client portal if:
Your clients want one centralized place to see all the documents you've sent.
You want to reduce the number of form emails you send by adding forms to the portal first.
You provide outside resources and want to link to those resources in one place.
You want to make forms private. Password-protected forms are only accessible through the client portal.
Your clients have multiple projects with you and want one place to track them all.
You might not need a client portal if:
Your clients don't want to log in to a new webpage.
It's easier for your clients to access documents directly in an email.
You don't send out many forms.
Not sure whether a portal is worth it? Reviewing what gets synced to the portal is the fastest way to decide.
How client portals work
Setting up a client portal follows three steps: activate it, customize how it looks, and share it with your client.
Activate the portal. Every client portal starts out deactivated. You activate it per client when you're ready for that client to log in.
Customize the look. You can add a welcome message, logo, banner, and brand colors so the portal matches your business.
Share it with your client. Once a portal is active, you can share it either by sending the client-specific link from their project or contact, or by giving out the public portal link and password.
Client portals are always deactivated by default. A client can't log in until you activate their portal.
FAQ
Are client portals required?
No. Client portals are completely optional. Many businesses run entirely through emailed documents and never turn one on. Use a portal only if the benefits above match how you and your clients work.
How do I turn on a client portal?
Portals start deactivated, so you activate each client's portal when you're ready. See activate or deactivate client portals for the steps.
What will my client actually see in their portal?
A curated view of their project: invoices, sent forms, appointments, project details, and any external links you've added. Individual tasks, notes, and internal fields stay private. See what gets synced to your client's portal for the full list.
Does my client need a password to log in?
It depends on how you share the portal. The client-specific link sent from their project or contact logs them in by email with no password needed. The public portal link requires the client to have a password set. See share the client portal for both options.
Can each client's portal look different?
Portal branding, including the welcome message, logo, banner, and colors, is set once for your whole business, but you can override the banner image for an individual client. See customize the client portal for details.