Best Consulting Software

Last updated on March 15, 2024

Being a consultant today means juggling a lot of different things—managing client data, tracking projects, communicating with clients, generating reports…and this is just the tip of the iceberg. 

What’s the secret sauce to making it all work? Using the right consulting software!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the best consulting software that can boost your coaching productivity and help keep your clients happy and satisfied. 

Here’s a summary:

• HoneyBook – Particularly strong in automating administrative tasks like scheduling, invoicing, and payment processing
• Paperbell – Stands out for its coaching-focused features
• Bonsai – Perfect for those seeking a blend of project management and financial tools
• Delenta – Offers a cloud-based platform that includes scheduling, invoicing, document exchange, and unique business analytics 
• Simply.Coach – Focuses on digitizing coaching journeys and automating repeatable tasks
• FreshBooks – Known for its accounting and invoicing capabilities
• Profi – Ideal for organizing, delivering, and scaling service delivery under one roof

1. Honeybook

Honeybook  is an all-in-one CRM software that helps you keep an eye on all your projects, from the first hello to getting paid. 

It’s a lot more than just a place to keep your contacts; it helps you send out invoices, sign contracts online, and even schedule meetings without going back and forth in emails.

HoneyBook also integrates with other tools such as QuickBooks, Calendly, Zapier, Zoom, and more, which is great if you already have existing workflows in your business.

Honeybook Features

• CRM
• Project management
• Automation
• Scheduling
• Lead tracking
• Invoices
• Proposals
• Questionnaires and forms
• Client portal
• Mobile app
• Templates
• Integrations (Google Calendar, Zoom, Gmail, etc.)

Honeybook Pricing

Starts at $8/month for the first year (billed yearly). New subscribers get 50% off with our link.

Best for?

Honeybook is best for consultants who want a powerful CRM that can also optimize other aspects of their business. For more info, be sure to read our Honeybook review.

2. Paperbell

Paperbell is a coaching platform designed to make the lives of coaches and consultants easier by automating many different business processes. 

It offers features that simplify scheduling, payment processing, contract signing, and client management, all in one place.

It also allows the sale of digital products like e-books and journals and integrates with services like Google Calendar, Zoom, and more. 

Paperbell is praised for its simplicity and ease of use. It is very accessible even to those who may not consider themselves tech-savvy. 

Paperbell Features

• CRM
• Scheduling
• Automation
• Payments
• Contracts
• Group consulting
• Custom landing pages
• Intake surveys
• Reminder emails
• Integrations (Google Calendar, Zoom, Zapier, Skype, PayPal, etc.)

Paperbell Pricing

Starts at $47.50 per month, billed annually.

Best for?

Paperbell is particularly suited for coaches and consultants looking for deep customization and specific features like group sessions within packages and the ability to offer payment plans to clients.

Head to our in-depth Paperbell review to learn more about the platform.

3. Bonsai

Bonsai helps freelancers and small businesses manage projects, track time, send invoices, and much more, all from a single dashboard.

You can send client proposals using a variety of templates, which you can personalize to fit your services and pricing models. 

You can also quickly turn proposals into contracts and then invoices. This streamlines your workflow and ensures you get paid for your work.

Another standout feature of Bonsai is the built-in time-tracking tool, which allows you to track hours spent on a project with a single click or enter your time manually. 

This can be directly linked to your invoices, making billing for hourly work even more straightforward.

Bonsai Features

• CRM
• Bookkeeping
• Project management
• Scheduling
• Contracts
• Invoicing and payments
• Financial management 
• Client portal
• Client intake forms
• Prebuilt and customizable templates
• Collaboration tools
• Integrations (Google Calendar, Gmail, Zapier, QuickBooks, etc.)

Bonsai Pricing

Starts at $21 per month, billed yearly. 

Best for?

Bonsai is best for those looking for a platform with robust financial management and comprehensive business tools.

Could this be the right platform for you? Read our Bonsai review to find out.

4. Delenta

Delenta is an all-in-one coaching software designed to simplify and scale coaching businesses of various sizes.

One of Delenta’s standout features is its ability to white-label and customize the client onboarding experience (personalized messages, brand colors, logos, email templates, message content, and more). 

Consultants can also create and sell online courses directly from their coaching platform.

Plus, Delenta supports integrations with popular payment platforms like PayPal and Stripe. It ensures a seamless financial transaction process without charging additional commissions on payments received.

Delenta Features

• CRM
• Scheduling
• Automation
• Landing page builder
• Payments
• Contracts
• Group consulting
• Custom branding
• Reports
• Integrations (Google Calendar, Zapier, Zoom, MailChimp, PayPal, Stripe, etc.)

Delenta Pricing

Starts at $19 per user per month.

Best for?

Delenta is best for consultants who want simple all-in-one software that can keep up with their business growth. Discover more about Delenta and its features in our review.

5. Simply.Coach

Despite its name, Simply.Coach is a versatile platform that caters to the needs of both consultants and coaches. 

Its key strengths lie in pre-programmed frameworks and LinkedIn and email integrations that make marketing communication super easy.

The platform streamlines everything from client management and automating scheduling to delegating tasks and creating packages for clients.

Simply.Coach Features

• CRM
• Scheduling 
• Automation
• Group consulting
• Branding (check out this Brand Toolkit for business coaches)
• Goal and development planning
• Resource and content library
• Forms and questionnaires
• Invoices and payments
• Contracts
• Reports 
• Integrations (Google, Zoom, Zapier, Office 365, Teams, PayPal, etc.)

Simply.Coach Pricing

Starts at $9 per month for solopreneurs and $79 per month for businesses.

Best for?

Simply.Coach is best for consultants who want to streamline managing their projects and delivering their services.

6. Profi 

Profi is a consultant management program with features that adapt to different consulting niches.

The platform simplifies communication with clients through its secure, built-in chat and video conferencing features.

It also integrates pretty much every tool you need to run a consulting business, including showcasing and delivering services, a branded client portal, billing software, time tracking, landing pages, and reporting. 

If you manage multiple consultants, you can create consultants’ profiles and add booking widgets to streamline appointment scheduling.

Profi Features

• CRM
• Automation
• Scheduling
• Client portal
• Co-managing clients
• Billing system
• Forms 
• Journaling
• Contracts
• Building programs and packages
• Community and membership
• Messaging
• Built-in video calls and chat
• Reporting
• Integrations (Google, Zapier, Outlook, Mailchimp, Stripe, etc.)

Profi Pricing

Starts at $99 per month per coach seat.

Best for?

Profi is best for medium to large consulting businesses seeking a comprehensive solution to streamline operations and enhance client engagement. See our Profi review for a comprehensive guide.

7. Freshbooks

Freshbooks is a popular choice for consultants who need an easy way to manage their finances and billing. 

One of FreshBooks’ major strengths is its user-friendly interface, which includes time and project tracking integrated directly with invoicing. This ensures accurate billing for the work done. 

The platform also supports payroll integration with services like Gusto and SurePayroll, syncing automatically whenever payroll is run and keeping the accounting books up to date.

Freshbooks Features

• Invoicing
• Bookkeeping
• Payments
• Time tracking
• Reports
• Client data
• Team collaboration
• Integrations (Google, Zoom, Dropbox, Asana, Square, Stripe, Trello, etc.)

Freshbooks Pricing 

Starts at $5.70 per month or $152 per year

Best for?

Freshbooks is best for consultants who primarily want accounting and bookkeeping software, but also wish to streamline payments, track time, and store client data.

Conclusion

Using consultation software such as Honeybook, Paperbell, Bonsai, and other powerful tools on this list gives you more time to concentrate on what you do best—help clients be their best selves.

If you want to know how these platforms stack up against each other, be sure to check out Honey vs Paperbell, Bonsai vs Honeybook, and more on our website.

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