What Is Dubsado (And Do You Actually Need It for Your Creative Business?)
So here’s what always happens.
The moment I tell someone I’m a certified Dubsado specialist, their eyes go wide and they say…
“Wait. What on earth is that?”
It gets even better when I type it out. Because no one knows how to pronounce it.
Dub… za… do? Dubsado. Tomato, tomato. Honestly, it does not matter.
What does matter is this — Dubsado is a system that helps you streamline the behind-the-scenes of your business so you’re not duct-taping together five different tools and calling it “fine.”
And yes, I hear this all the time:
“My business is operating fine.”
Which is usually true… because we don’t know what we don’t know.
Most creatives already have systems. They’re just scattered. Invoices over here. Contracts over there. Forms in someone’s inbox. Calendar links floating around.
Dubsado doesn’t reinvent your business.
It brings what you’re already doing into one structured, automated place.
So let’s talk about who it’s actually for — and what it replaces.
First things first… who Dubsado is for (and who it’s not)
Dubsado is not a marketing tool.
It won’t generate leads. It won’t magically bring people to your website.
It’s what happens after you get a warm lead.
If you’re a service-based business owner who sends:
- contracts
- invoices
- proposals
- questionnaires
…this is where Dubsado shines.
Think photographers, designers, coaches, social media managers, videographers, DJs, interior designers, brand designers, website designers — if you provide a service, this system was built with you in mind.
It’s a CRM, which just means client relationship management. Nothing scary. Just a way to manage clients without relying on memory, sticky notes, or “I’ll get to it later.”
And yes, there are a lot of CRMs out there (which is actually a good thing).
Dubsado happens to be one of the most flexible and customizable — which means it works best when you understand how you operate.
What Dubsado actually replaces in your business
This is where things click for people.
Because most creatives already pay for several of these tools… they’re just spread out.
Invoicing
If you’re sending invoices through Stripe, Square, QuickBooks, Wave — or Venmo-requesting money via text (no shame) — Dubsado can replace that.
It sends invoices, ties them to project dates, and automatically sends reminders so you don’t have to awkwardly follow up.
Proposals
Instead of customizing Canva PDFs or sending website proposal pages that don’t talk to your contracts or invoices, Dubsado brings proposals inside the system.
Clients can:
- select packages
- sign contracts
- pay invoices
All in one place. No manual steps. No confusion.
And yes — they can still be beautiful. (I break this down more in my post on custom Dubsado proposals.)
Contracts & e-signatures
If you’re using Adobe, Apple sign, or another e-sign tool — Dubsado replaces that too.
Contracts live inside the project, get signed digitally, and send reminders automatically. Everything stays organized without extra platforms.
Forms & questionnaires
Goodbye Google Forms, Typeform links, and fill-this-out-and-send-it-back PDFs.
Dubsado’s form builder includes a save-and-return feature, which is huge for long onboarding questionnaires (designers, I see you 👀).
Clients don’t feel rushed. You still get the info you need. Everyone wins.
Scheduling tools
If you’re a solo business owner or the main person taking calls, Dubsado can replace Calendly or Acuity.
One less subscription. One less login. Same functionality — inside the system you’re already using.
The client portal is where everything comes together
This might be my favorite part.
Because when you streamline all of these tools, Dubsado also gives you a client portal.
Your clients can log in and see:
- open invoices
- contracts to sign
- forms to complete
- scheduled appointments
- past projects
All in one place.
And here’s the part people underestimate — this doesn’t just help you.
It completely changes your client experience.
Clients know exactly what’s next.
They don’t have to dig through emails.
They don’t wonder if they missed something.
That clarity builds trust. Every single time.
Why systems matter more than you think
I’ve been reading The E-Myth recently, and it talks about building businesses on systems instead of people.
Because systems are what keep your business running — even when you step away.
That’s always been my heart behind this work.
Helping creative business owners build businesses that breathe.
Businesses that still function when you take a long weekend.
Or a real vacation.
Or just log off early on a Friday.
Dubsado doesn’t do that for you automatically (you still have to tell it what to do), but when it’s set up intentionally, it can support your business in a really powerful way. I talk more about that in my post on automation hacks.
A simple takeaway you can implement this week
You don’t need to overhaul your entire business overnight.
This week, try this instead:
✔️ Write down every place your client information currently lives
✔️ Notice where things feel repetitive or easy to forget
✔️ Ask yourself where a system could support you better
No pressure. No rushing. Just awareness.
Systems aren’t about control or hustle.
They’re about creating spaciousness — for you and your clients.
One last thing (because it’s a really good one)
You can get an extra 30% off your first month or year using my link below:
👉 https://dubsado.com/?c=smartercreative
And if Dubsado feels overwhelming (because yes, there are a lot of moving pieces), that’s exactly what I help with. You can schedule a free clarity call with me here:
👉 https://www.thesmartercreative.com/call
With systems and a touch of magic on your side,
Lauren ✨
