10 Best Client Portals for Small Businesses in 2025

The point when your small business starts to onboard more clients, there will be more orders, more clients sending you emails, wanting to know project updates, and whatnot. A client portal for small business can tackle these repeated and less productive workloads like a boss.

Now, not all client portals are ideal for small businesses like yours. Large businesses and enterprises use these portals as well. 

Considering the various needs of small businesses and agencies, we’ve picked 10 client portals to help you decide which one is the most suitable for your business.

Quick List of 10 Client Portals for Small Business

1. Agency Handy: Best for small agencies to productize services, manage tasks, send invoices, and receive payments.
2. Bonsai: All-in-one portal combines proposals, contracts, invoices, and files for freelancers.
3. Kitchen.co: Simple portal organizes projects using folders; embeds apps like Figma/Calendly.
4. SuiteDash: Fully custom kit to build dynamic dashboards with extreme white-labeling.
5. HoneyBook: “Smart Files” combine proposals, contracts, and payments in one creative hub.
6. FuseBase: Sleek, branded portals with AI assistance for client collaboration, task tracking, and secure file sharing.
7. Productive: Built-in client access to projects and budgets with real-time dashboards, document feedback, and free client seats.
8. 17hats: All-in-one portal for solopreneurs to send quotes, contracts, invoices, and bookings in one branded client hub.
9. Dubsado: Portal hub organizes forms, invoices, and contracts, driven by automation.
10. Clinked: High-security portal for accountants/lawyers; focuses on files and audit trails.

Quick Comparison Table of Top Client Portal Software for Small Businesses

Before diving into the main discussion, here’s a comparison table of 10 tools and what they offer as a client portal for your small business.

10 Best Client Portal Software for Small Businesses

1. Agency Handy

If you want to autopilot certain operations for your small business, Agency Handy should be at the top of your priority list. It lets you build a service catalog where clients can self-checkout, automatically handling subscriptions and invoices. 

This payment triggers the creation of project tasks and instantly gives the client portal access. Clients get a simple, white-labeled hub to track real-time progress, upload files, and give feedback with annotations. 

Being a client portal software for agencies, it also lets clients upload files, give feedback, and communicate efficiently, reducing your administrative work so your team can focus on projects.

Agency Handy Client Portal Features

Key features of Agency Handy include –

• Service Catalog and Order Forms

This turns your services into a professional storefront that you can embed on your website. Clients browse your packages and use a custom order form to purchase, which even lets you add service upsells. 

This process allows clients to purchase and self-checkout without needing any admin assistance.

• Invoices and Subscription Management 

The system automates your billing from the moment a client pays. It generates invoices automatically and manages both recurring subscriptions and one-time payments. This gives you full dashboard control to pause, hold, or cancel any subscription, organizing all your revenue streams.

• Automated Onboarding and Task Creation 

Once a client completes payment, Agency Handy instantly creates their secure portal account and sends a welcome email with their login details. Simultaneously, it generates the required project tasks in your project manager. This autopilot workflow eliminates manual setup and lets your team start the paid work immediately.

• Kanban Board and Real-Time Updates 

This visual board organizes all project tasks into clear stages (like pending, in-progress, and review). As your team drags a task card, the client sees these updates in their portal in real-time. This transparency stops the constant “project status” emails and builds client confidence, as they never have to guess what is happening.

• Centralized Communication and File Upload 

This feature keeps all project conversations organized within the relevant task thread, replacing scattered email chains. Clients can upload their necessary files (like briefs or assets) directly where they are needed. This gives them a direct line of communication with your team, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.

• File Feedback and Version Control 

This tool speeds up creative revisions by letting clients comment directly on files, webpages, or designs. They can highlight sections, draw arrows, and pinpoint the exact changes they need. The system tracks all these revisions, creating a clear file history and allowing you to restore any previous version.

• Time Tracking 

Agency Handy monitors the time your team members spend on specific client tasks and generates automatic timesheets. This provides clear data to monitor team performance. It helps you ensure your productized services remain profitable and identify any operational bottlenecks.

Other worth mentioning features from Agency Handy are as follows –

• Lead management
• CRM
• Proposals
• Automated client onboarding
• Invoice and subscription 
• Custom forms
• Time tracking
• White-label client portal
• Custom email and domain
• Webhook
• Slack integration

What Users Say About Agency Handy

G2: 4.9 out of 5

“I really like how Agency Handy keeps everything in one place—it makes managing tasks and tracking team hours super easy. The proposal tool is awesome too. It lays out all the package options in a way that makes sense to clients, and then it automatically creates tasks for my team based on what they select. It honestly saved me so much time.” – Sheena S.

Capaterra: 4.5 out of 5

“Agency Handy is an all-in-one solution that has streamlined our operations, improved client satisfaction, and boosted team productivity. It’s an indispensable tool for any digital agency looking to scale their business efficiently.” – Priyanka P.

Agency Handy Pricing

Freelancer

• Monthly: $19/mo
• Yearly: $13/mo

Team Starter

• Monthly: $66/mo
• Yearly: $66/mo

Business Pro

• Monthly: $199/mo
• Yearly: $133/mo

2. Hello Bonsai

Bonsai provides excellent client portal software for consultants and freelancers. Think of it as the professional “front door” you give clients. Instead of emailing you for updates, they log into this one branded spot to see exactly where a project stands, sign contracts, review shared files, and pay their invoices.

Bonsai Client Portal Features

• Branded portal customized with your company logo and colors.
• Secure access link for clients without requiring passwords.
• Real-time project status and milestone visibility for clients.
• Centralized hub for contracts, proposals, and project invoices.
• Secure file sharing and storage for all project deliverables.
• Built-in direct messaging, replacing scattered email communication.
• View assigned tasks and collaborate directly on deliverables.
• Integrated invoice access and direct payment processing inside portal.

Pros

• Provides professional, branded client experience.
• Clients see real-time status updates.
• Consolidates files, tasks, and invoices.
• Connects directly to backend billing.
• Clients access easily without passwords.

Cons

• Full white-labeling costs extra (Premium).
• Expensive per user cost

Bonsai Pricing

Alt: Bonsai Pricing

Basic

• $15/month/user billed monthly
• $9/month/user billed yearly

Essentials

• $25/month/user billed monthly
• $19/month/user billed yearly

Premium

• $39/month/user billed monthly
• $29/month/user billed yearly

Elite

• $59/month/user billed monthly
• $40/month/user billed yearly

What Users Say About Bonsai

G2: 4.3 out of 5

Capaterra: 4.6 out of 5

3. Kitchen.co

Kitchen.co manages your client relationship using a simple folder system, just like your computer. You give clients one shared space for tasks, files, and invoices, and you can even embed tools like Figma or Calendly right inside their portal.

Kitchen.co Client Portal Features

• Shareable folders organize all project files, tasks, and messages.
• Client communication channels that sync replies directly from email.
• Shared Kanban boards for client collaboration on task status.
• File hub supporting client uploads and large file previews.
• Centralized document creation and storage for client review.
• Embed apps like Calendly, Figma, and Google Docs.
• File feedback tools for clients to comment on images/PDFs.
• Clients pay one-time and recurring invoices within the portal.
• Full white-labeling, including custom domains and unbranded notifications.

Pros

• Familiar folder structure is intuitive.
• Strong third-party app embedding.
• Full white-labeling includes notifications.
• Clients collaborate directly on tasks.
• Free plan for freelancers/tiny teams.

Cons

• No built-in CRM or sales pipelines.
• Accounting integrations require higher plans.

Kitchen.co Pricing

• Agency White-label: $29/mo
• Lifetime: $599 (one time)

4. SuiteDash

SuiteDash provides deep client portal services by letting you build a dynamic portal rather than just use one. This secure client portal software is a construction kit; you create custom dashboards for different clients, showing only the data they need. It offers extreme white-labeling—using your own URL and mobile app—and can secure content behind a subscription.

SuiteDash Client Portal Features

• Build dynamic dashboards that merge each client’s unique data.
• Fully customizable client menus control what users can see.
• Embed iFrames, videos, and third-party widgets into dashboards.
• Client file uploading and downloading based on custom permissions.
• Require payment or subscriptions to grant initial portal access.
• Integrate dynamic onboarding forms directly into portal pages.
• Extreme white-labeling includes a custom URL and mobile app.
• “Magic Link” password-less login option for easy client access.
• Includes built-in LMS, support tickets, and secure messaging.

Pros

• Extreme dashboard and menu customization.
• Includes a free white-label mobile app.
• Offers password-less “Magic Link” login.
• Can gate portal access by payment.
• Includes LMS and support ticket tools.

Cons

• Lacks a simple, intuitive structure.
• Relies heavily on embedding other tools.

SuiteDash Pricing

Start

• Monthly: $19/mo
• Yearly: 180/yr

Thrive

• $49/mo
• $480/yr

Pinnacle

• $99/mo
• $960/yr

5. HoneyBook

HoneyBook is often called the best client portal for small businesses in creative fields. It acts as a project hub, giving clients a branded space to track the entire process. 

This client portal organizes all communication, files, and invoices, but its real power is combining proposals, contracts, and payments into one seamless “smart file” experience for the client.

HoneyBook Client Portal Features

• Branded portal with custom login screen, colors, and banners.
• “Smart Files” combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into one.
• Central “Activity” tab tracks all email and message history.
• “Files” tab organizes all shared invoices, contracts, and questionnaires.
• Clients can view and pay all project invoices directly.
• Assign actionable tasks with deadlines directly to your clients.
• “Bookmarks” feature to add external links (like Pinterest/Canva).
• Clients can upload their own files directly to the portal.

Pros

• “Smart Files” simplify client booking.
• Modern interface is easy for clients.
• Strong portal branding and customization.
• Clients can be assigned tasks.
• All communication is tracked centrally.

Cons

• Only available in US and Canada.
• Less flexible than some competitors.

HoneyBook Pricing

HoneyBook offers three pricing plans:

• Starter: $36/month (billed monthly) or $29/month (billed annually).
• Essentials: $59/month (billed monthly) or $49/month (billed annually).
• Premium: $129/month (billed monthly) or $109/month (billed annually).

6. FuseBase

FuseBase is a client portal software that helps small businesses give clients a clean, branded space to work together. Instead of relying on emails and scattered tools, you can set up portals where clients log in, see project updates, share files, sign documents, and track tasks. 

The experience is simple for clients, but powerful enough for you to keep everything organized. With customization and white-label options, FuseBase makes even the smallest business look polished and professional.

FuseBase Client Portal Features

• Branded client portals with custom domains and white-labeling.
• Drag-and-drop page builder for personalized client hubs.
• Secure file sharing and client document storage.
• Built-in CRM with e-signatures, forms, and surveys.
• Mutual action plans and task lists for client collaboration.
• Real-time chat, meeting notes, and video sharing with clients.
• Client dashboards and analytics for engagement tracking.
• External knowledge base for onboarding and FAQs.

Pros

• Easy setup with templates.
• White-label branding options.
• Built-in automation with AI.
• Centralized project and sales hubs.
• Strong security and compliance.
• Scales with team size.

Cons

• Pricing higher for growing teams.
• Some advanced features are locked to higher tiers.

FuseBase Pricing

Solo

• $39/month
• $32/month

Essentials

• $99/month
• $82/month

Advanced

• $332/month

Unlimited

• Custom

7. Productive.io

Productive’s client portal makes it easier for small businesses to keep clients informed and engaged. 

You can invite clients for free, let them track budgets, review tasks, and leave feedback directly inside the portal. This keeps everything transparent—clients always know what’s happening and how much they’ve spent—without endless back-and-forth emails. 

For service-based small digital businesses, it’s a straightforward way to improve collaboration and strengthen client relationships.

Productive.io Client Portal Features

• Free client access to projects without extra seats.
• Customizable client permissions for tasks, budgets, and timesheets.
• Shared dashboards so clients can see budgets and progress.
• Centralized feedback on tasks and documents.
• Real-time updates on deliverables, time logs, and expenses.
• Collaboration in one place instead of emails or scattered files.

Pros

• Combines projects, finances, and resources in one tool.
• Real-time profitability tracking.
• Free client access included.
• Strong reporting and forecasting.
• Customizable dashboards and permissions.
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance.

Cons

• Advanced financial tools can be overwhelming at first.
• Fewer creative integrations compared to lighter tools.

Productive.io Pricing

Essential Plan

• $11/user/month billed monthly
• $9/user/month billed annually

Professional Plan

• $28/user/month billed monthly
• $24/user/month billed annually

Ultimate Plan

• $39/user/month billed monthly
• $32/user/month billed annually

8. 17hats

17hats is built for solopreneurs and small business owners who want to keep their work organized and their client experience professional. It gives you one client portal where every features is available. 

Clients can log in to review documents, sign contracts, pay invoices, and book appointments without endless email back-and-forth. For a one-person business or small team, it’s a way to look polished and save hours each week.

17hats Client Portal Features

• Quotes, contracts, and invoices combined in one “3-in-1” document.
• Online scheduling with calendar sync, Zoom integration, and upfront payments.
• Automated reminders for contracts, invoices, and pending documents.
• Custom branding with your logo, fonts, and colors.
• Questionnaires and lead capture forms to onboard clients smoothly.
• Recurring billing and payment schedules for ongoing services.
• Saved payment methods for faster future transactions.
• Email templates, scheduled sends, and read receipts for client communication.

Pros

• User friendly and easy to setup portal.
• Strong branding customization.
• Built-in contracts, invoices, and scheduling.
• Automates client reminders and workflows.
• Affordable compared to larger platforms.

Cons

• Limited project management features.

17hats Pricing

Monthly

• $60/month (billed monthly).

Yearly

• $600/year (billed annually, saves $120).

Bi-Yearly

• $800/two years (billed every two years, saves $400).

9. Dubsado

Dubsado is often called the best one for creative entrepreneurs because it stops “email scavenger hunts.” 

This client portal software for small businesses gives your clients one private, branded hub. Inside, they can see all project files, review contracts, complete questionnaires, check appointments, and view their entire invoice history.

Dubsado Client Portal Features

• A private, password-protected hub for clients to log into.
• Customize a portal with branded desktop and mobile banner images.
• Clients can access all forms, questionnaires, and key documents.
• Clients can review and digitally sign all legal contracts.
• Portal organizes and displays all project invoices and payment history.
• View all project-related email threads directly inside the portal.
• Tracks all upcoming scheduled appointments.
• Clients can view shared task boards for project progress.

Pros

• Impresses clients with a professional hub.
• Portal included in all pricing plans.
• Organizes forms, contracts, and invoices.
• Connects to powerful workflow automations.
• Can use unique client banners.

Cons

• Cannot customize the portal login screen and homepage.
• Steeper learning curve than competitors.

Dubsado Pricing

Starter

• Monthly: $20/mo
• Annual: $200/yr

Premier

• Stater: $40/mo
• Premier: $400/yr

10. Clinked

Clinked is a secure client portal software built for accountants, law firms, and financial services. While it’s also used as client portal software for agencies, its core focus is security, offering detailed audit trails and HIPAA compliance. 

It gives clients a white-labeled mobile app and central hub to securely share files, manage project tasks, and sign documents.

Clinked Client Portal Features

• High-security portal focused on compliance (HIPAA, ISO 27001).
• Secure file sharing with granular (view/download) access permissions.
• Full white-labeling with custom domain and mobile app upgrade.
• Built-in task management with project kanban boards.
• Integrated e-signatures via Adobe Acrobat and DocuSign.
• Create internal wiki-style knowledge bases for clients.
• Full audit trail monitors all client logins and file activity.
• Integrates natively with Google Workspace, MS365, and Zapier.

Pros

• Extremely high security and compliance.
• Excellent, detailed audit trails.
• Offers white-label mobile app option.
• Built for corporate/legal/finance needs.
• Native Google and MS365 integrations.

Cons

• Lacks native client invoicing/billing tools.
• Less focus on automated onboarding.

Clinked Pricing

Lite

• Monthly: $119/mo
• Yearly: $95/mo

Standard

• Monthly: $299/mo
• Yearly: $239/mo

Premium

• Monthly: $479/mo
• Yearly: $599/mo

What Type of Client Portal Does Your Small Business Need?

Finding the right client portal software is confusing because the term means different things. The best tool must match your specific operation. Don’t buy a support desk when you really need sales automation.

Here are the main types, broken down by the business problem they solve.

The Productized Service Portal (Example: Agency Handy)

• Who it’s for: Agencies, creative agencies, and mid to small businesses selling fixed-price packages or subscriptions.
• What it does: This portal focuses on automating your sales pipeline. Clients buy from a public “Service Catalog” (like an e-commerce store). That payment automatically triggers the project, creates the client’s account, and assigns all the required tasks to your team without any manual work.

The All-in-One “Clientflow” Portal (Examples: Bonsai, Dubsado)

• Who it’s for: Creative freelancers, consultants, and solopreneurs who run custom projects.
• What it does: This type of portal manages the entire client journey. It combines the Proposal, Contract, and Invoice into one seamless digital file. The client signs and pays, which then unlocks their central project hub for sharing files and messages.

The Custom “Integration Hub” (Examples: SuiteDash, Kitchen.co)

• Who it’s for: Businesses with a totally unique process that relies on many different apps (like Trello, Google Sheets, or Calendly).
• What it does: This is a “construction kit” to build your own portal dashboard. Its main feature is embedding those other tools, allowing you to create one branded, central place for clients to access everything you already use.

The Secure & Support Portals (Examples: Clinked, Zendesk)

• Who it’s for: Specialized businesses like law firms, accountants, or software (SaaS) companies.
• What it does: These portals solve one specific, high-stakes problem.

Secure Portals (like Clinked): Focus 100% on compliance (HIPAA), detailed file audit trails, and secure data exchange.

Support Portals (like Zendesk): Focus 100% on ticket deflection using AI bots and a knowledge base (help center).

How Client Portals Can Help Small Businesses?

This software is essential for productized services, but it’s just as vital for traditional custom services. Here is how four different small businesses use a portal to fix their biggest frustrations.

1. The Productized Designer (Subscription Model)

• The Problem

You sell an “unlimited design” subscription, but you manage the request queue through email or a messy Slack channel. Clients send vague briefs, you lose track of which revisions are approved, and the whole system relies on your memory.

• The Portal Solution

The portal becomes your request system. Your client logs in and submits a new brief using a structured form, ensuring you get the exact information you need every time. They can see their entire queue (e.g., Pending, In Progress, Ready for Review). 

You upload drafts directly to that request, and the client clicks “Approve” right on the file, closing the loop instantly.

2. The SEO/Marketing Agency (Monthly Retainer)

• The Problem

Your productized package guarantees monthly analysis, backend work, and a report. But the client emails you every week asking, “What did you actually do this month?” or “Can you resend last month’s report?” You spend more time proving your value than delivering it.

• The Portal Solution

The portal provides a “Client Dashboard” that acts as the single source of truth. You upload their monthly reports to their secure file area (where they are stored forever). 

You also keep a visible task list showing the work completed against their monthly package. They log in anytime to see their progress and find reports; they only email you with real strategy questions.

3. The Productized Bookkeeper (Monthly Package)

• The Problem

Your fixed-price monthly bookkeeping service only works if clients send you documents on time. You spend the first week of every month chasing every single client for the exact same bank statements, expense reports, and payroll data. It’s a bottleneck that stops you from scaling.

• The Portal Solution

The portal automates the chase. On the 1st of every month, the system automatically assigns a task list to the client (“Upload August Bank Statement,” “Upload Expense Receipts”). 

The client uploads the files directly into a secure client portal software. You get an alert when their tasks are complete, and you can start your work immediately.

4. The Business Consultant (Traditional Service)

• The Problem

You sell your expertise (hourly or by custom project). After a two-hour strategy call, you email the client your detailed notes, a strategy doc, and a recording. 

Weeks later, they can’t find the document, have forgotten their “action items,” and need you to resend everything before they can book their next session.

• The Portal Solution

The portal acts as their unique resource library. After every call, you post the meeting summary, the recording, and all strategy files into their private hub. You use the portal’s task list to assign the specific “Action Items” you discussed. 

This keeps them accountable and ensures that when they log in to book their next (paid) session, all the value from your previous work is organized in one place.

Conclusion

Choosing the right portal means matching your specific operation. If you sell productized services, stop wasting time on manual invoicing and project setup. You need the portal built to automate your sales-to-delivery workflow.

Ready to stop the chaos? See how Agency Handy automates your agency. Try it for free for 7 days, no credit card required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most useful features of a client portal?

A client portal allows clients to communicate through a single medium, let them upload files, give feedback, and access files, invoices, and contracts.

How do I choose the right client portal for my small business?

Choose a client portal based on your needs. Look for secure file sharing, project updates, invoicing, and white-label options. Compare pricing models and check if the tool integrates with your existing software.

What’s the difference between a customer portal and a client portal?

A customer portal is built for general consumers, often focused on support and self-service. A client portal is designed for businesses that work with ongoing clients, offering tools like file sharing, contracts, project updates, and invoices.

What are the benefits of using client portal software?

Client portals reduce endless email chains, centralize documents, and give clients real-time project updates. They also speed up approvals, improve communication, and build trust with a professional, branded experience.

Can clients upload files securely in a client portal?

Most client portal software allows secure client file uploads. Permissions and encryption ensure only the right people can access shared files.

How much does client portal software cost on average?

Client portal software typically costs between $15–$50 per month for small businesses. Some tools charge per user, while others offer flat monthly pricing with unlimited clients.

Can I white-label a client portal with my own branding?

Yes you can customize a white label client portal using your own domain, logo, and colors. Higher-tier plans often remove the software’s branding completely.