You're sitting at your desk late again, juggling multiple client projects and feeling that familiar tightness in your shoulders. As a service-based business owner, you've created something incredible, but sometimes the behind-the-scenes work feels like it's taking over your life.
I see you, friend. I've been exactly where you are.
That's why I'm genuinely excited to share the latest HoneyBook updates that help us run our consulting business - and could do the same for yours. These aren't just new features; they may be solutions to the exact challenges you're facing right now.
Automations 2.0: Your New Virtual Assistant
Remember that feeling when a potential client reaches out, but then goes quiet? You're left wondering if you should follow up again or let it go. HoneyBook's new conditional logic automations handle this for you.
Now your follow-ups can automatically pause when a client takes action. When someone books that discovery call, the system recognizes this and stops sending those reminder emails. No more awkward "just checking in" messages after they've already responded!
What I love most about this upgrade is how it works with so many different triggers:
- When a session is scheduled
- When payments are made
- When contracts are signed
- When project dates approach
- And many more
This means your communication feels perfectly timed and personal, even though it's happening automatically while you focus on serving your clients.
Client-Selected Payment Plans (Finally!)
Have you ever felt that awkward tension when discussing payment options? Now your clients can choose their own payment plan directly from your proposal!
You can:
- Set the maximum number of payments (up to 12)
- Offer discounts for paying in full
- Let clients see exactly when each payment would be due
Since implementing this in my business, I've noticed clients move through the booking process much faster. They appreciate having control over how they pay, and you'll appreciate not having to manually create different options.
AI Tools That Actually Help
If you've felt the weight of all those post-call notes piling up, you'll love this: HoneyBook's AI note-taker can join your client calls, create transcripts, and pull out action items automatically.
It even prepares meeting notes before your calls, giving you a quick refresher on the client's background and previous conversations.
The email AI has been surprisingly helpful too. It understands your communication style and can draft follow-up emails that actually sound like you wrote them. When you're tired after a full day of client calls, having this support feels like a gift to your future self.
Custom Fields That Make You Look Professional
Have you ever sent a proposal or contract that felt a bit generic? With custom project and contact fields, you can now:
- Add client-specific details to contracts automatically
- Include partner information for wedding or relationship coaches
- Track custom information that matters to your specific business
- Insert personalized smart fields into any text block
This means every document feels custom-created for each client, even though you're using templates.
SMS Notifications Reduce No-Shows
We all know that sinking feeling when a client doesn't show up for their appointment. HoneyBook now offers SMS reminders for meetings and payments, significantly reducing those costly no-shows.
Client Experience Enhancements
Little things make a big difference in how professional your business feels:
- Clients can now save progress on questionnaires (no more losing all their work if they need to step away)
- You can edit client responses on questionnaires (perfect for completing forms together on calls)
- Apple Pay and Google Pay options make payments faster
- The ability to undo sent messages (just like Gmail)
What This Means For You
These updates are nice-to-haves, but they also directly address the challenges that keep you working late and feeling overwhelmed:
- Time saved: Automation and AI tools free up hours each week
- Faster bookings: Client-selected payment plans speed up your process
- Reduced admin work: AI notes and transcripts eliminate post-call scrambling
- More professional experience: Custom fields create personalized documents
- Fewer missed appointments: SMS reminders keep clients on track
I understand that running your business often feels like you're keeping multiple plates spinning at once. These tools won't solve everything, but they might just be the support you need to create a little more breathing room in your day.
If you're ready to change how your business runs in 2025, take some time this week to grab a free trial (no credit card necessary) so that you can explore these features in your HoneyBook account. Your future self – the one with a thriving business AND time for what matters most – will thank you.
What HoneyBook feature are you most excited to try? Share in the comments below.
