What it is
Bonsai puts the admin side of a service business in one app: proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoices and payments. It started as a freelancer tool and now also fits small agencies billing by the hour or by the project. Pricing is per user, and apps for mobile, Mac and Chrome let you track time wherever you work.
How to use it
- Send a proposal and turn it into a contract for e-signature.
- Track time with a timer on the web, your phone or the Chrome extension.
- Invoice by the hour or by the project and collect payments online.
- Manage projects and tasks with your team and clients.
- Sync your books with QuickBooks or Xero on higher tiers.
What it's good for
- A freelance designer in Buenos Aires working for U.S. clients who needs contracts and invoices in English.
- A five-person dev agency in Medellín billing hourly that wants to see profitability per project.
- A marketing consultancy sending proposals, signing contracts and collecting deposits in one tool.
Pros
- Proposal, contract, time and invoice connected in a single flow
- Apps for iOS, Android and Mac, plus a Chrome extension
- Unlimited time tracking on every plan
- Connects to QuickBooks, Xero, Calendly and Zapier from the Premium plan up
Cons
- Interface and contract templates are in English and U.S.-oriented
- The Basic plan doesn't include invoices or proposals; those start at Essentials
- Per-user pricing means costs grow with your team
