Want to switch from HoneyBook to Dubsado (or another CRM)? There’s no fast solution (short of hiring me to do it for you 😉 You’ll want to write out your process, translate it into Dubsado workflows, move emails over, create forms, schedulers, and contracts. Then build and test workflows. Once it’s set up, you can import clients with a CSV file and start them at various points in your process.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Thinking about switching your CRM from HoneyBook (or anywhere else) to Dubsado? Here are my best tips and a step-by-step process to make the move without losing your mind.

Fair warning: this won’t take all the work out of it — you’ll still need to set up Dubsado. But with the tips and steps below, you’ll get there a lot faster than winging it. (Want to skip the setup entirely? Book my Done-For-You Dubsado Setup.)

Why Switch from HoneyBook to Dubsado?

I’m not here to convert anyone — this isn’t a Dubsado vs. HoneyBook post, and I set up HoneyBook for clients when it’s the better fit. If you’re happy with HoneyBook, stay. It’s simple, easy to use, and great if you’re not big on workflow features.

But if you’ve found HoneyBook doesn’t have what you need, here’s why wedding pros often move to Dubsado:

• More automation options and triggers — the biggest reason, in my opinion
• Scheduler-triggered workflows — start a workflow directly from a booked call
• Custom-mapped smart fields to capture client info exactly how you want it
• Smoother invoice payments — clients click straight to pay instead of logging into a portal
• The Client Portal keeps everything in one place

Take it for a test drive first — Dubsado’s free trial gives you access to the Premier plan for 21 days.

5 Tips to Make Your Switch Easier

1. Go one step at a time. Don’t try to build everything at once. Work off a checklist — grab my getting started checklist here — so nothing gets missed.

2. Don’t rush to cancel your current CRM. Downgrade to HoneyBook’s free plan and keep it running while you build Dubsado on your own timeline. A rushed setup is a broken setup — you’ll end up stuck with duplicated broken workflows for every client who came through before you fixed it (Dubsado copies workflows/forms at the moment they’re applied to a project).

3. Use Dubsado’s Form Builder. Dubsado’s new form builder in Dubsado 3.0 lets you upload a PDF, and it’ll build the form for you. It’s not fully designed, but it’ll put everything in the form that you currently have. Want it faster and beautifully branded so it’s ready to go? Book a free 15-Minute Systems Consultation Call. I’ll give you a quote to recreate your forms for you.

4. Write out your process before you build. List every canned email, form, and package you’ll need before touching Dubsado. Tedious, but it saves hours. If you want this mapped out for you, book a 90-minute Systems Strategy Session and walk away with a clear process and full build list.

5. Test everything before going live. Run through your own workflows as if you were the client. You’ll catch glitches before real clients do — and fixing something after it’s applied to multiple client projects means fixing it multiple times.

Steps to Set Up and Migrate Your Clients

Grab my Ultimate Dubsado Checklist for the full walkthrough. Here’s the short version:

1. Set up your Dubsado settings — including any custom-mapped fields you’ll need for importing existing client data later.

2. Connect your email, calendar, and payment processor. Do this now so you don’t forget it later: email · calendar · payment processor

3. Write your canned emails. Budget a few hours — most service workflows need 10+ emails each.

4. Recreate your forms in Dubsado. Or skip it — book a free 15-Minute Discovery Call and I’ll quote recreating and improving them for you.

5. Build your schedulers — great if you’re a solopreneur delivering one-on-one services.

6. Build your workflows. Start with lead capture, then onboarding, delivery, and offboarding — build each workflow’s steps in order so one flows into the next automatically. Ask yourself for each step: what do I want to happen, and when? Want help mapping this out? Book a 90-minute Systems Strategy Session.

7. Test everything. Fill out your own lead capture form, then check the resulting project’s workflow — does it do what you intended?

8. Import your client list as a CSV. Most CRMs (and Google Sheets) export to CSV. Note: Dubsado only bulk-imports name, contact info, address, and custom-mapped fields — everything else lands in notes. Full import tutorial here.

9. Create a project for each existing client you’re bringing over. I recommend naming projects: Client Name | Service (or Address | Client Name for home stagers).

10. Upload existing forms as PDFs for each client — contracts under the Contract dropdown, everything else under the Forms tab (mark as “Apply to Portal” if already sent to the client).

11. Recreate outstanding invoices — apply any payments already made, then set up payment plans for remaining balances.

Ready to Skip the DIY Grind?

You don’t have to do all 11 steps above yourself. My Done-For-You Dubsado Setup means I build your entire system for you — every form, workflow, and email — so you can skip straight to a client experience that WOWs.

Book a Free Discovery Call

Want more hands-on guidance instead? I also offer a Done-With-You Dubsado Setup if you’d rather build it yourself with my support.