
10 Best Hubflo alternatives & competitors in 2025
May 13, 202516 min read min read
Looking for the best Hubflo alternatives? Discover our top 10 picks to start, run, and grow your service-based business.
Guides

Spring 2025 Edition
Apr 09, 20254 min read min read
With our 2025 Spring Edition, we introduce magic links, payments, a new Billing API, and more.
Announcements

2025 Collaboration Edition
Mar 18, 20251 min read min read
Introducing the Collaboration Edition – built to help you collaborate effortlessly with your team and clients.
Internal Notes
You can now add notes to clients and companies. Internal notes are visible only to you and other internal users with access and can be edited after creation. Notes are located on the sidebar of client and company detail pages. Use the slash (/) command to add rich text formatting, including headings and more. Notes also come with full API, Zapier, and Make support.
T
Announcements

The stack that powers modern service businesses
Mar 11, 20257 min read min read
Background
Copilot helps professional service businesses manage clients and communication in one place. Messaging, file sharing, contracts, and billing all happen in a single, unified experience that makes life easier for businesses and provides a seamless experience for their clients. At the core of this is a customizable client portal that businesses can tweak it to fit their needs and even extend it with apps and integrations.
On the surface, a client portal might seem pretty simple, but bu
Inside Copilot

How to start an accounting firm in 2025 (8 easy steps)
Feb 24, 202512 min read min read
Learn how to start an accounting firm — virtually. They run leaner, have better growth channels, and the tools available to them get better every year.
Guides

Copilot 2025 Foundations Release
Jan 28, 20254 min read min read
Welcome to the 2025 Foundations Release. Unlike earlier releases, this one is not about a brand-new app or major feature. Instead, we have spent the last few months going back to the basics, and focused on foundational enhancements and improvements across our product suite.
Freeform Automations
Automations help you save time, minimize tedious work, and reduce human error. Now, with this release, they’re getting more powerful.
Start From Scratch
Go to Automations in the sidebar and pick Sta
Announcements

How to productize a service (the right way) in 2025
Jan 23, 202510 min read min read
Learn how to productize a service, make your revenue more predictable, and get the benefits that come with scaling your service-based business.
Guides

How to collect money from clients who won't pay (6 ways)
Jan 21, 20257 min read min read
Looking to recover debt from non-paying clients? In this article, we'll show you six ways how to collect money from clients who won't pay.
Guides

How to create a project execution plan (PEP) in 6 steps
Jan 15, 20256 min read min read
Master the art of successful project management with our detailed guide on creating a project execution plan (PEP) in just 6 easy steps.
Guides

Copilot 2024 Winter Release
Oct 23, 20243 min read min read
At Copilot, we want to offer service-based businesses a true all-in-one platform. Our Winter 2024 Release introduces three major features that gets us closer to this vision: a task management app, business analytics, and built-in automation tools.
Manage tasks with the Tasks App
With the Tasks App we’re taking our first steps into the world of task and project management. You can now create tasks and assign them to internal users, clients, and companies. Filters at the top and search make it
Announcements

Expert Picks: 10 Go-To CoordinateHQ Alternatives (2024)
Oct 09, 202412 min read min read
Looking for a better CoordinateHQ alternative? Check out our list of the top 10 picks, along with their detailed reviews, benefits, and pricing.
Guides

10 Task Management Software & Tools in 2024
Oct 08, 202414 min read min read
Looking for the best task management software? Discover our top 10 picks to start, run, and grow your service-based business.
Guides

How to Write a Client Contract (7 Steps + Examples)
Sep 28, 202410 min read min read
Secured your first client? Whether you are a small business owner or an entrepreneur, here’s how you can easily write a contract step by step.
Guides

How to create a HIPAA-compliant client portal
Aug 09, 20249 min read min read
Learn how to create a HIPAA-compliant, secure, and user-friendly client portal in just five steps.
Guides

10 client acquisition strategies that work (with examples)
Aug 08, 202411 min read min read
An expert shares proven-to-work client acquisition strategies and shows how you can implement them to grow your business.
Guides

5 Free Bookkeeping Pricing Templates to Grow Your Revenue
Aug 07, 20248 min read min read
An expert overview of the 5 pricing templates for bookkeeping that you can start using today to showcase the value of your services and get paid.
Guides

How to collect payments from customers and clients
Jul 19, 20248 min read min read
Learn 5 expert tips on how to collect payments online. Ideal for freelancers, small business owners, and anyone seeking to get paid on time.
Guides

Custom Visibility for Apps
May 02, 20243 min read min read
With custom visibility for apps, you can dynamically control which clients have access to an app. This lets you provide differentiated levels of service to clients. For example, you might only allow clients with custom field plan = premium access to schedule time with you (e.g. access to the Calendly App) and message you (e.g. access to our Messages App). You can also create dynamic onboarding experiences. For example, a new lead may need to sign a contract before they can access other parts of
Announcements

5 amazing client portals for accounting firms & CPAs
Apr 03, 20247 min read min read
Learn what features to look for when choosing an accounting client portal to help you scale your accounting business.
Guides

Introducing Copilot's App Store and Platform
Mar 28, 20244 min read min read
At Copilot, we set out almost 4 years ago to build the best software suite for creative and professional service businesses. In the beginning, we focused on the foundation and must-have features like a flexible CRM, payments, messaging, and contract management.
But every service business is unique and we learned quickly that there was no way to build everything that our customers wanted fast enough. The only way forward was to build a true platform and developer ecosystem.
Today we’re excited
Announcements

Copilot 2023 Winter Release
Jan 19, 20243 min read min read
We’re excited to announce the Copilot Winter Release 2023. Watch the video to see a full product walkthrough of new features or read about them below. ⬇️
Contracts App
There are dozens of eSignature solutions out there, but we wanted to build something better – something that is tightly integrated with the rest of the Copilot Platform. The Contracts App is just that – it’s the 6th addition to our app marketplace and is joining our Messaging App, Billing App, Files App, Forms App, and Helpdesk
Announcements

7 best file sharing software of 2024 (features + pricing)
Jan 05, 202410 min read min read
Learn about the best file sharing software on the market right now and what features to look for when deciding to pick one.
Guides

New client onboarding questionnaire template (13 questions)
Dec 07, 20237 min read min read
Here's a simple client onboarding questionnaire template you can use to set new clients up for success.
Guides

Announcing Copilot on Make
Nov 08, 20232 min read min read
Starting today, Copilot is available and fully supported on Make. Now, alongside our existing API and Zapier capabilities, you can harness the power of Make's visual programming to automate workflows between Copilot and the apps you use daily. Check out our Make profile here.
Why we built Copilot on Make
Previously, the only no-code tool available for creating automations we supported was Zapier. In order to give you more flexibility when it comes to automations, we decided to release all ava
Announcements

Secure client file sharing portal with Copilot
Oct 20, 20235 min read min read
Did you know file sharing with clients comes with potential risks? Learn how secure file sharing portals work and how to choose a secure service.
Guides

Copilot 2023 Fall Release
Sep 26, 20232 min read min read
We’re excited to announce the Copilot Fall Release 2023, a collection of features we’re releasing today or shipped over the last few weeks.
Log in with Google for clients
One of our product principles at Copilot is to remove as much friction as possible for your clients. In line with that, today we rolled out Sign up and Log in with Google and enabled it for clients in all portals. Google authentication works seamlessly for new clients and also for clients that previously set up with an email
Announcements

Client communication best practices that help your business
Sep 25, 20236 min read min read
Learn how to improve your business with client communication best practices. Master genuine interactions and enhance every client experience.
Guides

How we built it: Reply via email
Sep 19, 202311 min read min read
Many startups build chat capabilities into their products. For example, most marketplace, community, and social products provide users with a way to communicate with one another. At Copilot, we make client portal software, and an important use case for us is to let service businesses communicate with clients and vice versa using our web-based Messaging App.
In the first iteration of the service, when users sent messages in our web app, we sent out messaging email notifications to inform recipie
Inside Copilot

Working backwards from the customer experience
Sep 18, 20232 min read min read
Startups are often founded on a small number of product insights that significantly shape their trajectory. In this post I wanted to share what one of those early insights was for us.
TLDR: While most startups prioritize just their immediate customers, we felt that there was an important and under-appreciated opportunity to prioritize our customers’ customers instead.
How we came to this realization
Copilot wasn’t the first company my cofounder Neil and I started. We’ve done so before, and a
Inside Copilot

Recurring Revenue Business Models: What You Need to Know
Aug 31, 20237 min read min read
How to transition from a one-time sale model to a recurring revenue business model.
Guides

What is a Client Portal and what features to look for?
Aug 09, 20234 min read min read
Client portal software helps professional service firms manage their clients and grow their business. Learn how client portals work and how to set one up.
Guides

What Is Client Retention? 6 Strategies You Can Learn From
Jul 26, 20238 min read min read
Client retention is arguably the most important thing in business, but few businesses know how to keep their most loyal customers. Here are some tips.
Guides

How to Collect Online Credit Card Payments
Jul 24, 20238 min read min read
Payment processing can be intimidating for small business owners. Learn how to collect online credit card payments the right way.
Guides

Client Collaboration Portals: Key Benefits and Examples
Jul 12, 20235 min read min read
In this article, we'll discuss the benefits of a client collaboration portal for productized services businesses.
Guides
How Copilot Helps You Improve Client Retention
Jun 21, 20234 min read min read
In this article, we'll show you how Copilot can improve client retention for your agency or firm.
Guides
6 Steps to Writing Great Knowledge Base Articles (Template)
Jun 14, 20236 min read min read
In this article, we'll show you a simple step-by-step process for writing effective knowledge base articles, plus templates you can use.
Guides

6 Best Remote Work Software and Tools for Teams in 2024
Jun 13, 20239 min read min read
With so many remote work software tools available, the market can be tough to understand. Here's our list of the most user-friendly ones on the market.
Guides

Introducing Copilot Automations
Jun 13, 20233 min read min read
We’re excited to launch Copilot Automations, a set of pre-built workflows that help you save time, reduce human error, and overall run a more streamlined business. Jump right in and check out the new automation templates or read on to learn more about our motivation for this release and the rundown of new features. Also, don’t forget to join us for a live webinar where our experts will demo Copilot Automations.
Why we built Copilot Automations
When we first launched Copilot, we set to provide
Announcements

Introducing Forms 2.0
Jun 06, 20232 min read min read
We’re excited to announce a completely redesigned Forms App that comes with support for always-on mode, multiple submissions per client, and more. Along with the product update, we’ve also redesigned our API for forms so that you can more easily set up workflows that begin with a forms submission.
Watch the product walkthrough
A more powerful & intuitive design
We’ve redesigned the Forms App for both internal and client users. For internal users, when you click into a form you’re now greete
Announcements

The 4 Best Help Desk Software to Try in 2023
Jun 06, 20239 min read min read
Explore the best help desk software of 2023. Learn how these top picks can transform your customer service experience and streamline workflows.
Guides

How to Create a Client Portal in WordPress
May 31, 20236 min read min read
Discover the best client portal platforms and learn how to create a secure white-label client portal and integrate it with your WordPress website.
Guides

Proposal Follow Up Email Best Practices (With Sample)
May 26, 20236 min read min read
Discover the best practices of a proposal follow up email and get a sample of a follow up email you can use after sending a proposal to a client.
Guides

Value-Based Pricing: Everything You Need to Boost Profits
May 08, 20237 min read min read
Learn about value-based pricing and how to implement it for your business. We'll share real-life examples of how value-based pricing works.
Guides

How to Craft the Perfect Meeting Request Email (4+ Examples)
May 02, 20239 min read min read
Master the art of communication with our guide on crafting the perfect meeting request email. Explore our effective templates and real-world examples.
Guides

How to Create a Custom White Label Client Portal
Mar 08, 20235 min read min read
Learn how to customize the look, feel, and functionality of your white label client portal so you can create a better user experience for your clients.
Guides

How to Ask for a Referral From a Client (+ Best Templates)
Feb 22, 20237 min read min read
Some of the best clients come from personal recommendations. Learn how to ask for client referrals and discover email referral templates you can use.
Guides

15 Questions To Ask Clients Before Signing a Contract
Feb 15, 20237 min read min read
We asked the experts for the top 15 questions to ask potential clients to ensure they're a good fit for your business. Here's what they said.
Guides

How to Deal With Difficult Clients: 7 Powerful Strategies
Feb 08, 20236 min read min read
Some clients can be a headache. We put together seven ways for how to deal with difficult clients, so you can create great client experience — every time.
Guides

Introducing Copilot 1.0 and Announcing our Series A
Jan 19, 20233 min read min read
We started working on Copilot (previously Portal) more than two years ago to help service companies start, run, and grow their business. Today we're delighted to unveil our latest version, Copilot 1.0. With Copilot 1.0, businesses can set up a client portal that enables clients to send messages, make payments, sign contracts, access custom apps, and more. We’re also thrilled to announce our $10M Series A round (covered by TechCrunch here) which enables us to create the best possible software to
Announcements

Copilot 2022 Winter Release
Jan 19, 20232 min read min read
We're excited to share details of the Copilot Winter Release – the most significant release in our company's history. It includes four major new features and hundreds of design and performance improvements. Read on!
A revamped Copilot Admin
The new Copilot Admin is out and you can access it by logging in on copilot.app. You'll see a refreshed look, faster loading speeds, improved search, and a better overview of everything important to your business. The client experience (i.e. , your portal)
Announcements
How To Create an Effective Value-based Pricing Strategy
Nov 02, 20224 min read min read
Learn how to create an effective value-based pricing strategy to generate more revenue from your productized services.
Guides
How to get referrals from clients (with expert tips)
Nov 02, 20227 min read min read
The best way to tap into word-of-mouth marketing is through client referrals. Asking for referrals directly can be anxiety inducing and time consuming, which is why you need to learn how to secure client referrals without asking.
Guides
5 Client Communication Best Practices for Small Agencies
Sep 18, 20226 min read min read
Customers are the lifeblood of every business. Learn how to communicate professionally with your clients and reduce conflicts as a small agency.
Guides

How to Hold an Effective International Off-site as a Series A Startup
Sep 03, 20226 min read min read
Everything we learned about doing an off-site in a far-away place with a team of 15.
Inside Copilot

Why I Joined Copilot to Lead Sales
Aug 22, 20224 min read min read
Now that I’ve been at Portal for over three months (wow time flies!), I’ve had some time to reflect on the journey that led me here. This is why I joined!
Inside Copilot
What Is a Knowledge Base? Everything You need to Know
Jul 29, 20228 min read min read
A knowledge base is a must-have for productized businesses looking to scale. This article covers all you need to know about how knowledge bases work.
Guides
Client Management: 7 Practical Tips for Winning and Retaining Clients
Jul 21, 20227 min read min read
Learn practical tips to help you improve client management from 7 business experts.
Guides
Why Is a Knowledge Base Important for Productized Agencies?
Jul 21, 20224 min read min read
If you want to run an efficient productized agency, you need a knowledge base. Learn more about the benefits of knowledge bases for productized businesses.
Guides

Copilot Is Now HIPAA Compliant
Apr 28, 20222 min read min read
Copilot is now HIPAA-compliant, meaning healthcare startups and consulting firms can now use our client portal software for their business operations.
Announcements

Copilot Is Now SOC 2 Compliant
Apr 25, 20222 min read min read
Portal is now SOC 2 certified, which allows us to deliver the highest level of data security, transparency, and compliance to our customers.
Announcements
The Client Communication Manifesto: 6 Simple Rules to Live By
Mar 29, 20225 min read min read
In this article, we share six simple rule that can help you improve client communication, and boost your agency's performance.
Guides
4 Ways to Improve Your Client Collaboration
Mar 17, 20225 min read min read
In this article, we will share four tips to help you boost client collaboration for your agency.
Guides

The Top 5 Software Picks for Effectively Managing Your Clients
Jan 12, 20226 min read min read
Running a small business or managing your customer data as a freelancer is difficult. Often you are trying to save customer profiles in a basic database or within a spreadsheet, both of which aren’t ideal interfaces. The same can be said for contact management software, which can help organize client information but doesn’t always have the email marketing and sales process integration that you may need.
Having the right tools to help improve client relationships and be ready for any client enga
Guides

What is a Project Implementation Plan + Templates
Jan 11, 20227 min read min read
At the outset of any large project, project managers have the challenging task of organizing team members and creating a strategic plan for completing project objectives. There are many ways that leaders can help lead employees towards planning a cleaner implementation process, such as well-organized Gantt charts, project execution plans, project management software, and other collaboration tools.
While there are many project management tools a project team can use to monitor their progress, on
Guides

Introducing Helpdesk 2.0
Dec 01, 20212 min read min read
From 1.0 to 2.0
We released the first version of the Knowledge base module 14 months ago. At the time we believed that service businesses (agencies, law firms, etc.) all had an incredible amount of knowledge that customers were willing to pay for. We've learned a lot since then and couldn't be more excited about Knowledge base 2.0, our most important update yet.
What's new in Knowledge base 2.0
A Powerful New Editor
The Knowledge base now comes with a powerful rich text editor that lets yo
Announcements

How To Analyze Metrics To Reduce Customer Support Time
Nov 30, 20219 min read min read
Learn metrics to monitor and tips to improve customer support.
Guides

What Are Customer Billing Portals and Why You Need Them
Nov 17, 20216 min read min read
Giving your clients access to a billing portal can save you time, increase revenues, and improve client relationships.
Guides

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Customer Portal
Oct 27, 20214 min read min read
Here are tips to help you get the most out of your customer portals.
Guides
September Highlights: Instant Bank Payments, Invoice Previews, and Multi-select Tags
Sep 30, 20213 min read min read
In September, the Portal team focused on improvements to the Billing Module.

How To Become A Successful Account Manager At An Agency
Sep 28, 20218 min read min read
Learn what you need to know to be a successful client management professional at a marketing agency.
Guides

How To Grow A Marketing Agency & Make a Meaningful Impact
Sep 22, 20218 min read min read
Grow your marketing agency so that you can make a meaningful impact on the world.
Guides

Think Outside The Dropbox: Better Alternatives For Small Teams
Sep 20, 20214 min read min read
Learn about Dropbox alternatives here.
Guides

The No-Code Movement: Benefits, Best Tools, and Predictions in 2021
Sep 03, 20217 min read min read
The no-code movement provides a fantastic opportunity for new, fresh ideas to be brought to life.
Guides
August Highlights: Exports & Custom Fields
Aug 31, 20213 min read min read
In August, the Portal team focused on support for exports across the entire set of Modules, custom fields, and stability.

Recurring Revenue Model Businesses: A Primer
Aug 13, 20217 min read min read
Businesses have started tapping into recurring revenue streams, as renewable subscriptions are becoming increasingly popular for both consumers and businesses alike. Subscription businesses benefit from more predictable revenues and cash flow. Similarly, customers have started to invest in products as a service that come with an ability to invest month-to-month rather than locking into a long-term contract or paying a high upfront cost. Many sectors are picking up this business model, from cars
Guides

6 Reasons to Start Using Client Portal Software
Aug 03, 20213 min read min read
Learn how your business can benefit from client portal software.
Guides

How to (Respectfully) Fire a Client in Seven Easy Steps
Jul 15, 20216 min read min read
Not every client is a good fit. Here's how to fire a client politely without burning a bridge.
Guides
June Highlights: Custom Fields, CRM Filters, and Company Management
Jul 14, 20211 min read min read
In June, the Portal team focused on making the CRM more powerful and improving the experience of managing client companies (which may have multiple associated client users).

How To Set Up A Home Or Remote Office
Jul 06, 202111 min read min read
Everything You Need To Know
Guides

6 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Virtual Law Firm
Jun 16, 20217 min read min read
Here are six useful tips for starting a virtual law firm.
Guides

April Highlights: Billing 2.0 and lots of improvements
May 10, 20212 min read min read
In April, the Portal team focused on billing enhancements, user experience improvements, and infrastructure improvements that make the product run faster.

The True Value of Electronic Signatures (eSignatures)
Apr 10, 20216 min read min read
Are you on the fence about using e-signatures, and want to be sure that they’re a safe, hassle-free option?
Guides

March Highlights: Client assignment, Help center, and Link sharing
Mar 11, 20212 min read min read
In March the Portal team shipped client assignment, a help center, link sharing, and more.

February Highlights: Intake forms & Google Analytics
Feb 28, 20213 min read min read
In February 2021, the Portal team shipped a comprehensive Intake Forms module, Google Analytics, and dozens of improvements and fixes.

January Highlights: eSignatures module & Module management
Jan 31, 20213 min read min read
In January the Portal team shipped a comprehensive eSignatures solution. Unlike most eSignature products, our offering is tightly integrated with the rest of your portal. That means clients can now message you, share files with you, pay, and sign documents, all from one unified place.

December Highlights: Infrastructure month
Dec 31, 20203 min read min read
In December the Portal team focused on infrastructure and performance. We shipped better domain management, made cross-product improvement to make the product work in real-time, and improved our notification infrastructure.

Virtual Law Firms: What are the benefits?
Dec 07, 20204 min read min read
In the age of Covid, virtual law firms are taking off. Learn about what they are, what benefits they have, and what technologies you should adopt.
Guides