Track hours and get paid
Get-paid stack
PandaDocFree, paid from $19/mo81
HarvestFree, paid from $9/mo86
Stripe InvoicingFree, usage-based fees82
QuickBooks OnlineFree, paid from $38/mo78
Step 1: Book calls
EssentialCalendlyFree, paid from $10/mo89
Share one booking link for discovery calls instead of emailing back and forth.
Every consultant — eliminates scheduling friction for discovery calls, kickoffs, and recurring check-ins.
Step 2: Track leads and clients
EssentialHubSpot CRMFree, paid from $7/mo87
Add every lead after the first call and set a next step for each one.
Every consultant who tracks more than 5 active prospects or clients.
Step 3: Proposal, contract and invoice in one app
EssentialBonsaiFrom $9/mo79
Send the proposal, contract and first invoice from one place.
Solo consultants who want proposal + operations in one app.
Step 4: Client docs and onboarding hub
Add when you growNotion AIFrom $20/mo83
Give each client one page with the plan, documents and next steps.
Consultants building a reusable knowledge base across clients and engagements.
Why this pick: ClickUp scores 85 overall and Notion AI 83. We pick Notion AI because it scores higher on fit for consultants (23 vs 21).
Also scored:ClickUp 85
Step 5: Kickoff walkthrough video
Add when you growLoomFree, paid from $15/mo83
Record a short kickoff video so the client knows what happens in week one.
Consultants onboarding clients, explaining deliverables, or replacing status update meetings.
This is the only tool we have scored for this step so far.
Client-ready brief
Email me this stack as a checklist
The picks and setup steps from this page, in one email.
- Calendly
- HubSpot CRM
- Bonsai
- Notion AI
- Loom
What usually comes next
Win clients
Win-clients stack
ApolloFree, paid from $49/mo82
BeehiivFree plan88
Each step starts from the top-scored tool for that job. When we pick a different one, the step says why. How we score →