17hats Reviews

Brings Everything Together

Comments: Before using 17Hats, I had documents all over the place and my business felt very unprofessional. 17hats helped me get everything in one place and add my branding to each document. Now I can see all of my projects in one place, see who needs what, and very easily send invoices, contracts , questionnaires and other documents that are branded and professional. I also have it setup to send emails automatically. It’s been a big timesaver and game changer for my business. I can’t imagine running my business without it.

Pros:

What I love most about 17hats is how much time it saves me by gathering my emails, invoices, contracts and banking all in once place. And it helps me send professional looking documents to my clients and connects to my square account.

Cons:

It took quite a bit of time to set up, but once I understood it, I was glad I didn’t give up on it.

17hats as a Photographer (solo owner)

Comments: In short, was drawn into the service to help cut down the number of software services and just use one service, but the cost was too high for the product I got. I also heavily rely on being able to be mobile AND use my desktop on or offline -- which was not available and the mobile app is not that great. Overall, left feeling like I invested in a waste of money with a frustrating experience... this was my first experience using something robust and I then moved on to find other solutions.

Pros:

I love an all-in-one service that can combine these features: - Invoice / expense management - scheduling online for clients - CRM style contact management - workflows and templates to make my life easier - nice to look at and easy ux The idea was there but some work needed to go into the original feature development. A lot of the helpful features felt confusing and a pain to set up. Might be better now but when I used it it was such a headache I did not use a lot of the features that drew me in.

Cons:

The software is bundled up to draw you in for your one-stop shop for the list of things I stated. However, one of my biggest pet peeves with up-and-coming companies is their lack of focus to improve the functions of their initial systems in play. After their successful launch and drawing me into their somewhat expensive annual fee, I felt they kept working on new features instead of improving current features that could have used some attention for better UX. I got so frustrated with this that I left. Feeling that I was constantly being asked to spend more money on new features that I did not want.

Should I stay or should I go?

Pros:

It allows you to organize all clients in one area for all members of the team. There are so many options to utilize...but quite a few of the email functions are faulty.

Cons:

Emails fail to send on multiple occasions. Scheduled emails fail to send on occasions. Its frustrating to type out a detailed email to a client and then press send; only to find out that it never sent. Time is wasted. Some "insert" links work, while others don't. I understand that "user error" can be the case on some occasions, however, if it works on certain days and not on others...its the system.

Essential CRM for Small Business

Comments: My overall experience with 17hats has been nothing short of exceptional. It’s more than just a CRM; it’s a comprehensive tool that has fundamentally transformed how I manage my business. The time it saves and the peace of mind it provides are invaluable. I genuinely appreciate the company’s dedication to continuous improvement and their commitment to fostering a supportive community for small business owners. My love for 17hats runs so deep that I became a brand ambassador—entirely unpaid and without any additional perks, since I already have a lifetime membership. I’m simply passionate about sharing how much this platform has made a difference in my business.

Pros:

What I love most about 17hats is its all-in-one functionality that truly streamlines my workflow. It handles everything from client management to invoicing, contracts, and scheduling—saving me hours of work each week. Additionally, the constant updates and improvements show that the company genuinely cares about its users, which is a rare and valuable quality.

Cons:

Personally, I love everything about it! The only downside for some people is the learning curve when first getting started. With so many features, it can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning (I'm super techy so it was easy for me). However, they have a really extensive help section with video tutorials that walk you through everything step by step, which makes the learning process much easier.

I have MORE THAN 17 reason I love 17 hats!

Comments: I've been using 17hats for more than 5 years. It has keep my business looking professional and has kept me organized and on track. I don't miss a thing thanks to the reminders, the calendar and dashboard. I love the easy of templates and how simply I can set up a scheduling option for my clients.

Pros:

I love that this CRM literally has everything you would need to run a small business. The client database, bookkeeping, scheduler, invoicing, and calendar are the features I use the most. I love how organized I am thanks to 17 hats.

Cons:

I am not missing anything, it's my favorite software and I use it multiple times a day.

Great CRM but not my favourite

Comments: I was with them for years and it was good! Loved their invoicing, loved the price, loved how easy it was to set up and change things but I wished that it had a bit more personal flair that you could add. Being a creative it's so nice to be able to customize price lists and portals a bit more.

Pros:

being from Canada I loved that the invoices could be split up to have some items charging GST and some items charging both pst and gst within an invoice. Was my absolute favourite part of the CRM! I also liked how easy it was to set up

Cons:

It was a little clunky looking to clients and the client portal wasn't as beautiful as others I've tried.

3 YEARS IN

Comments: Lifelong Client. I always wait until the Black Friday Sale every year and buy an entire 2-3 year package, such a good deal!

Pros:

Crisp and clean layout. Ease of use. Tutorials help get you started. Great Template Options Connects Bank account for bookkeeping/categorizing personal expenses or business expenses Easily switch from Square to PayPal to accept payments. The list goes on and on...it is truly a hit...

Cons:

I wish they had a feature that texted reminders to clients about their upcoming appointments. This would be SUCH a helpful feature. Does not let you see YTD Sales for previous years.

One stop Organization of Business

Comments: When we first started we had to log into 5-6 different websites to access different business solutions and it felt impossible to remember everything. 17hats has helped us from feeling overwhelmed with all the different aspects of running a small business. It's​ like having a personal assistant to keep you on track.

Pros:

Having one place for our invoicing, bookkeeping​, calendars & workflows has helped us tremendously​. We definitely feel like fewer​ things get overlooked because it is all right there in the same place.

Cons:

It would be helpful to have some options to better organize the document & email section. Maybe ​a folder feature so we can go in and edit the email templates from there instead of through an active workflow. This would be helpful when we need to just find all the emails in regards to a specific type of workflow to make overall changes.

Great CRM, just not for us

Comments: Overall, the software is effective but expensive and more complicated in comparison to CRMs we’ve used. The customer service was great though and as long as you have someone that can help you navigate the software the first few times, it could really work for your business.

Pros:

We really liked that clients could view and sign the contract and pay the invoice in pretty much one step.

Cons:

We had a mentor walking us through with videos and templates. Without their help, we feel that we would have been lost trying to set up our account. Set up is also quite time consuming.

Overall, I like 17Hats, but it's not the all-in-one app I'd hoped for.

Comments: Organization. As someone with Attention Deficit Disorder, I rely on my tools to stay on track with my business. 17Hats helps immensely with that. I just wish it was the one app (one app to rule them all!) I'd love to consolidate apps. Saving the money would be nice, but more importantly, I'd like to not have to constantly switch between apps to perform different functions. Still, though, 17Hats is great even used just as a project management tool.

Pros:

The workflows. If you have multi-step projects, 17Hats is awesome for organization. It's saved my bacon more than once by reminding me that I'd not completed a particular step. I also like the lead integration and email integration (see above about bacon saving).

Cons:

I'd love to be able to ditch my time-tracking software (Freckle) and invoicing / accounting software (Freshbooks), but I just can't at this point. I actually adore Freckle, so they'd have to work hard to beat that, but even compared to Freshbooks time tracking, 17Hats stinks in that aspect. Very clunky. Regarding invoicing / bookkeeping, I have a couple of main complaints, but they're big ones: 1a) You can't let clients have multiple payment options. You can implement Stripe, for instance, or PayPal. But you cannot have both active at the same time. 1b) Which leads me to the next issue. Payment method is global, not per client. So if you credit cards, for instance, so that clients use ACH transfers (thus saving fees), that's site-wide. But say you have an international client or a client who wants to use PayPal? You have to change your payment method FOR EVERYONE. Granted, it's one click of the button, but meanwhile, anyone paying an invoice is getting option B instead of option A. 2) Profit / Loss Report: This is critical, but you cannot run the whole year and have it broken down by month. To see each month, you have to generate a new report. Freshbooks allows quarterly, yearly, and custom date ranges with a month-to-month total and grand total all on ONE SCREEN. So while I'm using 17Hats and don't plan to stop, I really wish they'd get their act together when it comes to the bookkeeping aspect of the software. It's not there yet.

A full-featured project management system

Comments: I tested a variety of practice management SaaS products specific for accounting firms and none came close to impressing me like 17Hats did with its combination of features that I needed and a competitive price. This is impressive given that 17Hats isn't designed for bookkeeping firms! Since I have implemented my efficiency has improved greatly, I get more done in less time and nothing falls through the cracks.

Pros:

I love how easy this program makes it for me to keep track of all steps of my workflows for all of my projects from the initial lead capture all the way through the completion of the project. The workflow templates make new client onboarding a standardized and efficient process while still giving me the flexibility to adjust to the project's specific needs. The lifecycle gives me an easy at-a-glance status of each project. The calendar and e-mail integration means that all client communications are in one place and I never double book myself. I really like being able to automate the proposal, contract signing, invoice process. I have only been using this for 2 months and I feel like I have only scratched the surface of what it can do. Customer service is quick to respond, friendly and professional.

Cons:

While I overall love this service, there are some things to be desired. There is no phone support available but their e-mail/chat support has been food so far. The mobile app is very limited in features and glitchy and from what I've seen they are not planning on improve it now that their website is mobile responsive. There are very few integrations, I would love it they could support Zapier. The client portal is a nice concept but I am not using it because it doesn't have the features I need. Their bookkeeping feature is a joke but I guess it's better than nothing for a freelancer that may otherwise not do any bookkeeping.

Couldn't do business without it!

Comments: Overall, super happy. I've been using for a few years now and am locked in at a great rate. The user interface isn't as pretty as some of the competitors softwares, but it gets the job done and keeps everything organized.

Pros:

It has streamlined everything from client inquiry to payment and everything in between! I love that I can send clients a bundle with their quote, contract, and invoice. I use workflows to keep each project organized. My clients also love it and have commented on how easy it is to use from their side.

Cons:

There is no way to pull reports/data. I'd like to be able to see how many inquiries came in, turned to bookings, sales figures, etc within certain time frames. I would also appreciate a way to see data from questionnaires. Specifically, I have inquires fill in "where did you hear about me" and it would be great to pull those answers and gather data.

Almost perfect Client management system

Comments: I love the support that I get. They are always updating and adding new features and the tutorials are so helpful as well. Great software...it has transformed by business in the past year...Can't imagine my life without it!

Pros:

I LOVE almost everything about 17hats. I expect that the "almost" will fall off in the coming year. 17hats nearly meets and exceeds all my needs. I love the automation possiblities, the ability to track information, the auto population features that save me Tons of time! al

Cons:

The lack of a scheduling feature...However, I believe this is something they are working on. I am praying that it will include a feature that allows for classes and for multiple people to be able to be signed up for a single class. As of now I have to use another software, but I am hopeful that one day it will meet all my needs.

Good for a single user company

Pros:

Easy to set up and navigate. The mobile app is great.

Cons:

Only one user allowed per account. Customer service was not easily accessible.

It’s okay.

Comments: It was fine for what I needed to do. Nothing fancy. Just contracts (which I struggled with). But then I needed to start offering more tools to my clients as my clientele grew and it wasn’t working for me anymore

Pros:

The only thing I like about 17hats is that it (almost) lets you get done what you need to get done. Basically just contracts, invoices, and bookkeeping.

Cons:

It’s not user friendly at all. I’ve been using this for over 2 years and there are still features I’m finding out how to use. It’s kinda a messy program.

Quadruple your productivity!

Comments: I really lucked out by getting in on this at the beginning and I was able to lock in a great rate, however, I would still pay full price for this today if I had to. Being a small business owner has it's many challenges, especially when you have to do everything yourself. Since I've signed on with 17hats I've been able to sign contracts, accept payments, and streamline the booking and communication process all while I'm away from my desk. I would never be able to pull this off without a platform such as this. In addition, it helps me to keep track of my bookkeeping, and my workflows, reminding me of my To Do's and when to do them! No software is perfect but they are constantly improving and listening to suggestions, and whenever I need assistance they are quick to respond. Since I've signed on with 17 hats a year ago, my business has almost doubled, partly due to the streamlined communication and payment processes of 17hats, and because of the ease of this platform I'm able to handle it all without hiring and cutting into profits. AMAZING!

Amazing CRM Software with incredible support

Pros:

17hats does so much more than just the basics. It manages incoming leads, turns them into invoices, and allows me to set up workflows so the system does much of the work for me. It has saved my company a ton of time and probably money, too. The support team is incredibly responsive and helpful.

Cons:

The accounting is lacking, but it's not meant to be a primary accounting software. It has the ability to sync with Quickbooks Online which works.

17Hats - Not just for photographers!

Comments: 17Hats is fantastic and I use it everyday to manage my business. it allows me to see an overview of what needs to be done for each client. On the invoice/payment side it help automate the process of sending invoices and collecting payments. It was originally design for free lance photographers, but is very useful for any type of freelance business.

Pros:

17Hats is a great all-in-one client management system that is easy to use and implement in your business.

Cons:

I would like more options on recurring invoicing.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Comments: I'm an event florist, and I've been with 17hats since 2015. And I love that it's grown in so many ways, and it's becoming better and better each update. There's a learning curve, as with any system, but after having a few personal one on one sessions, I feel so comfortable with this system! I hated other systems as they were so complicated. I like easy peasy, and this is just that. Can be it prettier like other systems, sure... Can it have more features... Sure... But the best part is that you can tell them your wants, and if enough people want them, they'll DO IT! So don't knock it till you try it!

Pros:

Ease of use

Cons:

None to think of

really great product...got us organized and smooth running

Comments: contract and payment organization and streamlining

Pros:

features are constantly expanding. Great way to organize contract process and payments and look super professional.

Cons:

Could use more links to other apps but they seem to be working on adding new features constantly so no real complaints.

Helped streamline workflow

Pros:

We use this for everything with our family handyman business and it creates a more professional front than we had before, more organization and efficiency for us on the business side and was easy to teach our office staff member to use.

Cons:

Once when we had an issue with the platform being inaccessible/down for us, the customer support response was on the slow side.

17hats!

Comments: My overall experience with 17hats has been great. Even the tutorials are easy to understand!

Pros:

I think 17hats is a great software! It seems so streamline and easy to use. I like how the calendar can connect with other calendars that someone may be using, and it keeps all the invoices and emails in one location. Which makes it easy to locate!

Cons:

I have not run into anything that I dislike about this software. When running a business, you need a software that will keep things simple and organized and that is what 17hats is all about.

A good software for smaller 1-person agencies

Comments: The tech support I've received has been solid. I like the software and I'm going to continue using it for now.

Pros:

Quoting is fantastic. I can send a quote out with the contract and a payment schedule attached. When the person accepts the quote, they then get sent the contract. After that they are shown the payment schedule. Building a quote is equally great because I can offer three sections. First section: the required items of the quote. Second section: Choose one of the options. Third section: Choose any of the options. This has been very helpful for website design where I put the website design in the first section, me hosting or them hosting in the second section, and add-ons like maintenance, SEM, e-Commerce, and more in the third section.

Cons:

Customers can't setup automatic payments for recurring invoices.

I should have moved to this years ago

Pros:

This has just streamlined my business and finances. I can let 17 hats do the heavy lifting and allow my book keeper to maintain and I can get on with the business of my business.

Cons:

The billing system seriously needs an overhall. To be able to have auto billing would be a godsend. That still needs work

Brilliant Software with so much to offer!

Comments: This does my accounting mainly and is also a source of inspiration for contracts and templates. There is a marketplace where you can review and purchase additional templates of all sorts for various industries.
Well worth the money.

Pros:

The automation of follow up invoicing is brilliant. This software does so much more than just accounting for your financials. It is accounting, a CRM, email, contracts, and much more. Tutorials, webinars and online help.

Cons:

Like anything that completes multiple tasks, it is quite complex once you start digging. Has great multipurpose functionality, but you need to spend the time in it to make it work to its maximum capacity for you.