17hats Referral Code: A QuickBooks Alternative That Transformed My Photography Business

Why I Switched from QuickBooks to 17hats Using a Referral Code

I had been using QuickBooks Desktop for years to manage my finances, but everything changed when QuickBooks disabled key functions, pushing me to upgrade to a costly monthly subscription. That’s when I found 17hats. Their top-level membership replaced QuickBooks for my needs, and offered a whole lot more features than Intuit’s accounting software.

How 17hats Streamlined My Photography Business

The true power of 17hats lies in its automation features, which have transformed how we manage clients and streamline operations. On our website’s contact form, potential clients select from one of seven options via a dropdown menu. This triggers an automated response that delivers FAQs for simpler jobs like headshots or sends a questionnaire for more complex projects, such as event and commercial shoots. This ensures that leads are responded to immediately and allows us to gather the necessary information to create custom quotes.   From there, we can easily send out a quote, an electronically signed contract, and generate invoices, all with minimal manual input. This automates the onboarding process, ensuring everything flows smoothly from the first point of contact to securing the job. For fulfillment, 17hats has been a game-changer. My virtual assistant follows clear workflows to complete each step of the project—from initial communication to gallery prep, retouching, and final delivery. Tasks like sending prescripted emails to clients, gathering feedback, or managing photo deliverables are automated through the workflow. My involvement is streamlined down to reviewing the final images before they are sent to clients. This process allows us to manage multiple projects simultaneously, making it much easier to scale while maintaining high-quality standards. Once the photos are delivered, 17hats automates a follow-up survey, prompting clients to leave reviews on Google or Yelp if they rate us highly. Check out my headshot photography rates page and click booking calendar to also see how I integrated 17 hats into my website.

Why 17hats Is a Great Alternative to QuickBooks

For creative professionals, 17hats is a comprehensive tool. Here’s 17hats is the perfect solution for my business:

• All-in-One Platform: CRM, scheduling, invoicing, and project management in one system.
• Automations: Save time by automating client communication, a feature QuickBooks lacks.
• Pricing: The Premier package is more affordable, especially with 50% off using my 17hats referral code (link).

Comparing 17hats Plans and Pricing

17hats offers three membership levels—Essentials, Standard, and Premier. With my 17hats referral code, you’ll get 50% off your first year by clicking here. Here’s how the normal pricing and plans compare before the discount:  

	Essentials	Standard	Premier
Monthly Price	$15 per month	$30 per month	$60 per month
Annual Price	$150 per year ($12.50 per month)	$300 per year ($25 per month)	$600 per year ($50 per month)
Unlimited Contacts & Projects	✔	✔	✔
Unlimited Documents	✔	✔	✔
Google Calendar With 2-way sync	✔	✔	✔
Lead Capture Forms	1	3	20
Online Scheduling Services	1	Unlimited	Unlimited
Lead Reporting	–	✔	✔
Bookkeeping	–	✔	✔
Standard Workflows	–	✔	✔
Advanced Workflows	–	–	✔
Advanced Online Scheduling	–	–	✔

 

Pricing (before using my 17hats referral code) and Feature: Essentials, Standard, and Premier Plans

Whether you’re a freelancer just starting out or a growing business in need of advanced tools, 17hats has three distinct plans tailored to different business needs. Here’s a breakdown of the features and normal pricing for each option:

Essentials Plan ($15/month, paid annually)

The Essentials Plan is perfect for freelancers or small business owners who are just beginning to systematize their operations. For $150 per year, it offers a solid foundation of essential tools to keep your business organized without overwhelming you with complex features.

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage all your client information, project details, and communications in one place. Keep track of each client’s status and interaction history.
• 1 Lead Capture Form: A simple form that can be embedded into your website to capture client inquiries. The information is automatically added to your 17hats account for easy follow-up.
• Online Scheduling: Clients can schedule meetings or appointments directly through a basic online scheduling tool. This feature syncs with your calendar, reducing the back-and-forth of appointment-setting.
• Basic Workflow Automation: Set up simple task lists to keep track of your projects, helping you stay organized without the need for manual follow-ups.
• Document Management: Create and send invoices, contracts, and quotes, streamlining your paperwork.

This plan is great if you’re focused on getting organized and need basic client management, scheduling, and billing tools.

Standard Plan ($30/month, paid annually)

The Standard Plan, 17hats’ most popular option, is designed for growing businesses that need more robust automation and branding options. For $300 annually, it offers more customization and workflow management tools to help you scale your operations.

• All Essentials Plan Features: Enjoy everything included in the Essentials Plan, plus more features to help you grow your business.
• 3 Lead Capture Forms: Expand your lead generation with multiple forms. For example, use separate forms for headshot inquiries, event photography, and commercial projects. This allows for better organization and tailored workflows.
• Brand Customization: Add your company’s branding (logo, colors, fonts) to documents like invoices and contracts, giving your business a more professional appearance.
• Advanced Online Scheduling: Offer clients more advanced scheduling features, like automated appointment reminders, reducing no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
• Advanced Workflow Automation: Set up more complex workflows that trigger specific tasks or client communications based on actions, such as a signed contract or paid invoice.
• Basic Email Automation: Set up email templates and automate responses to clients based on their interactions, freeing you from repetitive tasks.

The Standard Plan is perfect for businesses ready to streamline their client onboarding and take advantage of more automated workflows and branding capabilities.

Premier Plan ($60/month, paid annually)

The Premier Plan is ideal for established businesses with higher volumes of clients and more complex workflows. At $600 per year, it offers advanced automation and flexibility, making it a powerful solution for companies that need to scale without sacrificing client service quality.

• All Standard Plan Features: Includes everything from the Essentials and Standard Plans, plus even more tools to streamline your business.
• Unlimited Lead Capture Forms: Perfect for businesses with multiple service offerings. You can create as many lead capture forms as needed for various types of inquiries, each triggering its own tailored workflow.
• Advanced Workflow Triggers: Automate your business on a deeper level. For example, once a client signs a contract, you can automatically trigger the next steps, like invoicing or a questionnaire. These triggers allow you to automate up to 80% of your client management process.
• Advanced Reporting: Access detailed reports that help you analyze your business performance, from revenue growth to client acquisition trends.
• Document Templates with If/Then Logic: Create smarter questionnaires, contracts, and other documents that change dynamically based on client inputs. This feature is particularly useful for service-based businesses offering multiple packages or customizations.
• Priority Support: Get access to priority customer support for quick resolutions to any issues you encounter.

The Premier Plan is ideal for established businesses or those that need the power of full automation, customized workflows, and advanced client communication.

Which Plan Is Right for You?

When comparing 17hats’ plans to other software like QuickBooks, it becomes clear that 17hats offers more than just bookkeeping. With features like CRM, lead capture, scheduling, and workflow automation, 17hats provides comprehensive business management at a lower cost than many other software solutions. While QuickBooks focuses primarily on accounting, 17hats delivers a full suite of tools to manage your entire business from client acquisition to final delivery, making it an excellent choice for freelancers and small businesses who want to stay organized without breaking the bank. If you’re just starting out or need basic organization, the Essentials Plan is a solid, affordable option. As your business grows, the Standard Plan offers more robust automation and branding options. For larger businesses or those ready to scale, the Premier Plan gives you full control and automation across all aspects of your business.

Why You Should Use My 17hats Referral Code for 50% Off

If you’re a freelancer, small business owner, or creative professional looking to streamline your operations and get more done in less time, 17hats is a fantastic option. And with my 17hats referral code, you’ll get 50% off your first year by clicking here, making this an even more affordable choice for managing your business.

Watch: How 17hats Transforms Business Management

See how 17hats can change your workflow by watching the video below:

Conclusion: Why 17hats and Its Referral Code Was the Right Move for Me

Switching from QuickBooks to 17hats has transformed how I manage my photography business. Its CRM, automation, and scheduling features make running my business smoother than ever. If you’re looking for a QuickBooks alternative that simplifies everything, use my referral code to get 50% off your first year and start streamlining your business now.