Flowlu ◆
Flowlu is an all-in-one business platform combining CRM, project management, invoicing, finance, and a knowledge base.
Free·from $9/user/mo
About Bonsai
Bonsai is a unified business management platform for freelancers, solopreneurs, and service businesses. It consolidates client management, project delivery, and billing into one easy-to-use platform, replacing the chaos of spreadsheets and separate tools.
What it does
From a single dashboard, you can manage leads with a built-in CRM, create branded proposals and contracts with e-signatures, schedule and run projects, track time, and handle invoicing, payments, and expenses. Finance reporting, recurring payments, and retainer management help put billing on autopilot.
Best for
Bonsai is used by 10,000+ firms and freelancers who need an end-to-end workflow from proposal to payment. It suits service businesses managing multiple clients and projects, as well as solopreneurs wanting professional proposals, contracts, and integrated finance tools. It is not designed for large enterprises with complex ERP needs.
Real use cases
Agencies use Bonsai to track project budgets and time across teams, while solo consultants streamline client onboarding with automated proposals and contracts. Retainer and recurring billing features help creatives and consultants maintain predictable cash flow.
Key features
- CRM & Client Workflow — Manage leads, deals, and clients with automations and a client portal
- Proposals & Contracts — Create branded proposals and agreements with templates and e-signatures
- Invoicing & Payments — Send invoices, accept online payments, and set up recurring billing and retainers
- Time Tracking & Timesheets — Log hours against projects and manage timesheets
- Project Management — Organize tasks, Gantt views, budgets, and resource planning
- Expense & Income Tracking — Monitor expenses and revenue with detailed finance reports
- Integrations — Connect QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly, and Google
Bonsai Pricing
Bonsai pricing: from $9/user/mo. Billing model: Subscription.
Basic — $9/user/month (billed annually) / $15/user/month (monthly)
Includes time tracking, task management, unlimited projects, CRM, service library, iOS & Android app, unlimited clients.
Essentials — $19/user/month (billed annually) / $25/user/month (monthly)
Everything in Basic plus invoices & payments, proposals & contracts, all templates, forms & questionnaires, scheduling, client portal, expense tracking, income tracking.
Premium — $29/user/month (billed annually) / $39/user/month (monthly)
Everything in Essentials plus project insights, workload management, Gantt view, deals pipeline, custom fields & properties, client tasks & messaging, profit & productivity reports, remove Bonsai branding, integrations (QuickBooks, Zapier, Calendly, Google).
Elite — $49/user/month (billed annually) / $59/user/month (monthly)
Everything in Premium plus custom permissions, timesheet locking, add markup to expenses, Xero integration, custom data import, 3 users minimum.
All plans include a free trial. Reduced rate available for teams with 30+ users.
Exclusive deal via SaaSpartout
Get the deal →Frequently asked questions
How much does Bonsai cost?
Bonsai pricing starts at $9/user/month (billed annually) for the Basic plan. Monthly plans start at $15/user/month. Other plans include Essentials ($19/user/mo annual), Premium ($29/user/mo annual), and Elite ($49/user/mo annual).
Is there a free trial for Bonsai?
Yes, Bonsai offers a free trial. All plans can be started for free to test features before committing.
Who is Bonsai best for?
Bonsai is best for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small to mid-sized service businesses (agencies, consultancies) that need an end-to-end platform for client management, project delivery, and billing.
What are the top alternatives to Bonsai?
Top alternatives include HoneyBook, 17hats, and Dubsado for freelancers and small service businesses. For larger teams, consider monday.com or FreshBooks.
Does Bonsai integrate with QuickBooks or Xero?
Yes, Bonsai integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly, and Google. QuickBooks integration is available from the Premium plan, Xero from the Elite plan.
What is a key limitation of Bonsai?
Bonsai is not designed for large enterprises with complex ERP needs. It is best suited for small teams (under 30 users) and lacks advanced HR, inventory, or manufacturing features.
