Hold on to your pocketbooks, photographers and creatives! HoneyBook’s latest price hike has everyone scrambling to recalculate their budgets. Starting February 4, the cost of HoneyBook’s Starter plan is set to increase by a whopping 89%!
That’s a bitter pill to swallow for many small business owners who rely on the popular CRM platform to manage their clients and streamline operations. With other increases, such as Adobe’s 50% hike last year, photographers are seeing more and more of their bottom line dwindle away. If you’re on Team HoneyBook, you’ll want to read on.
The Price Breakdown
HoneyBook has long been a favorite among photographers, wedding planners, and other creatives, offering features like contract templates, invoicing, and workflow automation. But starting February 4, here is how the new tiers stack up:
- Starter Plan: From $19 to $36/month (89.47% increase)
- Essentials Plan: From $39 to $59/month (51.28% increase)
- Premium Plan: From $79 to $125/month (63.2% increase)
While HoneyBook ‘s CEO explains in a blog post that the updated pricing reflects the growing value and capabilities of the platform, many users are left questioning whether the steepness of the jump is justified.
Alternatives to HoneyBook
If the new HoneyBook prices are giving you sticker shock, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are other CRM platforms worth considering that won’t drain your bank account.
Bloom
Bloom has kept my business organized and streamlined for two years now. It’s hard to imagine how I functioned without it.
Once I have a client ready to book, it’s a quick click to send my contract, deposit, and onboarding questionnaire. Since I started using the platform, they have added so many features, I can barely keep up.
From website portfolios to scheduling, lead management, image delivery, and more, it really is a one-stop shop. With all its new features, you could potentially eliminate other monthly expenses such as Dropbox, Pixieset, Squarespace, SignNow, or many other business management software. I wrote an article reviewing the platform here.
Backed by creatives such as Chris Do, Joel Grimes, and more, it has a rock-solid reputation.
The current package prices are:
- Starter Package: $7/month
- Solo Business: $17/month (this is what I use)
- Small Teams: $33/month
17 Hats
17 Hats is another popular management platform among photographers. It is a comprehensive CRM platform that offers the same features: lead capture, project management, online booking, invoicing, contracts, and more. It has great reviews across the board and seems to keep photographers happy and streamlined. One impression that 17 Hats left on me is a heart-warming story that Shawn Lee relayed to me last year. In 2022, Canon and 17 Hats partnered with Lee’s platform to donate $220,000 to an after-school program in Detroit. It provided camera gear, mentorship, and photography field trips to city youth who might not otherwise have had access to these opportunities.
I always love to support companies who give back to the community.
Their pricing is as follows:
- Essentials: $13/month
- Standard: $25/month
- Premier: $60/month
Mondays
Monday.com is a trending platform that you've likely spotted on billboards and ads everywhere. It’s not just for creatives—businesses of all kinds are jumping on board. With 61% of Fortune 500 companies using it, Monday.com has firmly established itself as a major player in the CRM space. My most high-profile client uses this platform, and the experience I’ve had with it has been a good one.
Their pricing is as follows:
- Basic: $9/month
- Standard: $12/month
- Pro: $19/month
When checking out pricing, don’t just look at the ticket price. Take a closer look at what you’re actually getting. Monday.com’s Basic package might seem like a great deal, but it comes with fewer features compared to what Bloom and 17 Hats offer in their entry-level plans. Making sure you’re comparing apples to apples will help you find the best fit for your needs.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re anything like me, you can never get enough of Fat Joe’s “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.”
We all understand that prices go up—I mean, have you bought eggs this week?! However, when price hikes are too steep with no clear explanation, companies should watch out for backlash. Canva found this out the hard way last year when they tried to pull a massive increase on their “Teams” package. The community backlash was severe, with people posting company profits and the CEO’s salary online. While they eventually walked back the increase, the backlash left a lasting negative impression on the community. Price increases are to be expected, but it’s wise for companies to carefully weigh how high they should go.
If you don’t want to get hit with that big bill on February 4, consider exploring some of these alternatives, which can save you not just on your CRM but also on other bundled services.
And hey, if you're like me, you’ll take that $19 and treat yourself to a nice bottle of Malbec to toast to a successful week. Cheers to that!
What’s your take? Are you seeing a justification for an 89% price increase? If you use a CRM platform, let us know which one and how you like it.
