Bonsai
The unified platform for service businesses
Overview
Bonsai is a comprehensive business management software engineered specifically for service businesses, agencies, consultancies, software firms, and freelancers. By bringing together disparate workflows into a single platform, Bonsai eliminates the need for multiple fragmented software tools to run daily business operations. The platform covers client management from lead to contract with features such as CRM deal pipelines, custom scheduling, proposal creation, digital agreements, contracts, and branded client portals. On the delivery side, teams can manage tasks, visualize project progress with Gantt views, monitor capacity, allocate resources, and record billable hours using integrated time tracking and timesheets. In addition to client and project workflows, Bonsai handles business finances with multi-currency invoicing, online payments, expense tracking, retainer management, rate cards, and financial reporting. Integrations with popular platforms like QuickBooks and Xero further simplify accounting and financial management. With the addition of Bonsai MCP, users can also connect AI assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini directly to perform operational tasks within the platform.
Best for: Service businesses, enterprise agencies, consultancies, and freelancers seeking an all-in-one solution for client CRM, project management, time tracking, and billing.
Pros and cons
What works well
- Consolidates CRM, project management, time tracking, and invoicing into a single platform
- Supports native AI assistant connections via Bonsai MCP
- Offers comprehensive financial tools including retainer management, expense tracking, and accounting integrations
Where it falls short
- No permanent free plan available
- Certain key features like Xero integration and custom permissions require the top-tier Elite plan
Pricing
Basic
$9 / user / month (billed annually) or $15 / user / month (b
Includes time tracking, task management, unlimited projects, CRM, service library, iOS & Android apps, and unlimited clients.
Essentials
$19 / user / month (billed annually) or $25 / user / month (
Includes everything in Basic plus invoices & payments, proposals & contracts, templates, forms, scheduling, client portal, and income/expense tracking.
Premium
$29 / user / month (billed annually) or $39 / user / month (
Includes everything in Essentials plus project insights, workload management, Gantt view, deals pipeline, custom fields, client tasks, profit reports, and third-party integrations.
Elite
$49 / user / month (billed annually) or $59 / user / month (
Includes everything in Premium plus custom permissions, timesheet locking, expense markups, Xero integration, and custom data import (3 users minimum).
User reviews
Frequently asked questions
What is Bonsai?
Bonsai is an all-in-one business management platform that integrates CRM, scheduling, proposals, project management, time tracking, and invoicing into one centralized software.
Does Bonsai offer a free trial?
Yes, Bonsai provides a free trial option for users to test platform features before subscribing.
Does Bonsai offer mobile apps?
Yes, Bonsai has dedicated mobile apps available for iOS and Android platforms.
What integrations are available with Bonsai?
Bonsai offers integrations with tools such as QuickBooks, Xero, Calendly, Zapier, Google, and AI assistants via Bonsai MCP.
What features are included in Bonsai MCP?
Bonsai MCP allows users to connect AI assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini to perform actions directly in Bonsai, such as updating client details, creating projects, or drafting invoices.
Bonsai alternatives
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HoneyBook
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