If you’ve been overthinking your Dubsado setup, spiraling in form design inspo, or convincing yourself you need to create 47 workflows before you can send a single client a single thing…take my hand. I’m here to help.
You do not need a fully built-out, Pinterest-perfect system to start using Dubsado.
You just need the essentials, the pieces that get you booked, paid, and communicating like a professional without the overwhelm.
So here it is:
A no-fuss, all-business, get-it-done Dubsado Quick-Start Checklist you can follow in a single afternoon.
1. Settings: The Foundation of Your Account
Before you do anything fancy, start with the basics.
(This is the digital equivalent of wiping down the counters before you cook.)
✔️ Add your business name, address, phone number
✔️ Upload your logo
✔️ Set your brand color (Dubsado only asks for one so this should be easy)
✔️ Connect your email (this is a must — Dubsado can’t send emails without this connection)
✔️ Connect your payment processor (Stripe, Square, or Dubsado Payments)
✔️ Sync your external calendar
✔️ Integrate your third-party tools (Zoom, Google Meet, QuickBooks, etc.)
Once these are in place, your system can actually do things for you.
2. Packages & Simple Payment Plans
Next up: the money part. 🤑
Input your packages, nothing fancy, just the facts:
- Package name
- Line items for what’s included
- Price
Then create 1–2 simple payment plans:
- 100% upfront
- 50/50 split
That’s it.
Clean, clear, zero confusion.
These alone will get you paid quickly and without unnecessary back-and-forth.
3. Bare-Minimum Canned Emails
These will save your sanity more than you know.
Start with the essentials:
- New lead auto-response
- Request to schedule a call (if that’s part of your process)
- Follow-up email (just in case they ghost you)
- Booking email (contract + invoice link)
- Payment reminder
- Booking confirmation
Don’t overthink them, professional + warm is enough.
You can edit the pre-loaded templates to match your voice.
4. Your Main Contract (No Flourishes Needed)
A contract is a legal document, not a Canva project.
Skip the colors, skip the photos, skip the fonts that feel like a vibe.
You just need:
✔️ Clear, thorough terms
✔️ Boundaries and expectations
✔️ A solid, general version you can use again and again
You can always add service-specific addendums later, but start with a strong core.
5. A Basic Lead Capture Form
If you only create one form to start, let it be this one.
Keep it simple:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Phone
- Message box
This gives you everything you need to follow up, and you can get fancy later.
A clean, functional form beats a cute, complicated one every single time.
6. A One-Step Starter Workflow
Yes. ONE. Singular. Not 12. Not 27. Not “I’m building a workflow empire.”
Just: Lead Capture Form → Auto-Reply Email
That’s it.
Automation exists in baby steps
Pro Tips (From Your Favorite Systems Bestie)
💡 Use the standard Lead Capture Form that’s pre-loaded in your account.
💡 Start with the pre-loaded canned emails and tweak them to match your voice.
💡 Fancy comes later. Function comes first.
💡 This setup alone can run a very real, very efficient business.
💡 Skip the proposal! I know… proposals feel fun. But they’re also the fastest way to tumble into a setup rabbit hole you may not be ready for.
