Proposal and Contract Tools for Solo Consultants: Bonsai vs HoneyBook vs FreshBooks
How we compared these. We have not used these tools. This comparison is built from each vendor's public pricing page, read on 2026-10-06. Prices change, so confirm them on the vendor's site. See our methodology and disclosure. Only the FreshBooks link below is a possible affiliate link.
What a "proposal tool" does
It lets you send a proposal, get an e-signature on a contract, then invoice and take payment from the same place. That can replace separate documents, an e-sign service and an invoicing tool. Before paying, check whether you would use enough of it; see our contract checklist for what the documents themselves should contain.
Published pricing (US, checked 2026-10-06)
| Tool | Plans and prices | Proposals, contracts, invoices |
|---|---|---|
| Bonsai | Annual billing: Basic $9, Essentials $19, Premium $29, Elite $49 (3 users minimum) per user per month. Monthly billing: $15, $25, $39, $59 | Basic lists time tracking, task management and CRM. Essentials adds invoices and payments, proposals and contracts, templates, forms and a client portal |
| HoneyBook | Billed yearly: Starter $29, Essentials $49, Premium $109 per month. 30-day free trial, no card | Starter lists unlimited clients, invoices, payments, proposals and contracts. Card processing from 2.7% + 10 cents, ACH 1.5% |
| FreshBooks (pricing) | Lite $23, Plus $43, Premium $70 per month list prices (promotional prices lower for a limited time) | Lite lists estimates and payments. Plus lists proposals, client retainers and e-signatures |
Reading the table
- For proposals plus contracts plus invoicing, the cheapest published entry points are Bonsai Essentials ($19 a month on annual billing, $25 monthly), HoneyBook Starter ($29 a month billed yearly) and FreshBooks Plus ($43 list price).
- Bonsai and HoneyBook are built around client workflow; FreshBooks is built around accounting and invoicing, with proposals added at a higher tier. See FreshBooks vs QuickBooks for the accounting side.
- Processing fees differ by method and may add up; compare them on your expected volume, not just plan price.
How to choose
| If you... | Lean toward |
|---|---|
| Mostly need proposals, contracts and e-sign at the lowest price | Bonsai Essentials (annual billing) |
| Want a client-flow tool and are okay with a yearly commitment | HoneyBook Starter, using the free trial first |
| Want accounting plus proposals in one product | FreshBooks Plus |
| Only send a contract occasionally | A reviewed template and a basic e-sign option may be enough |
What we could not verify
- We did not test any product, so we say nothing about usability or support.
- Template quality and legal soundness are not assessed. Have an attorney review contract language for important work.
- Billing terms (such as yearly commitments) were summarized from pricing pages; read them before purchase.
Next step
Use a free trial where offered, send a real proposal to yourself, and export your data to check you can leave. You can look at FreshBooks directly; compare with retainer pricing if you plan to bill monthly.