Bonsai

What is bonsai

Bonsai is a software platform focused on the administrative needs of freelancers and small service businesses. It combines proposal and contract generation, electronic signatures, time tracking, invoicing, payments, expense tracking, and basic project management into a single interface so independent professionals can manage client work without juggling multiple point tools.

The product emphasizes fast, repeatable document creation (templates for proposals, contracts, and invoices), automated workflows (e.g., convert a signed proposal into an invoice and project), and integrated payment processing so users can bill and collect inside the same system. Bonsai also provides reporting primitives and client records so users can track income, outstanding invoices, and time-to-payment.

Bonsai is commonly used by freelancers in design, development, consulting, marketing, and other billable-service disciplines where clear contracts, time tracking and consistent invoicing reduce client friction. The interface is optimized for solo operators but includes team-friendly features for small businesses that share templates and client lists.

Bonsai features

What does bonsai do?

Bonsai automates the administrative workflow around client projects: creating and sending proposals, generating legally formatted contracts, collecting e-signatures, tracking time and expenses, and issuing invoices and payment reminders. The core feature groups include document generation, client and project management, billing and payments, time tracking, and simple reporting.

Key feature areas include:

• Contract templates: Pre-built, editable contract templates with scope, deliverables, payment terms, and termination clauses that can be customized per client and signed electronically.
• Proposal builder: Proposal layouts that combine scope, pricing, milestones, and acceptance flows so clients can approve and sign to trigger downstream actions.
• Time and expense tracking: Native timers, manual time entries, and expense capture to convert tracked time and costs into billable line items on invoices.
• Invoicing and payments: Invoice creation with VAT/tax support, recurring billing, and integrations with payment processors to collect ACH, credit cards, and other methods.
• Workflow automation: Rules to turn an accepted proposal into an active project, create invoices on milestone completion, and send automatic payment reminders.
• Client portal and records: Centralized client contact records, payment history, and a simple portal where clients can view and pay invoices and sign documents.
• Reporting and tax-ready exports: Income and expense reports, exportable CSVs for accounting, and year-end summaries to assist with tax preparation.

Beyond the core features, Bonsai typically provides mobile access, template libraries tailored to common freelance professions, and integrations that reduce data re-entry between bookkeeping and productivity tools.

Bonsai pricing

Bonsai offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month with limitations on advanced automations, limited contracts or invoice templates, and basic time tracking
• Starter: $16/month (billed annually) with expanded templates, basic automation rules, and client management tools
• Professional: $24/month (billed annually) with advanced automation, priority payment features, and additional team seats
• Enterprise: Contact sales for custom features, SSO, advanced security and volume discounts

Check Bonsai's current pricing plans for the latest rates, promotions, and enterprise options.

How much is bonsai per month

Bonsai starts at $16/month when billed annually for the Starter plan. Monthly-billed options are often available at a slightly higher monthly rate; check Bonsai's billing options to see month-to-month pricing and the per-user cost if you add multiple teammates.

How much is bonsai per year

Bonsai costs $192/year for the Starter plan based on the annualized $16/month rate. The Professional annualized rate is $288/year based on $24/month. Enterprise customers receive contract pricing and volume discounts when billed annually.

How much is bonsai in general

Bonsai pricing ranges from $0 (free) up to custom enterprise pricing for large teams. For most freelancers the practical range is between the Free plan and the Professional plan, depending on the number of clients, the need for automation, and whether integrated payment processing fees are acceptable. Keep in mind that payment processor fees (credit card or ACH) are separate from Bonsai subscription charges.

What is bonsai used for

Bonsai is used to reduce administrative friction for freelancers and small teams. It provides a single place to: create and send proposals, generate and sign contracts, track project time, invoice clients, and accept payments. Users apply Bonsai to standardize client onboarding, protect scope with clear contracts, and shorten billing cycles by automating invoice creation and reminders.

Typical workflows look like this: create a proposal with scope and milestones, send it to a client, once accepted automatically generate a contract and request an e-signature, start tracking time under the active project, and issue invoices tied to tracked time or completed milestones. That end-to-end linkage reduces manual steps and helps ensure invoices reflect agreed scope and logged hours.

Bonsai is also used for bookkeeping-friendly exports and tax prep. Users can export income and expense data to CSV or connect via integrations to accounting tools for more complex bookkeeping. The reporting features help freelancers identify unpaid invoices, recurring revenue from retainers, and total billable hours for a period.

Pros and cons of bonsai

Pros:

• Integrated end-to-end workflow from proposals to payments reduces duplicate data entry and accelerates client acceptance and payment.
• Professionally designed templates for contracts and proposals reduce legal and negotiation friction with clients.
• Built-in time tracking tied to invoices simplifies billing for hourly clients and supports mixed-fee invoicing (fixed + hourly).
• Client management and automation features let small teams reuse templates, standardize processes, and reduce onboarding time.

Cons:

• Feature set is focused on freelancers and small teams; larger organizations may need a more robust project management or ERP-level system.
• Integrated payment processing means transaction fees are separate and can add to the cost of getting paid quickly.
• While Bonsai includes reporting and exports, advanced accounting workflows still require a dedicated accounting system for tax and payroll.
• Heavy custom legal requirements or industry-specific compliance (e.g., HIPAA) may not be fully covered without enterprise arrangements.

Overall, Bonsai is a pragmatic choice for independent professionals who want a single, managed tool for client-facing documents and billing without managing multiple discrete apps.

Bonsai free trial

Bonsai typically offers a free tier and may provide a trial or money-back window for paid plans. The Free Plan allows testing of the central features—proposal creation, basic contracts, and simple invoicing—so users can evaluate the product before committing to a paid subscription.

Free trials or starter periods are useful to validate that the templates and automation rules fit your workflow, that time tracking integrates with how you bill, and that invoice-to-payment flows behave as expected with your preferred payment processor. Trying a paid tier for a billing cycle can be especially helpful for freelancers who want to test milestone automation and team seats.

For the latest on trial length and any promotional access to premium features, consult Bonsai's pricing information and onboarding notes in their help center.

Is bonsai free

Yes, Bonsai offers a Free Plan with basic capabilities suitable for individuals evaluating the platform. The free tier supports basic contracts, proposals, and limited invoicing features, but it restricts advanced automations, certain payment features, and the number of team seats or active templates.

Bonsai API

Bonsai provides programmatic access to parts of its platform so teams can automate workflows and integrate Bonsai data into other systems. Typical API capabilities include creating and retrieving clients, projects, invoices, and time entries; generating documents from templates; and receiving webhook notifications when a document is signed, a proposal is accepted, or an invoice is paid.

The API is geared toward automations that keep back-office systems synchronized: for example, creating a client record in Bonsai from a CRM lead, pushing invoice data into an accounting system, or triggering a notification in a team messaging app when a high-value contract is signed. For webhook-driven workflows, Bonsai's API can push real-time events to your endpoint so you can build server-side responses.

Authentication is usually token-based (API keys) and rate limits and scope-restrictions apply. For development teams that need SSO, deeper security controls, or high-volume API access, Bonsai's enterprise plans offer expanded terms and support. Refer to the official Bonsai API documentation for current endpoints and developer examples: Bonsai API documentation.

10 Bonsai alternatives

Paid alternatives to bonsai

• QuickBooks — Broad accounting and invoicing platform with payroll and tax features; best for businesses that need complete accounting rather than freelancer-focused templates.
• FreshBooks — Invoicing, time tracking, and expense tracking targeted at freelancers and small businesses with strong reporting and client portal features.
• AND.CO — A freelancer-first product with proposals, contracts, and invoicing; similar workflow to Bonsai and often compared directly by independent contractors.
• HoneyBook — Client management and invoicing focused on creative professionals, with templates and project workflows optimized for photography, events, and design.
• Zoho Invoice / Zoho Books — Invoicing and small-business accounting in the Zoho suite, useful if you plan to scale into a full ERP ecosystem.

Open source alternatives to bonsai

• Invoice Ninja — Open-source invoicing, proposals, and time tracking software that you can self-host or use via hosted plans; flexible for developers who want customizations.
• ERPNext — An open-source ERP with invoicing, contracts via document modules, and project/time tracking; useful for small businesses that need a broader system.
• Odoo (Community edition) — Open-source ERP with modules for invoicing, CRM, and project management; requires setup but provides extensive customization for end-to-end workflows.

Frequently asked questions about Bonsai

What is Bonsai used for?

Bonsai is used for freelance contract, proposal, time tracking, and invoicing management. Freelancers and small teams use it to create professional client documents, obtain signatures, track billable time, and issue invoices tied to tracked work. It centralizes client records and supports automated workflows from proposal acceptance through payment collection.

Does Bonsai integrate with accounting software?

Yes, Bonsai integrates with accounting tools through direct integrations or exportable data. You can export invoices and transaction data to CSV for import into accounting systems or use built-in integrations with popular bookkeeping platforms. For customized flows, the Bonsai API and webhooks support automated data sync to accounting systems.

How much does Bonsai cost per month?

Bonsai starts at $16/month when billed annually for the Starter plan; monthly billing options are typically available at a higher effective monthly rate. The Professional tier increases the per-month cost and adds automation and team features.

Is there a free version of Bonsai?

Yes, Bonsai offers a Free Plan that provides basic proposal, contract, and invoicing functionality with limitations on automations and team seats. The free tier is intended for single freelancers who want to evaluate the platform before upgrading.

Can Bonsai process payments and handle receipts?

Yes, Bonsai supports payment processing. The platform connects with payment processors to accept credit card and ACH payments, and it records payments against invoices and generates simple receipts. Payment processor fees are handled by the provider and are separate from Bonsai subscription costs.

Does Bonsai support electronic signatures?

Yes, Bonsai includes electronic signature functionality. Contracts and proposals can be signed digitally by clients, and executed documents are stored with timestamps and audit trails for recordkeeping. Signed documents can trigger automations like project creation and invoice generation.

Can I track time and convert it to invoices in Bonsai?

Yes, Bonsai has built-in time tracking that converts to billable invoices. You can use timers or manual entries, tag time to projects or clients, and include tracked hours on invoices as hourly items or roll them into retainer billing.

How secure is Bonsai for client data and contracts?

Bonsai follows standard security practices for SaaS providers and offers enterprise options for enhanced security. Data in transit is encrypted, and larger customers can negotiate SSO, advanced access controls, and contractual security commitments. Review Bonsai's security and compliance pages for up-to-date certifications and enterprise controls.

Does Bonsai work for small teams or just solo freelancers?

Bonsai supports both solo freelancers and small teams. Team-oriented features include shared templates, user seats with role controls, and consolidated client records. For larger organizations, enterprise plans add administrative controls, SSO, and higher support levels.

What training and support resources does Bonsai provide?

Bonsai provides a help center, templates, and onboarding guides for users. Documentation covers contract and proposal best practices, time tracking workflows, and invoice-to-payment processes; paid plans typically include faster support responses and onboarding assistance.

bonsai careers

Bonsai hires across product, engineering, design, customer success, and business functions to support its freelance-focused product set. Career pages typically list remote-first roles, role descriptions, and benefits, and they outline the company's approach to distributed work and team culture.

Open roles at Bonsai often emphasize experience building B2B SaaS products for small businesses, familiarity with payments and document flows, and a user-centered approach to product design. Candidates should expect a process that includes a technical or product exercise and a cultural fit interview.

If you are interested in roles, check Bonsai's official careers page for current openings and application instructions. Many product-focused startups also publish role details on professional networks and on their company blog.

bonsai affiliate

Bonsai runs partner and affiliate programs that reward referrals and content partners who send paying customers to the platform. Affiliate programs typically provide a referral link, a dashboard to track conversions, and defined commission structures for new customer sign-ups.

Affiliate partners are often bloggers, consultants who work with freelancers, accounting professionals, and marketplaces that cater to independent professionals. For the most accurate terms, payment thresholds, and promotional materials, consult Bonsai's partner or affiliate program documentation.

Where to find bonsai reviews

Independent reviews of Bonsai appear on software review sites, freelancer forums, and technology publications. Look for user reviews on platforms like G2 and Capterra for ratings on ease of use, value, and customer support. Freelance communities on Reddit and specialized Facebook groups also include hands-on user experiences and tips.

For decision-making, compare feature-specific reviews such as contract templates, e-signature reliability, and payment processing flow; and consult Bonsai's case studies or customer stories for example workflows and measurable outcomes.