Free Customer Portal for Contractors: Give Clients One Link for Proposals, Invoices, Payments, and Service History

A customer portal gives each client one place to review proposals, check invoices, confirm payments, and find previous service records without searching through old emails or text messages.

With the DunaHub Customer Portal, contractors and local service businesses can generate a unique link for each customer. The client opens that link from a phone, tablet, or computer without creating another account, choosing a password, or downloading an app.

Inside the portal, the customer can access four main areas:

• proposals;
• invoices;
• payments;
• service history.

For the contractor, this reduces repeated requests to resend documents. For the customer, it creates a clearer and more professional way to manage the relationship with the service provider.

What is a customer portal?

A customer portal is a private online page where a client can access information connected to their account.

Instead of storing documents across multiple email threads, SMS conversations, and downloaded files, the portal keeps important records together.

A contractor customer portal can help a client answer questions such as:

• Where is my proposal?
• Did I already pay this invoice?
• What services were completed?
• When was my last maintenance appointment?
• Is there an unpaid balance?
• Do I have a proposal waiting for approval?

The portal does not replace customer service. It gives clients a self-service option for information that is already available.

Why do contractors need a customer portal?

Contractors frequently receive requests to resend information.

A homeowner cannot find the estimate sent two weeks ago. A property manager needs a copy of an old invoice. A maintenance customer wants to confirm the last service date. A landlord needs to review work completed at several properties. A client wants to know whether a payment was recorded.

Each request may only take a few minutes to handle, but the time adds up.

Without a portal, the office may need to:

1. Find the customer record;
2. Search for the correct proposal or invoice;
3. Confirm that it is the latest version;
4. Download or copy the document;
5. Send it again;
6. Answer follow-up questions.

A customer portal gives the client ongoing access through one saved link.

That reduces administrative work while improving the customer experience.

What can customers see in the DunaHub portal?

The portal contains four fixed tabs.

Proposals

The Proposals area displays offers connected to the customer.

A client can review information such as:

• services;
• item descriptions;
• quantities;
• pricing;
• total amount;
• proposal status.

When a proposal is still pending and the appropriate plan features are active, the customer can review and approve it online.

The DunaHub Visual Proposals system keeps the offer connected to the original CRM lead and can convert approved work into a scheduled job.

Invoices

The Invoices tab displays bills connected to the customer.

Each invoice may show:

• invoice number;
• line items;
• quantities;
• unit prices;
• total amount;
• payment status.

When online payments are enabled through Stripe Connect, eligible customers can also use the available payment option.

Without Stripe Connect, the invoice can still remain available as an informational billing record.

Learn more about DunaHub Invoices and Online Payments.

Payments

The Payments section gives the customer access to their recorded payment history.

This can help answer:

• Which invoices were paid?
• Is a balance still open?
• When was the payment recorded?
• Was the last transaction completed?

The customer receives a clearer view of their financial history with the business, while the office spends less time confirming previous transactions manually.

Service History

The Service History tab displays jobs connected to the customer.

Depending on the available records, the client can review previous services and their dates.

This is useful for recurring or maintenance-based businesses such as:

• HVAC companies;
• plumbers;
• gutter contractors;
• landscapers;
• pool services;
• cleaning companies;
• pest control businesses;
• appliance repair companies.

The DunaHub Job Scheduling system keeps service jobs connected to the same customer history.

Does the customer need to create an account?

No.

The customer accesses the portal through a unique link generated by the contractor.

The client does not need to:

• create a username;
• set a password;
• verify a new account;
• install an application;
• remember login credentials.

This reduces friction.

A customer who only wants to check an invoice should not need to complete a long registration process first.

The contractor sends the link, and the customer opens it in a web browser.

Does the customer need to download an app?

No.

The portal works through a browser on:

• smartphones;
• tablets;
• laptops;
• desktop computers.

This matters because many customers do not want to install an app for every contractor they hire.

A direct browser link is usually easier for occasional services and long-term maintenance customers alike.

How does the DunaHub Customer Portal work?

Each customer portal uses a unique token connected to the lead record.

The basic process is:

1. Open the customer or lead inside DunaHub;
2. Click Generate Portal Link;
3. Copy the unique link;
4. Send it by text or email;
5. Ask the customer to save it;
6. The customer opens the link whenever information is needed.

The same portal link can continue to show new information as proposals, invoices, payments, and service jobs are added to the customer record.

This means the business does not need to generate a completely different portal every time a new document is created.

How to send the portal link by text

Text messaging is often the fastest option for North American service businesses.

A simple message could say:

Hi Sarah, we created a customer portal where you can view your proposals, invoices, payments, and service history. No account or app is required. Please save this link: [portal link]

For a customer with a pending proposal:

Hi Michael, your proposal is available in your customer portal. You can review the details using this link: [portal link]

For a completed service:

Hi Amanda, you can find your invoice and service history in your customer portal here: [portal link]. Please save it for future reference.

The message should explain what the link contains.

Avoid sending an unexplained URL that the customer may not recognize.

How to send the portal link by email

Email may work better for commercial customers, property managers, and clients who need to preserve formal records.

Subject: Your customer portal

Hi Sarah,

We created a customer portal to make it easier for you to access your documents and service history.

You can use the link below to view proposals, invoices, payments, and past services without creating an account or downloading an app:

[portal link]

Please save this email or bookmark the page for future reference.

Contact us if you have any questions.

The portal gives the client self-service access, but the company should remain available when clarification is needed.

Why should customers save the link?

The portal can remain useful after the first transaction.

A customer may return later to review:

• a previous proposal;
• a paid invoice;
• a service date;
• maintenance history;
• a new estimate;
• another open balance.

Because the portal is updated as new records are connected to the same customer, saving the link creates a long-term point of access.

You can encourage the customer to:

• save the text message;
• bookmark the page;
• archive the email;
• store the link with property or maintenance records.

The customer should also avoid forwarding the private link to people who do not need access.

Is the customer portal branded?

Yes.

The portal automatically uses the business logo and colors configured in the DunaHub organization.

This creates a more consistent experience between the contractor’s brand and the customer-facing portal.

The current portal includes:

• company branding;
• logo;
• organization colors;
• four customer information tabs;
• a floating WhatsApp contact button.

Branding helps the customer understand that the page belongs to the company they hired.

Does the portal include a WhatsApp button?

Yes.

The portal includes a floating WhatsApp button that makes it easier for the customer to contact the business.

For example, a client may open a proposal and ask:

• Is this service included?
• When is your next available appointment?
• Can the scope be changed?
• Do you offer another payment option?
• Which technician will perform the work?

The portal organizes records, while the contact button keeps communication accessible.

For businesses that also manage WhatsApp, SMS, and email, the DunaHub Unified Inbox can help keep conversations connected to the CRM record.

How does the portal connect to proposals?

A proposal explains the planned work and price before the customer approves the project.

The workflow can be:

1. A lead enters the CRM;
2. The contractor prepares a proposal;
3. The proposal is connected to the customer;
4. It appears in the portal;
5. The customer reviews the scope and price;
6. The customer approves or rejects it;
7. Approved work can become a job.

This prevents proposals from becoming lost inside old email threads.

The customer can return to the portal instead of asking the contractor to resend the document.

How does the portal connect to invoices?

After a service is completed, the contractor creates an invoice.

That invoice can appear in the customer portal with its current status.

The client may be able to review:

• services charged;
• quantities;
• total due;
• whether the invoice is paid;
• online payment options, when enabled.

The connected workflow is:

Proposal → Approval → Job → Invoice → Payment

Keeping those records attached to the same customer reduces billing confusion.

How does the portal connect to service jobs?

Every completed service can become part of the customer’s history.

A job record may contain information such as:

• service type;
• date;
• customer;
• address;
• technician;
• status;
• related proposal or invoice.

Once connected to the customer, the relevant service record can appear in the portal.

This is particularly useful when customers need proof that maintenance or repairs were performed.

How does the portal connect to the CRM pipeline?

The DunaHub CRM Pipeline is the internal workspace used by the company to manage opportunities.

The customer portal is the external page used by the client to review their own records.

Company workspace	Customer-facing portal
CRM lead	Customer identity and history
Pipeline stage	Related proposals
Visual proposal	Proposal review and approval
Scheduled job	Service history
Invoice	Billing information
Payment record	Payment history
Unified Inbox	Contact with the company

The contractor manages operations inside DunaHub. The customer receives access only to the information presented through the portal.

Example: maintenance contract customer

An HVAC company performs preventive maintenance every six months.

Months after a visit, the customer needs to confirm when the last service was completed.

Without a portal, the customer calls the office. An employee must search the CRM and answer the question manually.

With the portal:

1. The customer opens the saved link;
2. Selects Service History;
3. Finds the previous appointment;
4. Reviews the date without calling the company.

The office avoids an administrative interruption, and the customer receives the answer immediately.

Example: landlord with multiple properties

A landlord hires the same contractor for repairs at several rental properties.

Throughout the year, the customer receives:

• proposals;
• invoices;
• completed service records;
• payment confirmations.

Instead of storing every document separately, the landlord uses one portal link to review the history connected to the customer record.

This can make it easier to manage repeated services and retrieve old invoices.

Example: recurring cleaning service

A commercial customer receives weekly cleaning services.

The person responsible for the account may need to review:

• recent jobs;
• invoices;
• payment history;
• proposals for additional work.

The portal creates a central location for those records.

When the customer’s accounting department asks about an invoice, the account contact can consult the portal before contacting the cleaning company.

Example: gutter contractor

A homeowner receives a proposal for gutter replacement.

The process can be:

1. The contractor creates the lead;
2. A proposal is prepared;
3. The portal link is sent by SMS;
4. The homeowner reviews the proposal;
5. The work is approved;
6. The proposal becomes a job;
7. The installation is completed;
8. The invoice appears in the portal;
9. The payment is recorded;
10. The homeowner can later review the service history.

The portal remains useful before, during, and after the job.

Example: appliance repair business

A customer hires an appliance repair company twice in one year.

During the second request, the client wants to confirm:

• when the first visit occurred;
• what service was performed;
• how much was paid;
• whether an old invoice exists.

The customer can check the portal instead of asking the company to reconstruct the history.

How much does the DunaHub Customer Portal cost?

The Customer Portal is available across DunaHub plans.

Plan	Price	Active portal customers
Free	$0	Up to 10
Starter	$9.90/month	Unlimited
Pro	$49/month	Unlimited

The Free limit is 10 active portal tokens in total, not 10 new portal links every month.

When an old token is revoked, that slot becomes available for another customer.

Starter and Pro include unlimited active customer portals.

Review the current DunaHub plans and pricing before selecting a plan.

What does an active portal customer mean?

An active portal customer is a lead with a valid portal token.

On the Free plan, each active token uses one of the 10 available portal slots.

For example:

• 7 active portal links means 3 slots remain;
• 10 active portal links means the limit has been reached;
• revoking 2 old links makes 2 slots available again.

Revoking portal access does not require deleting the internal customer record.

The company can keep the CRM history while removing the external access link.

How to manage active portal links

Portal tokens can be managed under:

Settings → Customer Portal

The company can periodically review:

• which customers still need portal access;
• which tokens are old;
• whether the Free limit has been reached;
• which links should be revoked;
• whether a new link needs to be generated.

Starter and Pro customers do not have a quantity limit, but access should still be reviewed for organization and privacy.

Can the portal tabs be customized for each customer?

No.

The current portal includes four fixed tabs:

1. Proposals;
2. Invoices;
3. Payments;
4. Service History.

A contractor cannot currently show only invoices to one customer while hiding proposals from another customer through individual tab settings.

Brand colors and the company logo are applied automatically, but the tab structure remains standard.

Is a link without a password secure?

The portal uses a unique token instead of a traditional username and password.

This creates a simpler experience, but the link should be treated as private.

The business should:

• send it only to the correct customer;
• confirm the phone number or email before sending;
• avoid publishing it publicly;
• revoke access when necessary;
• generate a new link if access may have been shared;
• avoid including unnecessary sensitive information in descriptions.

The customer should also be advised not to forward the portal link unless another authorized person needs access.

The portal is designed for convenience and routine customer records. Businesses with specialized regulatory, legal, or highly sensitive data requirements should confirm whether the available access model meets their obligations.

Does the portal replace customer support?

No.

A customer portal is useful for finding existing information. It cannot resolve every question.

Customers may still need assistance to:

• change a proposal;
• dispute an invoice;
• update service details;
• reschedule an appointment;
• report a problem;
• request a refund;
• negotiate payment terms;
• clarify a line item.

The portal reduces repetitive requests. It does not eliminate the need for responsive customer service.

When should you introduce the portal?

The best time is when the customer already has a reason to use it.

Examples include:

• after sending the first proposal;
• when issuing the first invoice;
• after scheduling the initial service;
• at the beginning of a maintenance agreement;
• after a customer asks for a document again;
• when creating a long-term service relationship.

Present the benefit clearly:

This link gives you one place to review your proposals, invoices, payments, and service history.

The portal should feel like a convenience, not another task for the customer.

Common customer portal mistakes

Sending the link without context

Explain what the customer can find inside.

Sending it to the wrong contact

Confirm the phone number or email first.

Publishing the private link

Each portal belongs to a specific customer and should not be placed on a public page.

Forgetting to revoke old tokens

Review active links, especially on the Free plan.

Promising customizable tabs

The four current tabs are fixed.

Assuming every invoice can be paid online

Online payment requires the appropriate plan and Stripe Connect configuration.

Using the portal as the only communication channel

Customers still need a way to ask questions.

Failing to update CRM records

The portal is only as useful as the information connected to the customer.

Placing sensitive information in unnecessary notes

Write descriptions with customer visibility and privacy in mind.

How to create a repeatable customer portal process

A simple process can include:

1. Create or identify the customer in the CRM;
2. Keep proposals, jobs, invoices, and payments connected to the same record;
3. Generate the portal link;
4. Send it by text or email;
5. Explain what the portal contains;
6. Ask the customer to save the link;
7. Keep job and billing records updated;
8. Review active tokens periodically;
9. Revoke links that are no longer needed;
10. Generate a new token if access must be replaced.

A customer portal works best when the internal CRM records remain accurate.

What are the main benefits for contractors?

The Customer Portal can help contractors:

• reduce repeated document requests;
• present a more organized customer experience;
• make proposals easier to find;
• give clients access to invoices;
• show payment history;
• preserve service records;
• reduce office administration;
• support recurring customer relationships;
• keep records connected to the CRM.

The benefit is not simply having another web page.

The benefit is giving customers structured access to information the business already manages.

What are the main benefits for customers?

Customers gain:

• one saved link;
• no additional login;
• no application download;
• easier proposal access;
• clearer invoice history;
• payment visibility;
• previous service records;
• faster answers to routine questions;
• direct contact with the company.

This creates a smoother experience after the first inquiry.

Summary: why use the DunaHub Customer Portal?

The DunaHub Customer Portal gives each client a unique link where they can review proposals, invoices, payments, and service history.

The customer does not need to create an account or install an app. The portal works through a browser and automatically uses the contractor’s logo and organization colors.

The Free plan supports up to 10 active portal customers in total. Revoking an old token releases a slot. Starter and Pro include unlimited customer portals.

For contractors and local service businesses, the portal creates a connected customer experience:

Proposal → Approval → Job → Invoice → Payment → Service History

Instead of repeatedly resending documents, the contractor gives the customer one place to find them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a customer portal?

A customer portal is a private online page where a client can review proposals, invoices, payments, and service history.

Does the customer need to create an account?

No. The customer accesses the portal through a unique link.

Does the customer need to download an app?

No. The portal works through a web browser.

What information appears in the portal?

The portal contains four tabs: Proposals, Invoices, Payments, and Service History.

Can customers approve proposals?

Pending proposals can be reviewed and approved when the applicable proposal features are active.

Can customers pay invoices through the portal?

Online payment may be available when the business has the appropriate plan and Stripe Connect configured.

Can customers review past jobs?

Yes. Connected jobs can appear in the Service History section.

Is there a WhatsApp button?

Yes. The portal includes a floating WhatsApp contact button.

Is the portal branded?

Yes. It automatically uses the organization’s logo and colors.

Can I customize the tabs for each customer?

No. The four current tabs are fixed.

How many customer portals are included on Free?

The Free plan includes up to 10 active portal tokens in total.

Is the Free limit monthly?

No. It is a limit of 10 active tokens at the same time, not 10 new portals each month.

What happens when I revoke a portal link?

The customer loses access through that token, and the slot becomes available again.

Are Starter and Pro portals unlimited?

Yes. Starter and Pro include unlimited active portal customers.

Should the portal link be shared publicly?

No. The unique link should be treated as private and sent only to the appropriate customer.

Give customers one place to find everything

Want to stop resending the same proposals, invoices, and service records?

Create your free DunaHub account, generate your first customer portal, and give each client one organized place to review their history.