Dubsado for Travel Designers
Meet Emma, from Emma Griffin Writes
Emma Griffin runs Emma Griffin Writes. She works with experienced creatives, coaches and consultants who have strong ideas, but struggle to communicate them in a way that stands out.
Over the past four years, I have supported her business as an Online Business Manager, with a focus on building systems that support the day to day running of the business.
Dubsado now sits at the centre of everything.
the case study
Where It Started
When your business is growing, the work itself is not usually the problem.
It is everything around it.
For Emma Griffin, that meant managing a steady flow of leads, client communication, onboarding, and delivery, all while trying to stay focused on the work that actually drives revenue and more importantly her passion.
She knew it was time to stop doing everything on her own.
Dubsado was already set up, but it was not working in a way that supported her day to day. The backend of the business needed structure.
Over the past four years, I have supported Emma as her Online Business Manager, building systems that now run her business day to day.
The Goal…
Create one system that runs the business day to day.
Not just for onboarding, but across every offer and client touch point.
This needed to:
Reduce admin and inbox time
Keep client communication consistent and on brand
Create clear processes and boundaries for each service
Allow Emma to manage multiple clients on different packages
At this point, the business included one off projects, power hours, retainers, audits and workshops. Everything needed to work together without adding more complexity.
Emma said:
“I don’t have to do everything on my own anymore. I take more time out of my business, knowing there is a second pair of eyes tracking leads and keeping things moving.”
With her custom Dubsado setup, Emma doesn’t have to be present for admin every single day — no chasing, no clunky PDFs, no falling off-brand.
What I Implemented
Dubsado became the core system for Emma’s business.
Each offer was mapped out properly, then built into its own workflow so nothing relied on manual steps.
Copy Clinic Sessions
This is Emma Griffin’s “buy now” service.
Clients submit a short enquiry form
Are approved and invited to book
Pay their invoice
Complete a questionnaire
Receive follow up and feedback requests
Everything is handled inside Dubsado.
This means Emma can focus fully on the audit, messaging and consulting, without managing admin around it.
One-off Projects
A full onboarding and delivery system was built.
This includes:
Discovery call booking
Proposals and contracts
Payment plans and automated invoices
Clear boundaries set from the start
6 month follow ups built in
Payments are structured so Emma is not chasing invoices.
Workshops & Group Offers
Workshops are sold directly through Dubsado.
This includes:
Sign up and payment via Stripe
Newsletter opt in
Automated email workflows
Access information and reminders
No manual sending. No chasing. Everything is triggered automatically.
Retainer Clients
Retainers are managed through:
Monthly recurring invoices
Automatic payments
Ongoing client tracking inside Dubsado
This keeps income consistent and admin minimal.
Core System Across Everything
Each offer sits inside its own structured workflow, but everything connects.
Across the business, Dubsado manages:
Enquiry and lead tracking
Proposals, contracts and invoices
Automated emails and touchpoints
Project tracking and client communication
Dubsado is also connected to QuickBooks, so financial tracking is aligned with the rest of the business.
Why This Works…
Before Dubsado was properly set up, everything relied on Emma being in the business day to day.
Leads were coming in, but there was no clear system holding them. Onboarding and communication took time and energy, and each offer was being managed slightly differently.
Nothing was broken, but everything depended on her being available. As the business grew, that became harder to sustain.
what i implemented…
Website and Rebrand
As the business grew, Emma reached the point where her DIY branding no longer reflected the level she was working at.
She invested in a full rebrand, but rolling that out across the business is where most people get stuck.
A rebrand is not just a new website. It means updating everything. Your website, your systems, your proposals, your questionnaires, your emails. Every touchpoint needs to reflect the new direction.
I project managed this with Emma and rolled it out in phases, so it did not disrupt the day to day running of the business.
This included designing and building her Squarespace website based on branding by Swail Studio, and updating her Dubsado setup so it matched across every client interaction.
From the moment someone lands on the website, through to enquiry, onboarding and delivery, every step now feels aligned.
At no point does it feel like you have left her brand or entered a separate system.
Expert in tools like
The Results
The biggest shift was not just operational. It was how the business feels to run.
Emma is no longer managing everything manually or constantly checking what needs doing next. She no longer needs to do everything herself. She can step away from the day to day and still feel confident that leads are being handled and clients are being looked after.
Her time is now focused on writing, thinking, and working closely with clients, rather than managing the backend.
“I spend more time on work that drives revenue, writing copy and focusing on one client at a time.
“I just knew it was time to stop spending so much time on admin. My business was bringing in a healthy number of leads, so I knew I needed support outside my zone of genius.
I had Dubsado set up but couldn’t use it. Bringing Emma in to handle that side of my business has been game changing. I can step away from the day to day and still feel confident that new leads and clients are being looked after.
I don’t have to do everything on my own anymore. I take more time out of my business, knowing there is a second pair of eyes tracking leads and keeping things moving.”
– Emma Griffin, Founder of Emma Griffin Writes
There’s a version of your business where you’re not buried in busywork.
When a business grows, it is rarely the work itself that becomes difficult. It is everything around it.
Without systems, you end up managing leads, clients and admin on top of delivering your work.
With the right process in place, your business becomes easier to run as it grows.
You are not holding everything together or having to remember. The systems are.