Introduction

You visit, scope the job, send a PDF… then crickets. Days go by, three reminders later, and the client finally prints, signs, snaps a photo, and you still can’t read the signature. Sound familiar? This piece shows a cleaner path: proposals delivered through a client portal with built-in e-signature, starting from fast voice capture in the field. Why it matters: fewer emails, clearer scope, and faster “yes.” How it works: capture by voice, generate a professional proposal, send it through a portal, get a legal e-signature, then convert to an invoice in one click.

Table of Contents

• Key Takeaways
• The Real Problem: Proposals Stuck In Inbox Purgatory
• Feature Deep-Dive: Donizo Send Proposal + E-Signature
• How The Client Portal Actually Works
• From Yes To Cash: Convert Accepted Proposals To Invoices
• Real Results: Time And Money You Keep
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Key Takeaways

• Many contractors find e-signature cuts follow-up emails significantly and shortens approval time from days to hours.
• It’s common for voice-to-proposal to save 20-30 minutes per proposal by eliminating manual typing.
• In general, moving from “email attachments” to a client portal reduces version confusion and missed details.
• Converting an accepted proposal to an invoice in one click removes retyping and helps jobs start sooner.

The Real Problem: Proposals Stuck In Inbox Purgatory

Email attachments get buried. Clients open on phones, lose the file, or forward the wrong version to a spouse. You end up chasing a signature instead of scheduling work. A common mistake is relying on print-and-scan acceptance, which adds friction and delays.

Solution In Plain Terms

Use a single, clear link to a client portal where the client reviews the proposal and signs electronically. No juggling PDFs. No asking, “Which version did you see?”

What Improves When You Centralize Acceptance

Real-World Example

A two-person carpentry crew used to send PDFs and chase signatures for nearly a week. After moving to a portal with e-sign, clients typically signed within a day. Commonly, their “quote-to-yes” window dropped by more than half, which let them slot work earlier and smooth their schedule.

Feature Deep-Dive: Donizo Send Proposal + E-Signature

Donizo’s core flow starts where you live—on site.

Problem

Typing proposals at night from scratch leads to missed details and uneven quality. Photos sit in your camera roll, not in the document the client sees.

How Donizo Solves It

• Voice to Proposal: Capture scope details by voice, text, and photos, then generate a professional proposal instantly.
• Send Proposal: Share a branded PDF (branding on paid plans) via email with client portal access so the client can review the exact scope.
• E-signature Integration: Client signs digitally for a legally binding acceptance—no printers, no scans.

Plans At A Glance

• Free (Discover): Unlimited proposals with voice/text/image input, e-signature, PDF export (with watermark).
• Paid (Ascension): Everything in Discover plus custom branding, invoicing and payment tracking, basic templates, analytics dashboard, priority support, no watermark.
• Paid (Autopilot): Everything in Ascension plus advanced templates, margin estimator, multi-language support, work report exports.

Example

On a bathroom refresh, you speak the scope: “Remove existing vanity, install pre-hung door, replace baseboard; paint ceiling and walls eggshell.” Snap two photos of problem areas. Donizo turns that into a clean proposal, you send it via the portal, and the client signs the same afternoon. In general, contractors report saving 20-30 minutes per proposal using voice capture versus typing everything manually.

How The Client Portal Actually Works

Think of it as a clean handoff. You provide one source of truth; the client reviews and signs in a couple of clicks.

Problem

Clients often say, “I’ll review it tonight,” then forget which attachment was final. Questions pop up a week later, and you’re re-explaining line items.

The Portal Experience

• One link, one version: The client sees the latest proposal in a clear layout.
• Photos included: Visuals reduce misunderstandings, especially for hidden or damaged areas.
• E-sign flow: The acceptance path is obvious and fast—no tools to install.

Practical Tips For Faster Yeses

• Lead With Photos: Many contractors find that proposals with photos get fewer “what does this include?” emails.
• Keep Scopes Tight: Short, clear line items beat long paragraphs. It’s common for concise proposals to be approved faster.
• Send Same Day: In general, same-day proposals raise responsiveness and cut the time clients spend shopping around.

Example

A deck repair lead is warm today, cold tomorrow. You record the findings on site, attach three photos of ledger damage, and send the proposal before leaving the driveway. Commonly, contractors who send proposals within hours see a noticeable improvement in acceptance speed compared to waiting days.

From Yes To Cash: Convert Accepted Proposals To Invoices

The handoff after a “yes” is where many small teams lose time. Copying client info, retyping line items, and creating an invoice in another tool eats into your evening.

Problem

Duplicate admin burns billable time and introduces errors. Small typos on invoice totals create unnecessary client questions.

Donizo’s One-Click Conversion

• Convert Accepted Proposals To Invoices: When a client e-signs, generate the invoice from the same proposal in one click.
• Payment Tracking: Track what’s outstanding without spreadsheets.

Example

A window replacement is approved on Tuesday. You convert to an invoice immediately and note payment status in Donizo. In general, removing retyping can save 10-15 minutes per job and reduces arithmetic mistakes that trigger follow-up calls.

Real Results: Time And Money You Keep

Let’s be straight: admin doesn’t pay the bills. Speed to signature does.

What Contractors Commonly Report

• Faster Turnaround: It’s common for e-signature to shrink approval cycles from 3-7 days to 24-48 hours.
• Less Back-And-Forth: Many contractors find email follow-ups drop by roughly half when clients have a single portal link.
• More Even Workflows: In general, same-day proposal delivery increases client responsiveness and lowers ghosting.
• Cleaner Cash Flow: Converting an accepted proposal to an invoice immediately helps set clear payment expectations and start dates.

A Quick Scenario

A three-person remodeling team switched to Donizo. Voice entry on site created consistent proposals, the portal centralized review, and e-sign cut delays. Over a month, they saw earlier starts on approved jobs and fewer late-night admin sessions. The owner reported recovering several hours they now spend on site supervision instead of paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is A Client Portal Better Than Emailing A PDF?

A portal gives the client one link to the latest version and a clear path to e-sign. No lost attachments, no print-and-scan. In general, this reduces confusion and speeds up acceptance because the review and signing happen in one place.

Are E-Signatures Legally Binding?

In many jurisdictions, e-signatures are commonly recognized as legally binding when the signer’s intent and consent are clear and records are kept. Donizo provides a digital signature step tied to the proposal. Always confirm local requirements if you work under specific regulations or contract forms.

Will Tech-Shy Clients Struggle With This?

Most homeowners are comfortable clicking a link and signing on a phone. The process is straightforward: open, review, sign. If someone prefers a PDF, you can still export and share it. But commonly, clients sign faster in the portal.

Can I Use This For Small Jobs?

Absolutely. For small tickets, speed matters even more. Voice-to-proposal lets you send a tight scope quickly, and e-sign removes friction so you can lock dates and move on.

What Do I Get On The Free Plan?

On Donizo Discover (Free), you get unlimited proposals with voice/text/image input, e-signature, and PDF export (with watermark). Paid plans add custom branding, invoicing and payment tracking, templates, analytics, and more.

Conclusion

If you’re tired of chasing signatures and juggling versions, a simple client portal with e-signature changes the game. Capture the scope by voice, send a clean proposal, get a legally binding “yes,” and convert to an invoice without retyping. That’s less admin, faster scheduling, and clearer cash flow. Ready to try it on your next site visit? Start a proposal with Donizo and let the portal do the follow-up for you.