How do I set up client portals in SuiteDash?

Setting up a client portal in SuiteDash is one of the most powerful things you can do for your service business. Done right, it replaces the back-and-forth emails, the "did you get my files?" messages, and the friction that makes onboarding feel harder than it needs to be. Here's how to do it step by step.

Start with your SuiteDash workspace structure

Before you build a portal, you need to understand how SuiteDash organizes clients. Each client is a Contact, and from that contact you can create a Client Portal — a branded, login-protected hub they'll use to interact with your business.

Go to Clients > Contacts and add your first client (or import from a CSV if you're migrating). Once the contact is created, SuiteDash automatically generates a portal login for that client. You can send them an invitation email directly from the platform.

Customize your portal's branding

One of SuiteDash's biggest strengths is how fully you can white-label the client experience. Under Setup > White Labeling, you can upload your logo, set your brand colors, and even use a custom domain so clients never see the SuiteDash name.

This matters. When clients log in and see your brand — not a generic platform — it builds trust and professionalism from day one.

Choose what to show in the portal

The portal sidebar is customizable per client or client group. You can include or hide modules like projects and tasks, file sharing, invoices and payments, intake forms, appointments, and messages.

If you have different service tiers, you can create Portal Templates and assign them to client groups so each type of client sees only what's relevant to them. A VIP retainer client sees everything; a one-time project client sees just their project and invoice.

Build your onboarding workflow inside the portal

This is where SuiteDash really earns its place. Once a client is set up, you can automate the entire onboarding sequence from inside the platform.

Using SuiteDash's Automations (called "Drip Campaigns" in the platform), you can trigger a sequence of events when a new client is created: send them a welcome email, assign a project template, share an intake form, and grant access to your resource library — all without touching it manually.

Pair this with SuiteDash's built-in e-signature tool and you can have a contract signed, an intake form submitted, and a kickoff call booked before you ever open your inbox.

Test before you go live

Before you send your first client their portal link, create a test client account with your own email. Walk through the entire experience from the client's perspective. Check that the branding looks right, the modules you intended are visible, forms are working, and the welcome email arrives correctly.

Small issues — a missing logo, a broken form link, a module that wasn't supposed to show — are much easier to fix in testing than after a client is already inside.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake when setting up SuiteDash portals: trying to turn on every feature at once. SuiteDash has a lot — projects, CRM, courses, white labeling, invoicing, automations. If you activate everything before you've tested anything, you'll confuse your clients and yourself.

Start with the core three: client portal access, a project or task view, and invoicing. Add features as you need them.

If you're ready to set up SuiteDash but want to skip the trial-and-error, REA builds fully configured SuiteDash systems for service-based businesses. From portal design to onboarding automations, we handle the tech so you can focus on your clients. Learn more about our SuiteDash setup services.