A client is the entity you invoice — a couple, a family, a developer, a
hotel group. Projects hang off clients, so the client comes first.
Create one
Open Library → Clients → Add client. The name is required; add contact
and billing details as available, then check them before creating invoices.
Most residential jobs have more than one person in them: two partners with
different opinions, a house manager, an assistant who handles scheduling.
Commercial jobs have more.
Add each as a contact on the client record, with their role. It keeps
the addressing right and means nobody has to remember which email address
the approvals go to.
Several projects
One client can have many projects — the apartment, then the country house,
then the office. Keeping them under one client means:
- One relationship, one history — Everything you have done for them is
in one place.
- Invoices roll up — You can see what a client owes across all their
jobs.
- Contacts stay put — Entered once, used by every project.
What the client sees
Clients do not log in to Atelier. They receive links:
- Shared pinboards — where they comment and approve.
- Shared schedules — what was specified, what it costs, where it is.
- Proposals and invoices — the commercial documents.
Only pinboards talk back: a comment or approval there lands in your
Inbox. Schedules are read-only for the client, and accepting a
proposal or change order does not notify anyone — check Finance for those.
Invoice payments are recorded separately in Finance.
Before sharing a schedule, review the client column selection in Share.
Fields marked shows your margin disclose cost or markup.
Work with AI
Manage clients and contacts with AI explains supported actions, example requests and what to check after an edit.