The Journey | September 2026

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

1

Table of

Contents How VAs Use 17hats for Visibility Into Automated Processes....................6 How Teams Create a Print-Ready Project Brief with 17hats........................8 How Event Decor Businesses Rebook Annual Clients with 17hats.........10 How to Automate Headshot Sessions for Photographers...........................12 Build It Once. Use It All Year..........................................................................................14 How Photographers Automatically Capture Every Email Lead...............16 How a Systems Consultant Tracks Every Offer with 17hats.......................18 How Wedding Vendors Effectively Confirm Wedding Day Details.......20 How Online Service Providers Use 17hats to Manage Collabs.................22 How a Business Consultant Protects Paid Expertise with 17hats...........24 How Photographers Turn Image Delivery into a Deadline........................28 Crossword Puzzle: Name That Profession...............................................................31 New to 17hats? Start Here and Set Up for Success.........................................32 Top Tutorials: 4 New Video Tutorials............................................................................35

2

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

From the CEO’s Desk

Amanda Rae Every business owner I know has a workaround, from the spreadsheets nobody else understands to the copy/pasted emails to the checklists that only live in your head. Those workarounds got you here, but they cost you something every time you use one.

This issue is about the people who got rid of their workarounds.

Everything you're about to read comes from our ambassadors, real business owners running real companies on 17hats. They each were faced with a problem, sat down, and built something in the platform so they'd never have to solve it again.

You'll see how a student loan consultant names her scheduling service so an entire year of projects organizes itself. How a photography studio turned image delivery into a real deadline by putting the client meeting on the calendar first. How a balloon artist can rebook annual events before the client thinks to call. How a systems consultant built a second Pipeline that finally showed her which offer is carrying her business.

Read them even when the profession isn't yours because you never know where inspiration will spark. A wedding vendor's confirmation questionnaire is a client check-in that may not apply directly to you, but the process that makes it work will.

So here's my challenge for you this fall: find a process in your business that you're still doing by hand and automate, organize, or streamline it. It may take one afternoon of your time, but think about the future afternoons you'll have back to dedicate to your passion, family, or yourself.

Onwards and Upwards,

Amanda Rae CEO, 17hats

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

3

News from 17hats HQ

Sips & Snippets Feature Updates New Feature: Quote Selection Contract Token

Keep your Quotes and Contracts in sync with the new Quote Selections Token. Add it to a Contract to automatically display the Products, Services, quantities, pricing, and options your client selects on their Quote, with the Contract preview updating as their selections change.

New Feature: Contact Countries Now Default to Account Country

New Contacts will now automatically use the country listed in your Account Settings when one isn’t provided. This applies to Contacts added manually or through Lead Capture Forms, Online Scheduling, Questionnaires, and imports, helping keep your Contact information complete and consistent.

Feature Update: Project Archive Activity in Recent Client Activity

You can now see when a Project is archived or unarchived in Recent Client Activity, giving you a clearer view of changes happening across your account. New filters also make it easy to find archive and unarchive activity when you need it.

4

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Feature Update: Archived Contacts in Search

Finding active contacts just got easier! Archived Contacts will now appear at the bottom of your Contact Search results and are clearly labeled as Archived, helping keep your searches cleaner and more organized.

Feature Update: Automate with Questionnaire Responses

Questionnaires just got even more powerful! Checkbox questions can now automatically apply Project Tags based on your client’s responses, helping you trigger Workflows, move Projects into Pipelines, and automate your process with less manual work.

New Feature: Custom Account Fields

Personalize your business like never before with Custom Account Fields. Store details like office hours, license numbers, and social media handles, then use them as tokens in emails, documents, Products & Services, and Client Portals to keep your information consistent across 17hats.

New Feature: Never Miss Client Updates

Never lose track of important account activity again.

You can now open the notification bell to view a history of recent alerts—including new leads, signed contracts, paid invoices, bookings, and more. Each user has their own notification history, making it easy to review, mark as read, or clear notifications whenever you're ready.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

5

WRITTEN BY DONNA LYTTLE

When I started using 17hats in 2020, as a Virtual Assistant. I was using the platform, but I definitely wasn't using it to its full potential.

need to do every step. I just need to know what is happening, what has happened, and where I'm needed.

At the time, I was focused on the work in front of me. I needed to manage clients, keep track of projects, and get things done. As 17hats continued to add features, I started experimenting with them and, little by little, something changed.

I'm a visual person, and colors bring me joy. So when I log into 17hats, my first stop is my Pipelines. But the reason I love them goes far beyond the colors.

My First Stop: Pipelines

I stopped looking at 17hats as a collection of individual features. I started seeing a system.

My Pipeline gives me a visual snapshot of the business. At a glance, I can see where clients are in their journey, what is moving forward, what is sitting still, and where something may need attention.

Today, systems and operations are a big part of what I do with servicebased businesses, and one of the biggest lessons I've learned is this:

Think about a typical client journey: New Lead → Discovery → Proposal → Booked → Onboarding → Active/ Fulfillment → Complete

Automation is great. Visibility into that automation is even better.

Because as a VA, I don't necessarily

Your stages may look completely different, but the idea is the same.

Make the process visible. When

6

the process is visible, I don't have to rely on memory or constantly ask, "What's happening with this client?" I can look. And that changes everything.

1. See It: Where is the work?

Your Pipeline should tell the story of your client journey.

Start by asking: • What happens when someone becomes a lead?

• What has to happen before they become a client?

• What happens immediately after they book?

• What happens during the project?

• What happens when the project is complete?

Then turn those milestones into Pipeline stages.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Pro Tip: Create Pipeline stages because something changes at that point in the client journey. A good Pipeline should help you answer: "What needs to happen next?"

When an email goes out, task created, or the client moves through the process … Those things may happen behind the scenes, but the Pipeline gives me visibility into where the client is in the overall journey.

2. Follow It: What happens next?

And that means I don't have to wonder: "Did somebody do that?" I can look at the system and understand what has already happened and what should happen next.

Once I can see where a client is, I want to know what happens next.

That's where Workflows become incredibly valuable. Instead of keeping a mental checklist for every client, I can build repeatable processes into 17hats.

Maybe a new client needs: • a questionnaire • a contract • an invoice • an onboarding email • a reminder • a follow-up Rather than recreating those steps every time, I can build the process once. Now the system knows the process too. Build it once. Stop solving a problem over and over.

3. Trust It: What is happening automatically?

This is where automation gets interesting for a VA. Automation isn't just about saving time. It's about knowing that certain things are happening without someone having to remember to do them.

Your 17hats Visibility Check

Advanced Tip: When you're building automation, don't ask only: "Can this be automated?" Also ask: "How will I know it happened?" That second question is what creates visibility.

4. Know Your Role: Where do I need to step in?

This is where I think 17hats can be especially powerful for Virtual Assistants. A VA doesn't need to manually touch every part of a client process. In fact, if we're doing our jobs well, we shouldn't. The system can handle the predictable, repetitive pieces.

Our job becomes knowing where the human intervention is needed. Maybe a client hasn't completed something or a proposal needs customization.

Maybe something unusual has happened that doesn't fit the normal workflow. That's where I step in. The

system handles the predictable. I handle the exceptions. That is a very different way of working than simply waiting for someone to tell me what to do.

5. Review It: Is the system actually working?

Here's something I've learned as I've moved from being a VA into systems work: Building a system isn't the finish line. You have to watch it work in Pipelines, and notice where things get stuck. Pay attention to the tasks you’re still creating manually.

If you find yourself doing the same thing repeatedly, stop and ask: "Should this be part of the system?"

Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe it shouldn't be automated. But asking the question is how your system gets better.

I didn't realize then that learning to use the platform more strategically would eventually change how I think about business systems.

Today, when I log in, I still go straight to my Pipelines so I can see the business. And when you can see the process, understand the automation, and know where you're needed, you're no longer just completing tasks. You're helping run the system.

Look: Where is everyone in the client journey?

Identify: Where does a human need to step in?

Check: What should be happening at each stage?

Improve: What are you still doing manually that could become part of the system?

Verify: What is the system handling?

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

7

WRITTEN BY DANIELLE UHL

If your contractors need project details but don’t need access to your 17hats account, you’re likely spending valuable time putting a document together from scratch to send them for every project. It’s time to stop copying questionnaire answers, digging through emails, and double-checking project notes. This simple workaround turns the details you already collect into one clear, teamready project brief.

For an interior or landscape designer, it could include: • Project or installation address • Access instructions and on-site contact • Product, measurements, and placement notes • Delivery window and installation timeline • Any client preferences or important “do not miss this” details

In this guide, I’m going to teach you how to use Custom Project Fields, Answer mapping in your Lead Capture forms, Online Scheduling questions, Questionnaires, Contract Templates, and Project Tokens to help you build a custom project brief – plus, add it as an automated step to your Workflows to save even more time!

For an event planner, it may be: • Client or point of contact and basic contact information • Venue and event schedule • Vendor arrival times and contact details • Setup and tear down instructions • Additional event details, parking, or venue access notes

Determine the Details Your Team Needs Before creating your Contract template, you need to determine the details your team needs to know in the project brief – if you’ve been creating this from scratch, use that document as a template!

For a photographer, that might include: • Client names and basic contact information • Shoot date, time, and location • Shot list and priorities • Family details, special requests, or accessibility • The lead photographer or assistant’s responsibilities 8

You don’t need to include every tiny detail. Just create one clear, useful document that helps your team walk into the day prepared instead of texting you questions all day long.

Create your Custom Project Fields Based on the most important details above, we’re going to create Custom Project Fields to house this information for every project.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Go to Account Settings → Custom Fields and create the necessary Project Fields you need. (Help article here.)

Remember that these project fields will show up in every client project, so you’ll want to consider what fields make sense for every project.

Answer Map your Intake Questions This step is crucial! Rather than filling out all of these details manually, you’re likely already capturing details from your client through a Lead Capture Form, Online Scheduling questions, or a Questionnaire. So, we want to make sure to revise these questions and use the Answer Mapping option to auto-populate these specific Custom Project Fields.

Go into your specific Lead Capture Form, Online Scheduling questions, or Questionnaire, find the specific questions that will include these details, and select “map to” and your new Custom Project Field. (Help article here.)

Build your Internal Project Brief Now it’s time to create your Contract template. Go to your Documents & Emails and create a new Contract template. (Help article here.)

Name: Internal Project Brief My Signature: Not Required Then build a simple outline using headers and Custom Field tokens. Your template may look something like this: Project Overview Client: [contact] Full Name Client Phone: [contact] Phone Number Project: [project] Project Name Date: [project] Project Date Start Time: [project-dates] Project Start Time End Time: [project-dates] Project End Time Location: [project] Project Location Timeline + Details Arrival Time: [project] Arrival Time On-Site Contact: [project] On-Site Contact Project Timeline: [project] Project Timeline Important Notes Access & Parking Instructions: [project] Access Additional Details: [project] Additional Details 17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

When you create this template, you may decide to add headers for information you can fill in later. Then, when you generate the Contract from a client’s project, choose this template and make sure that the tokens fill in properly, and then you can add any other notes or project information manually per project.

When complete, you can print it, save it as a PDF, or use the “Live View” link to share with your contractors who need this information.

Customized 17hats Support for your Unique Business This is a simple workaround that you set up once, and it continues to work for you. Your team gets the details they need. You reduce last-minute questions and save time. And your business feels more organized and professional.

Every business has unique moving pieces, which is exactly why your 17hats setup should fit the way you actually work.

If you want help designing custom workflows, project fields, templates, or a system that supports your unique client experience, I offer 17hats custom build-outs and consulting sessions.

Book a 45-Minute 17hats Consulting + Troubleshooting Session through the 17hats Marketplace, and we can create a solution for your business together.

9

How Balloon & Event Decor Businesses Rebook Annual Clients with 17hats WRITTEN BY NICOLE LARSON It’s easy for balloon and event decor businesses to play defense with their bookings. You work so hard to make the event perfect; it ends, and then you take a deep breath and move on to the next job ... hoping that client thinks of you again next year. Some come back, but some don't. Not necessarily because they were unhappy, but because (let’s face it) they forgot they had balloons for the event last year.

But the thing is, so much of the work is tied to events that could repeat. Annual galas, yearly company picnics, the seasonal store displays, and of course, the birthdays.

That booking you already earned once is almost always the easiest one to earn again, so instead of waiting for it, try taking an offensive approach to getting that event back on your calendar each year.

Your only job is to be the one who reaches out first. Let’s talk about how.

Log the client the moment you spot a repeat Rebooking begins the moment you realize a client's event is likely to come back around, whether you catch it at inquiry or after the event is over. When you’ve confirmed it’s a job you can and want to do again, log them into your 17hats yourself using an internal lead capture form and workflow.

10

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Enter just a few essential pieces of info like their name,

Then the moment a client says "yes, let's do it again,"

email, and the base date you want your outreach to

you simply archive the rebooking project and get to

cue up from. That base date is the important part: you

work in your normal service workflow. That would be the

might set it to next year's anticipated event date, or

rebooking system doing its job.

you might set it to the day you finished this year's job.

Whichever works best for you, you can then time your

Why this is the highest-value system you can build

workflow emails off that date.

Cold marketing is slow, time-consuming, and can feel defeating real fast. A past client already knows your

One setup tip that saves embarrassment: turn off the

work and trusts your pricing, which makes rebooking

automated reply on this form. Your client doesn’t need

the warmest revenue in your business. It’s the thing that

to know you’re setting up this reach-out sequence.

fills your calendar with people you already love working

And because these are internal reach-outs and not

with, and it gives you some peace of mind through the

real inquiries yet, I suggest assigning them to your

slower periods. Running decor businesses is already

default 17hats calendar or a calendar that isn’t normally

stressful; remove the stress of an empty calendar by

associated with actual leads.

initiating work instead of waiting on it.

Let the workflow do the remembering

Build the system once, and it keeps paying you. Your

Once a client is entered through that internal lead capture form, a workflow takes over and queues up

next booking might already be sitting in your client list… time to go get it!

a short, warm email sequence ... touchpoints like 'it's almost that time again, shall we start planning?'.

They’ll surface to your dashboard when it's time, meaning you never miss the moment to quickly personalize the template before reaching out.

Maybe it’s 90 days ahead of their anticipated event date, maybe 45… you’ll know the best timing for your reach-out according to what the event was like last year.

Reaching out early enough means you’re helping them with their event to-do list before they’ve even thought about contacting vendors for quotes. But the other sneaky benefit is that you’re also sparing yourself from the last-minute scramble.

Track it all in one place What takes this process to the next level is building a rebooking Pipeline that holds every potential repeat job in a single view, so you can see them approaching, who's been invited, etc. No digging through archived projects or scrolling through your calendar.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Balloon / Event Decor Rebooking Form, Workflow & Pipeline Internal form, workflow & pipeline to help you take an offensive approach to gaining repeat business. It comes complete with templates for the two-email sequence, the internal form, and the pipeline. Plus, I’ve shared instructions and notes for timing, calendar setup, and what to do when a rebooking comes through. Import it, make the wording sound like you, and you can have it running by the end of the afternoon.

BUY THE TEMPLATES

11

WRITTEN BY WILL WOHLER Are you offering, or maybe thinking about offering, quick headshot sessions, often referred to as “Mini

Write the Copy This may be the most tedious part, but it will save you

Sessions,” for those who just need to update their

from having to rewrite the same emails or documents

LinkedIn profile photo? These services can sound

every single time someone books a session. Here are the

easy at first but can be time-consuming for a smaller

things you will need to write out. Using 17hats tokens will

price tag. Then there is the back-and-forth of emails

make them personalized and specific to each session.

to schedule and send the contract or photo release.

Will they be prepared? How can you set them up to be

Emails

prepared? That’s a lot to keep track of. Now multiply

•

Confirmation emails

that by 5 or even 10 clients, and that can be a recipe for

•

reminder emails

forgetting something or mixing up details. Even burnout

•

Emails to send documents

and overwhelm.

•

How to prepare emails

•

Thank you emails

Here are ways you can automate this process so you

Questionnaires (if that is part of your process)

can still offer these sessions without it taking up all your

Documents

time and energy. It sets boundaries for you and your

•

Contracts (if using)

clients so they are prepared and know what is coming

•

Photo Releases

next. The best part is that you can apply this to any sessions you offer.

Know Your Process

Online Scheduling Decide how long you want your sessions to be, along with any other parameters, before you set this up.

This is the first step toward automating the service.

When do you want to offer these sorts of sessions?

I found writing down everything I did in the order I

Anytime you are available? Once a week on Tuesdays?

did, in the order I did it helped me intentionally create

Once a month? Figure that out so you can set up your

the workflows and emails I needed. This ranges from

availability.

sending a “How to prepare” email 5 days before their session to my editing process.

Pro Tip: Having a set calendar or schedule for these will make it easier for you to plan. It’s like setting a

Pro Tip: Put it all on paper so you can get the full picture

boundary for yourself so you don’t get overwhelmed.

of what needs to get done.

12

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Connect it All Now it’s time to put it all together. Having a checklist or way to track your steps will be key so you can provide a consistent experience for everyone who books a session.

If you are using 17hats, start putting the steps you already wrote out into a workflow.

Pro Tip: Break your process into several smaller workflows so you can stay on track. That way, if something doesn’t work properly, it only affects that one stage instead of the entire process workflow. *Example workflows, and how to title them might be:

•

Headshot | Booking - steps needed to be taken to get the session on the calendar. e.g., setting the date, signing contracts, etc.

•

Headshot | Onboarding - preparing your client and you for the session. Prep emails, gear checklist, set-ups, etc.

•

Headshot | Session - steps you take during the session. Greet and offer water, outfit changes, image selection, etc.

•

Headshot | Post-Session - editing or retouching, download link emails, Google review or feedback questionnaires, etc.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Will's Headshot Session Complete Workflow Don’t want to set all this up or need to see how it all works before implementing it? Check out my templates. A fully automated process for clients to book a 30-minute headshot session with image selection. All emails, questionnaires, and a pipeline is included. Bring your clients from booking right through image delivery and stay on track with 3 included workflows.

BUY THE TEMPLATES

13

Build It Once.

Use It All Year.

How a student loan consultant created an annual client system that keeps every project organized.

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE LOPEZ

As a student loan consultant, I want my time focused on helping borrowers understand their student loans and developing individualized strategies — not repeatedly renaming projects, sending the same contracts, or trying to remember which administrative step comes next.

My goal with 17hats became simple: If I have to solve the same administrative problem repeatedly, can I build a system that solves it once?

That question led me to create an annual client automation system using Online Scheduling, Projects, Workflows, Tags, and service naming conventions.

1. Start: Let the Booking Create the Organization My client journey begins with a Free 15-Minute Student Loan Review Call, which serves as my discovery call.

Instead of naming the Online Scheduling Service after the appointment itself, I strategically name it 2026 Student Loan Services. When the appointment is booked, Online Scheduling is set to create a new Project, and the Scheduling Service name automatically becomes the Project name.

I also use questions built directly into the Scheduling Service to gather important information before the call.

The client's responses are automatically mapped to the Project, giving me a valuable head start before we meet.

I can quickly see key details about their student loans, the challenges they are facing, whether they are behind on payments, and whether they work for a nonprofit organization that may be relevant to their repayment or forgiveness options.

The Scheduling Service name keeps my Projects organized by year, while the client-facing experience remains clear and consistent. The booking page, confirmation email, day-before reminder, and sameday reminder are automated and clearly identify the appointment as a Free 15-Minute Student Loan Review Call.

2. Tag: Track Leads Automatically The same Scheduling Service automatically applies a 2026 tag to the Contact and Project through the confirmation settings.

That means every new lead who enters through this service starts with my annual naming convention—without me having to manually rename each Project.

Organize Your Projects By Service: Set your Online Scheduling to name new Projects the revenue stream/ service you will provide.

14

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Now I can query Contacts or Projects using the 2026 tag to see how many new leads entered my system that year.

I also use additional Tags to identify different types of student loan borrowers and services, giving me another way to organize and segment the clients I serve.

One booking is now creating the Project, establishing my annual organization, and helping me track my leads.

3. Convert: Automate the Paid Consultation If the borrower decides to move forward after the free review, the next service is: Strategy Consultation That wording has a specific meaning in my system: this is the paid service.

The Online Scheduling confirmation settings trigger my Contract Workflow, so the appropriate agreement is automatically sent when the paid consultation is booked.

I no longer have to remember: Did I send this client's contract? The system handles that step for me.

4. Continue: Build a Path for the Exception Then I encountered an automation problem. What happens when the client needs another appointment as a continuation of the original consultation?

They shouldn't be charged again. They don't need another copy of the contract they already signed.

Instead of abandoning the automation, I created another Scheduling Service: Strategy Consult - The small naming difference immediately tells me which pathway I'm using.

Strategy Consultation = Paid + Contract Workflow Strategy Consult = No Additional Fee + No New Contract

When the client reaches another annual service or recertification cycle, I create the next year's Project: • 2026 Student Loan Services • 2027 Student Loan Services 17hats makes the annual structure practical because when a Contact has multiple Projects, I can use the Project dropdown to quickly move between years and review previous information.

I get a clean annual organization without losing easy access to the client's history.

6. Reset: Change It Once a Year Before creating this system, I was changing Project names individually for clients.

Now, at the beginning of a new year, I update the Scheduling Service from 2026 to 2027 Student Loan Services and update my annual tag.

One annual update replaces an entire year of repetitive Project renaming and tagging.

The Power of Automation The power of automation is creating a system that knows what should happen next, with intentional workflows that guide each client through the right path at the right time.

Christine's Recommendation

5. Organize: Give Each Year Its Own Client Record Throughout the year, I maintain the client's Notes, Emails, Files, and To-Dos, etc. inside the annual Student Loan Services Project.

GET THE DOWNLOADABLE 17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

15

HOW PHOTOGRAPHERS

Automatically Capture Every Email Lead WRITTEN BY EVAN SCHMIDT Last fall, a woman emailed me directly after a mutual client recommended my studio for headshots. I read the message between sessions, thought "I'll log this into 17hats tonight," and moved on with my day. That night turned into a busy week, and the email quickly disappeared in the chaos of my inbox. Three weeks later, she followed up, asking if I was still taking bookings. I had completely forgotten she had sent the original email. I got lucky that time, but that's when I decided to figure out a better way to manage email leads.

Grab Evan's

GET THE DOWNLOADABLE 16

17hats already has some great lead capture solutions in place. When someone fills out a lead form on my website, a contact record appears in my system within seconds, no effort on my end. But forms only capture leads who come through my website. They do nothing for the referral who emails me directly, the past client who forwards my name to a friend, or anyone who reaches me outside of native 17hats tools. Those leads land in my inbox, and turning them into a new lead record has always depended on me remembering to do it manually.

The fix I built doesn't eliminate the need to take action when an email arrives. I still have to see it and recognize it as a lead.

However, it does eliminate the manual steps of transposing details from an email into 17hats.

The tool I used to create a solution is Zapier.

For readers who haven't heard of Zapier, it's a connector service that links different platforms and apps together, so information moves between them automatically. I set up a "Zap,” which is Zapier’s term for an automation workflow, that runs automatically and continuously. It connects natively to thousands of platforms, including Gmail, Google Sheets, Mailchimp, and 17hats, and its free plan covers plenty of small business use cases. Paid plans are reasonably priced (I use a plan that is $20/month), relative to the hours they save.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

How my automated process works, in five steps.

1. Create a dedicated inbox for leads.

I set up an email alias inside my regular Gmail account, something like leads@ mydomain.com. Its only job is to receive forwarded messages from myself.

When I spot a lead email in my inbox, I forward it to this email address immediately - a two-second action I can do from anywhere, rather than having to remember to do it later.

2. Zapier monitors that inbox for new mail.

I have Zapier monitor the inbox around the clock. The moment a forwarded email lands there, Zapier grabs the body of the message and passes it to the next step.

3. A custom AI prompt pulls out the lead's details.

Zapier’s built-in AI tool reads the email body and extracts the lead's name, contact information, and relevant details. I wrote a custom prompt telling it exactly what to extract, and, importantly, to ignore my own name and contact details that often appear in a forwarded thread or email signature.

4. Create the contact record in 17hats.

Zapier checks whether the lead already exists as a contact in my account. If not, it creates a new contact record automatically, populated with the details just pulled from the forwarded email.

5. Notify myself with a direct link.

Since Zapier's connection to 17hats can create contacts but not full projects, I still need to open the record and create the new lead project myself. This last step sends me an email with a direct link to the new contact in 17hats. I click the link, and it takes me directly to the new contact without having to search or navigate the hundreds of contacts in my system. From there, I create the project and start the same workflow I'd use for any other lead.

The result is that this automation significantly

Zapier is easy to use, especially if you’ve ever

reduces the mental workload required to

set up automations in 17hats. It’s incredibly

get a new lead into 17hats. It allows me to

powerful, and this example is just one way

act immediately, from wherever I am. For a

I’ve used Zapier to make my business more

business that depends on responding quickly,

efficient and less reliant on me or my team

that difference has meant real bookings I

remembering to do small administrative tasks.

would have otherwise lost to my own inbox.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

17

How a Systems Consultant Tracks Every Offer Through

17hats Pipelines

A step-by-step for seeing your multiple revenue projects at a glance.

WRITTEN BY NICOLE LARSON Oftentimes, Pipelines are built to answer one question:

My own offer Pipeline has a lane for each service I

where is this job right now? The phases walk a single

provide: Tech Checks, 17hats Setup, Custom Quote,

service from first inquiry to final delivery ... lead, quote

Systems Support and Workshop Bookings. When I book

sent, booked, in progress, complete, etc. And it works

a client, their Project card drops into the phase for the

beautifully, and if you sell one core service, that might

service I'm doing for them. I'm no longer just tracking

be all you ever need.

"how far along is this one job"; I'm also tracking "how many of each service I'm actively delivering right now."

But if you sell more than one service, that same setup hides something important. A process pipeline shows

That single change turns the Pipeline from a status

you the journey of one job at a time, but it can't show

tracker into a live picture of my active workload. I see

you your whole business at a glance: how much active

how my lower-value services compare against my

client work is sitting in each of your services at any

highest-value offers. Right now, for instance, 19 active

given time.

clients are stacked in Systems Support while Custom Quote and Workshop Booking both sit at zero. In a

So I built a second Pipeline that does exactly that.

per-job view I'd never catch that imbalance at a glance;

Instead of phases that represent steps, the phases

here it's the first thing I see, and it tells me exactly

represent services.

where my capacity is going.

The shift: phases become offers, not steps In a process Pipeline, a card moving forward means the work advanced. In an offer Pipeline, each phase is one of the services you sell, and a card lands in the phase for the service that client hired you for.

18

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

How to build one in your own account Good news: you don't need anything you don't already have! Here's the build: 1.

Create a new Client Pipeline and name it for the view, not the process. Something like "Offers" or "Active Work" keeps it clearly separate from your processtracking Pipeline.

2.

Make each phase a service you sell, and assign the Project Tag that places clients in each phase. Order them the way you actually think about your business... highest-value first, or mostcommon first, whichever helps you read the screen faster.

3.

Drop each client into the service you're doing for them by applying the corresponding Project Tag.

4. Add those same Project Tags to your service Workflows, whether that be through a Lead Capture Form, Questionnaire or maybe even a Workflow that kicks off after they’ve made a payment toward the service. This way, when you book more work, your Tags will automatically place additional client Project cards in the phase for that service.

5.

Read it weekly and ask yourself questions like: which service is carrying the most of my active work, which one's gone quiet and where should my next bit of marketing or follow-up go?

Use both, on purpose To be clear, I’m definitely not proposing that an offer pipeline replaces your process Pipelines; they’re actually great companions. The process Pipeline still carries each job from start to finish while the offer Pipeline sits “above” it and shows you the shape of your whole business at once. One tells you where a job is. The other tells you where your business is.

If you've only ever built Pipelines to track a journey, try building one that tracks your offers instead. It might just hand you a view of your business you probably didn't realize 17hats could give you.

Need help implementing your own? We can tackle things like offer Pipelines in my Two Hours of Live Tech Support offer found inside the 17hats Marketplace!

What you can suddenly see Once it's running, the offer Pipeline can basically become a leading indicator of your Profit & Loss report, broken down by income category. And it answers questions your process Pipeline never could: Which service is actually carrying your business right now? Is your high-value offer getting real work, or is everything clustered in the cheapest offer you provide?

Best of all, when it's time to decide what to promote next or where to add capacity, you're reading what's actually on your plate instead of guessing.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

HIRE NICOLE NOW 19

How Wedding Vendors Effectively Confirm Wedding Day Details with 17hats WRITTEN BY DEB MITZEL

If you're a wedding vendor working inside 17hats,

re-asking the same questions from scratch. You're

chances are you're already sending a Questionnaire

confirming what you already know, and if something

to collect wedding day details. Getting-ready time,

changes, the update flows straight back into the project

ceremony start, venue address, key contacts … nothing

and refreshes the token behind it, no manual updating

new there.

required.

What happens with that information after you collect it?

A confirmation Questionnaire sent around 30 days out

For most of us, it just sits there. We glance at it, maybe

is a common starting point for wedding vendors, since it

copy a few details into a note, and move on. Then

leaves enough time to handle whatever comes up. The

the wedding gets closer, and something shifts. A time

right timing is whatever fits how you work and what

changes. A location swaps. And if you've been doing this

your clients need, so treat thirty days as a starting point

a while, you know the feeling of a last-minute text telling

rather than a rule.

you something's different than what you had.

Somewhere in that last week, send a short, warm email There's a way to stay on top of the finer details all

instead of another questionnaire. Pull in a few of those

along the way, so you're not caught off guard by one of

same Tokens, arrival time, key details worth reiterating,

those messages right before the big day. It starts with

and wrap them in a message letting the couple know

how you collect and retain the information from the

you're looking forward to their big day. Something like,

beginning, then confirm and update it inside the system

"We are so excited for your wedding! Here's a quick

as changes happen.

recap of a few key details on our end", followed by the two or three details worth having fresh in their minds.

How the Confirmation Checkpoint Works

It's not a confirmation request, just a warm check-in

If you're already mapping your initial Questionnaire

that highlights the current details, so they'll naturally

answers to Custom Fields, you're ahead of the game. If

notice if anything looks off and can reach out right

not, start there, since everything else depends on it.

away.

Once those answers live in Custom Fields, each

For each check-in, build your own Questionnaire

one becomes a token you can pull into a future

template rather than reusing one, and give each version

Questionnaire, email, or other document. You're not

a clear name, something like WD - Wedding Day Details

20

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Companion Guide: Confirm & Update Wedding Details For information on how to set this up yourself, download my companion setup guide from the 17hats Marketplace.

GET THE GUIDE

and WD - Confirmation of Wedding Day Details - 30

still needs to get on your calendar. Or, if you're not using

Day, so everything stays easy to find.

Online Scheduling yet, you can still direct the client to call you to schedule a call, and then manually follow up

The Final Question That Matters

with them if they don’t.

This check-in Questionnaire exists to confirm the details you already have on file. The last question ties it all

What You End Up With

together, since their answer tells you what needs to

This process gathers the details early, then gives the

happen next, if anything, beyond showing up on the day.

client an easy way to tell you if anything changes between now and the wedding. It keeps every detail,

The last question can be "Do we need to chat?", with

and every update, in one place instead of scattered

three simple ways to answer:

across notes, emails, and old texts. You gathered the

•

I've made changes to the wedding details you have

information once. The system helps you keep it accurate

on file.

and tells you exactly when it's time to pick up the phone.

• •

I haven't made changes, but would like to have a quick call before my wedding day.

Where to Start

Everything you have on file is accurate, and we are

The first step is making sure you have Custom Fields

good to go.

set up inside your 17hats account for every detail you'll

How you word that first option is up to you. If any

eventually need to confirm, getting-ready time, venue,

change at all warrants a call, keep it broad like the

guest count, whatever matters for your service. That's

example above. If it's really just a detail or two, guest

the foundation everything else sits on.

count or start time, ask those directly instead.

Once those fields exist and your initial Questionnaire The answer to this one question tells you who needs

is collecting the client’s answers and mapping them in,

a follow-up call and who doesn't. For those who do, if

the rest falls into place easily. Building the confirmation

you use Online Scheduling, you can show a scheduling

Questionnaire and follow-up automation becomes

link right in the Questionnaire, and use a Tag to start

straightforward, because the information is already

a follow-up reminder that stops automatically the

living where it needs to be. Start with the Custom

moment they book, using the power of start and stop

Fields. Everything after that gets simpler.

automation. No manual tracking, no wondering who

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

21

How Online Service Providers Use 17hats To Manage Collaborations Collaboration is an incredibly powerful tool in your visibility kit. Using 17hats to manage your partners streamlines the process, saving you time, energy, and effort.

WRITTEN BY SARA ALEPIN Why Collaboration Belongs in Your Business Model

Streamlining Your

Collaboration is a people-forward path to growing

Partnerships with 17hats

your audience and building a know-like-trust factor

Implementing a

quickly. Before diving into the technical steps, it helps to

centralized CRM takes the

establish a clear baseline.

friction out of managing multiple partners at once.

At its core, collaboration for online service providers

Here is how you can use

is about ditching the exhausting solopreneur grind in

specific features to handle

favor of mutually beneficial partnerships. Rather than

every stage of the process:

trying to constantly chase cold leads on your own,

•

Pitching and

collaboration allows you to tap into warm, established

Outreach: Set up email templates and customize

audiences by working alongside other business owners.

them for each potential partner using tokens. You

Whether you are co-hosting virtual summits, running

can track whether your messages have been read

bundles, or cross-promoting offers, these relationships

to take the guesswork out of follow-up.

act as a powerful growth catalyst.

• Contracts: Protect every project by attaching a By pooling resources, expertise, and visibility, service

clear agreement that outlines expectations, scope

providers can scale their reach exponentially faster

of work, and responsibilities. Your CRM makes it

while building a community rooted in connection rather

simple to customize templates and send them for

than competition. Managing those crucial partner

easy digital execution.

relationships effectively is where a solid CRM system becomes your ultimate backend secret weapon.

• Workflows: Automate promotional reminders, share swipe copy and graphics, and keep partners

Now, let's talk about how you can use 17hats to manage

updated without manual oversight.

collaborations in your own business.

22

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Ready to Scale Your Collaborations?

Hosting a successful bundle means managing dozens of moving parts, especially contributors. This kit gives you the exact workflow to manage collaborators from pitch to final thank you automatically. It includes pitch emails, essential questionnaires, the contributor contract, and promotion reminders so you can save time and host your event like a pro.

GRAB THE TEMPLATES

• Questionnaires:

• Pipelines: Move partners across visual stages

Capture essential

from initial pitch to completed campaign to

information

ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

seamlessly, from bundle claim page

• Lead Management: If a potential partner is

details and speaker

unavailable right now, update their status to a

intake forms to copy

cold lead and add a note to pitch them during the

for featured blog

next round.

posts.

17hats makes collaboration easy and approachable so

• Online Scheduling:

you can focus on building real connections.

Maximize traction by inviting partners

Ready to learn more about collaboration?

to book Instagram

Join the Collaborations That Monetize Summit,

Lives or strategy

happening January 25-27, 2027.

chats using your online calendar, eliminating back-and-forth scheduling emails.

This event teaches you how to grow your audience through a people-first path featuring pre-recorded

• Invoices: Lay out every detail of paid partnerships like sponsorships directly on the

expert sessions and live events designed to help you meet future partners.

invoice and deliver it straight to an inbox.

Featuring 30+ experts, including

• To-Do Lists: Keep track of your next steps and

Amanda Rae, Chanti Zak, and

deliverables right inside the client record.

Sandra De Freitas. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this event!

• Time Tracking: Monitor your return on investment by logging the hours spent on each collaborative

SIGN UP NOW

project.

Your Summit Host, Sara Alepin 17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

23

WRITTEN BY LIZ AUGUST

Service providers lose money to discovery calls that blur the line between free and paid strategy. Without clear boundaries, calls stretch, people expect ongoing free advice, and many never convert to paying clients.

Our 17hats system makes the boundary structural: a pre-qualifying question, a fixed 15-minute call, automated workflows that move people to paid work, and nearly 50% conversion from free calls to paid Strategy Sessions.

The system uses three pieces: • An intake form that establishes readiness to invest • A time-locked booking page, and • Automated workflows that transition people to paid work without friction

Step 1: Establish the Boundary in Your Intake Form Before anyone books a call, they answer a qualifying question. Mine is straightforward: "Most clients begin with a Strategy Session for $250 so that we can best customize a proposal for your exact needs. Should we be a good fit, are you prepared to make this investment in your growth?"

This single question does the heavy lifting. People selfselect. If they're not ready to invest, they don't book. If they are, they've already made a micro-commitment to paid work before the chemistry call even happens.

Step 2: Create a Time-Locked Booking Experience Your calendar page is a boundary in itself. Mine shows a 15-minute slot with this language: "This is a free 15-minute chat to see if my team is a good fit to support your business. My availability is protected for efficiency, but I may be able to accommodate you if your schedule doesn't align."

The 15-minute limit tells the story. It’s not 30 minutes.

Not "let's chat and see where it goes." It’s only 15 minutes, but that's enough time to understand their problem and pitch the paid session. It's not enough time for a full consultation.

Step 3: Automate the Confirmation and Reminders Immediately after they book, they get a confirmation email with my Google Meet link and a reminder that this is a fit assessment, not free consulting. Reminder emails at 24 hours and 1 hour before the call keep it top of mind and reduce no-shows.

Meanwhile, they’re automatically tagged to progress through my pipeline, and the workflow prepares the next step automatically.

Step 4: Transition to Paid Immediately After the Call This is where the system protects your time. Within hours of the call, they get an email from me personally. I reference what we discussed, I explain that the Strategy Session is where we map the actual plan, and I make it easy to book.

The email is warm but transactional. It says, "Here's the next step, and here's how to take it." No begging or over-explaining. Just a clear path to paid work.

If they don't book within a few days, the workflow kicks in. A series of automated emails follows at strategic intervals, each one asking if they want to move forward with the Strategy Session. The emails are personal, but the timing is automatic.

How To Build This In

Step 5: Close the Loop or Move On If they book the Strategy Session, they're in. If they don't after the email sequence, the system marks them appropriately and archives the project. No wasted time chasing people who weren't ready.

Every email, every reminder, every follow-up in this system is automated and intentional. You're not managing it manually unless you want to.

Why This Works Most service providers protect expertise through willpower. They say no to free consulting and hope people respect it.

This system makes the boundary structural. It starts in the intake form, continues through the 15-minute time limit and booking page language, and is reinforced by automated emails that transition people to paid work. By the time someone gets on the chemistry call, they already know paid work comes next. The results speak for themselves: nearly 50% conversion from free calls to Strategy Sessions.

The system does the work without mastering new sales skills.

1

Create a Lead Capture Form with your

2

Set up a 15-minute booking link with

3

Build two workflows: one that activates

qualifying question.

boundary-setting language.

when they fill out the form, one when they book the call.

4

In the post-call workflow, add an email sequence pitching the paid session with follow-ups at 3, 7, and 14 days.

Protecting expertise this way is professional. You're showing people how your business works while automating the parts that used to drain your time.

26

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

How Our Photography Studio Uses 17hats Scheduling to Turn Image Delivery Into a Deadline WRITTEN BY JAIMIE DEE WRITTEN BY JAIMIE DEE

28

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

When you run your own business,

week would pass. Then another.

When a client schedules Premiere

not every deadline carries the same

Sometimes the gallery took a month,

Night through 17hats, that

weight.

two months, or longer. The client

appointment becomes the date their

was still waiting, even if they weren’t

images need to be edited, prepared,

A wedding date feels real. A

asking yet, and every delay made

and ready to present by. The client

scheduled consultation feels real. A

the work feel more agonizing.

has a date to look forward to, and

client meeting with a Zoom link and

we have a real production deadline

a calendar invite feels real. Another

Pre-scheduling Premiere Night

person is attached to it, and that

became a game-changer for us.

changes how the deadline lands.

Once that meeting was on the

That changed the rhythm of our

books, we could plan backwards,

studio. Image delivery wasn’t an

Internal tasks hit differently. Editing

protect our editing time, and build

open-ended task waiting for us

images, preparing galleries, building

our schedule around what actually

to feel ready anymore. It became

album mockups, or finishing product

needed to be delivered.

part of the client experience, with a

previews may happen behind the

on the calendar.

real person, a real date, and a real

person waiting on the other end. The

The Shift: Put the Meeting on the Calendar First

client wonders when they’ll see their

The fix was simple, even if it felt

images, receive their proof, review

a little scary at first: stop waiting

How 17hats Makes the System Work

their design, or get the next update.

until the images were finished to

17hats Online Scheduling gives us

Without a clear date, the work can

schedule the meeting. Instead, use

a practical way to run this. Clients

stretch out week after week, and the

the meeting as the deadline.

choose from the appointment times

scenes, but they still affect the

client is left in the uncomfortable position of having to ask.

reason to finish the work on time.

we intentionally make available, so In our studio, we call that meeting

they get an easy way to schedule

Premiere Night. It’s the scheduled

while we still control the calendar

That was the problem we needed

online appointment where clients

based on our editing workload and

to solve in our studio. Without

see their finished images for the first

studio capacity.

hard deadlines tied to a real client

time and make any final ordering

commitment, certain parts of

decisions. In photography, this type

Once the appointment is booked,

our workflow could take forever

of meeting is often called an Image

the commitment is real. It’s on the

and a day. The work was easy to

Reveal, Ordering Appointment, or

calendar, the confirmation email

postpone, hard to prioritize, and

In-Person Sales (IPS) meeting.

goes out, the Zoom link is included,

more frustrating than it needed to

and the client knows what to expect.

be. We didn’t need another personal

We introduce the concept of

deadline we could procrastinate on.

Premiere Night early on, starting

We then use templated emails in

We needed a deadline with a client

with the first consultation. Clients

automated workflow sequences to

on the other end of it.

know this is when their images will

prepare clients before the meeting.

be delivered and when they can

For our studio, that may include

For years, our old image-delivery

discuss albums, wall art, or printed

ordering details, product options,

process looked safe on paper. The

products if they want them. When

time-sensitive offers, and reminders

wedding happened, we backed up

we can, we try to get it on the

about who they may want involved

the images, and we told ourselves

calendar before the wedding even

in the decision-making process.

we’d start editing soon. Then a

happens.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

29

Why It Helps the Client Scheduling the meeting before the work is finished gives us accountability, but it also gives clients relief.

Instead of giving clients a loose estimate and hoping everything lines up later, we can talk about their delivery date with confidence.

The timeline still depends on the season, our workload, and the client’s schedule, but now they get a real date on our calendar. They know exactly when they’ll see their images.

Clients aren’t waiting months for an update or feeling like they need to follow up to ask when their gallery will be ready. They already know the date. That clarity reduces anxiety, builds trust, and makes timely delivery feel like a built-in part of the experience.

Use Availability to Protect Capacity The other important piece of the puzzle is availability. A deadline only helps if it’s realistic.

Inside 17hats, we control how many Premiere Night appointments are available and when they can be scheduled. That way, clients only choose from dates we can realistically support based on our editing workload and studio availability.

30

That flexibility matters. Sometimes

Now, when we catch ourselves

we can deliver quickly. Sometimes

dragging our feet at any point in

busy season, travel, other sessions,

our client’s journey, we ask a better

or a client’s schedule means the

question: could this benefit from a

meeting needs to happen farther

real deadline with a client attached

out. The point isn’t to create

to it? That might be a date for album

pressure for the sake of pressure.

mockups, product previews, gallery

It’s to create a clear, realistic date

delivery, a design presentation, a

everyone can plan around.

client approval meeting, or another next step the client is waiting on.

This is where scheduling becomes workload management, not just

17hats gives us tools like Online

client convenience. By limiting

Scheduling, calendar availability,

appointment availability, you can

confirmation emails, workflows, and

create deadlines that motivate you

automation sequences. The real shift

without overloading your week.

is using those tools intentionally, not just to organize the work, but to

The Part That Applies Beyond Photography

create the urgency we need to help us get the work done.

Premiere Night is one example from our photography workflow, but the lesson isn’t limited to image delivery.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Crossword Puzzle:

Name That Profession

A few of the pros who run their businesses on 17hats.

ACROSS

DOWN

2. Plays an instrument for a living 8. Films the whole day, then cuts it down to a highlight reel 11. Twists and inflates the color at parties and grand openings 12. Reads the room, then adjusts the playlist 13. Prices the food by the head count 14. Sends the gallery, but sends the Contract first 15. Keeps everyone else's numbers straight

1. Runs your inbox and calendar from another time zone 3. Sells handwriting by the envelope 4. Hands over the logo files once the final payment clears 5. The booking that keeps guests off their phones 6. Gets paid to write the words on your website 7. Bills by the closet 9. Teacher-for-hire who bills by the session, September to May 10. On-call pro whose service can start at 3 a.m.

SEE PAGE 37 FOR THE ANSWERS 17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

31

New to 17hats?

Start Here and Set Up for Success 1. Business Setup Let’s make 17hats feel like your business. In your Account Settings:

•

Settings: Update your business information from address to website, so information is displayed correctly.

•

Brand Preferences: Upload your logo and add your brand colors so all client-facing documents look professional and consistent.

•

Brand Preferences: Add a subdomain, only if you have never changed your subdomain before, to reflect your business.

•

Brand Preferences: Select a 17hats background that fits your style.

2. Start The Organization Process •

Email Settings: Connect your email, so all emails sent through 17hats come from your inbox.

•

Calendars: Create 17hats Calendars or connect to your Google Calendar.

•

Email Settings > Reminders: Turn on email auto reminders for past due invoices.

•

Invoice Options: Connect Stripe payment process to start taking online payments.

Hello, New 17hats Members!

Welcome to our community! It is filled with passionate, successful small business owners who are working towards their business goals. You might be wondering, where do I even start. We get it, 17hats is big. If that

question has ever crossed your mind, this section is for you. We look forward to getting to know you!

3. Create Your First Contact and Project

September 2026

Add a current lead or client as a contact. Then, create a Project for them. A Project is like your manila folder; it holds all your information about the service you are providing.

•

Add a note about the service you are providing

•

Send them a quick email, use the Token, First Name, and see how it works.

•

Had a recent phone call or left them a voicemail? Document it in the phone log section.

•

Add a to-do that you know needs to be done soon.

4. Create Templates •

Head over to templates and create an email template that you can reuse later. >> https://admin.17hats.com/app/account/templates/my-templates

•

Add a few products and services to be used on Invoices and Quotes. >> https://admin.17hats.com/app/account/products

•

Back in your account templates, create an invoice template. >> https://admin.17hats.com/app/account/templates/my-templates

5. Create a Lead Capture Form Get all new leads flowing into 17hats to help you streamline your process.

•

Create your Lead Sources to easily see where your leads are coming from. >> https://admin.17hats.com/app/leads/reporting

•

Create a Lead Capture Form and add your Lead Source Question.

•

Link or embed your Lead Capture Form to your website.

Download The Guide Plus watch new how-to videos GET STARTED NOW Everything you need to know for a quick start with 17hats. Our 17hats Getting Started Guide will help you through the initial process of building out your 17hats account.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

33

Share Your Secret to

Business Success Turn your business savvy into cash rewards by simply sharing 17hats.

Referring 17hats is a win-win. You’ll earn $50 for every new member who joins using your link — and there’s no limit to how many rewards you can collect.

Even better? Your friends get a huge head start with 50% off their first year or first two years of 17hats. That’s up to $400 in savings for them, just for being connected to you. It’s an easy way to support fellow business owners while putting extra cash in your pocket.

Easy Ways To Refer 17hats: Share on Social Media

Post about how 17hats helps you — and include your link. Include before/after stories or screenshots! Business owners love seeing behind-the-scenes.

Send a Personal Message Reach out to a business friend with a quick text or DM: “Hey! If you’re still juggling client stuff manually, you should check out 17hats. Here’s my referral link for 50% savings — it’s a no-brainer!”

Add it Where People Already Look Place your referral link somewhere simple, like your email signature, website resources page, or link-in-bio. That way, business owners can discover it naturally without feeling like you’re directly pitching them.

Example: Find Your Referral Code & Link!

Head to your 17hats account settings and click the “Referrals” tab to copy your unique “Tools I use to keep my business organized: 17hats — here’s my referral link for 50% off.” referral link. Your referred friend can use your code when signing up for a trial or upon checkout. You can also send them your link that allows your referral to directly buy now.

34

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Top Tutorials!

Your Shortcut To Working Smarter Want to get more out of 17hats without the guesswork? Our top tutorials are the fastest way to learn, implement, and level up your business systems — no tech degree required. Each video walks you through key tools and features step-by-step, so you can spend less time figuring things out and more time doing what you love.

Learn how to enable Apple Pay and Google Pay in your 17hats account for Stripe Payment members.

Learn how to bulk import products and services into your 17hats account.

NEW FEATURE: See how Quote Selections Contract Token pulls line items from a Quote straight into your Contract.

NEW FEATURE: Learn how to use the Project Details question type in 17hats Questionnaires.

Craving More Education?

Head over to 17hatsUniversity.com and blog.17hats.com to dive deeper into both business and 17hats education. Bookmark both sites and check back weekly for fresh insights and tutorials.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

35

17hats Resources

Deep dive into our blog and learn how 17hats can help you manage your business better.

Listen to our HatsOff Podcast for business tips and tricks with our CEO, Amanda Rae.

Check out our University for 17hats tutorials, workshop replays, live events, and more.

VISIT BLOG

LISTEN NOW

START WATCHING

Ambassador Events 17hats Power Hour: Tags & Custom Fields Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET Location: Virtual

Join 17hats Ambassador Deb Mitzel for her 17hats Small Business Success Series: Power Hour. This series is dedicated to learning more about a 17hats feature, including use and set it up, and Q&A after the feature presentation. debmitzelcreative.com/workshops

The 17hats Quick-Start Roadmap: What to Set Up First and What Can Wait Tuesday, September 15, 2026

2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET Location: Virtual A free live workshop for newer 17hats members. Learn what to set up first, what can wait, and how to customize your account, with a clear roadmap and Onboarding Checklist. visionaryactivationco.com/17hats-quick-start-roadmap

36

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

Crossword Puzzle:

Name That Profession

A few of the pros who run their businesses on 17hats.

ACROSS

DOWN

2. Plays an instrument for a living 8. Films the whole day, then cuts it down to a highlight reel 11. Twists and inflates the color at parties and grand openings 12. Reads the room, then adjusts the playlist 13. Prices the food by the head count 14. Sends the gallery, but sends the Contract first 15. Keeps everyone else's numbers straight

1. Runs your inbox and calendar from another time zone 3. Sells handwriting by the envelope 4. Hands over the logo files once the final payment clears 5. The booking that keeps guests off their phones 6. Gets paid to write the words on your website 7. Bills by the closet 9. Teacher-for-hire who bills by the session, September to May 10. On-call pro whose service can start at 3 a.m.

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026

37

Systems run the business and people run the systems.

– Michael E. Gerber author of The E-Myth Revisited

Keep In Touch

38

17HATS | THE JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2026