7. The Message Centre

A skilled craftsman working on a skateboard design in a cluttered workshop.

7. The Message Centre

The Message Centre is an optional built-in chat tool that allows you to communicate directly with your clients inside freehand. It keeps all messages about a commission or project neatly in one place, linked to the relevant work.

✅ 1. Where the Message Centre Appears

  • Each commission or project has its own Message Centre section.
  • You’ll see it within the commission or project record.
  • For clients, the Message Centre is hidden by default but can be toggled on if you’d like them to use it

✅ 2. How It Works

When enabled:

  • You and your client can exchange messages directly inside the commission or project record.
  • All communication is kept together with the project details, making it easy to find later.
  • Clients can log in and see your messages without needing to check emails or external apps.

✅ 3. Why the Message Centre Can Be Useful

  • Keeps everything in one place → You won’t have to search through emails to find past conversations.
  • Clear communication → The client can always see the latest updates linked to their project.
  • Professional & focused → Messages stay specific to the project, avoiding clutter from unrelated conversations.
  • No extra tools needed → You don’t have to set up a separate chat app.

This can be especially helpful for commissions or projects with a lot of back-and-forth communication or where you want the client to easily track the progress without emailing you repeatedly.

✅ 4. Reasons You Might Choose Not to Use It

  • If you prefer email → If you already have an email workflow that works well for you, you may not want another place to check messages.
  • For minimal communication → Some projects don’t need much discussion, so a Messaging Centre may not be necessary.
  • For very detailed discussions → If you need to share large files or long email chains, you might still prefer traditional email or another platform.

✅ 5. Control is Always Yours

  • You can toggle the Message Centre on or off for each commission or project.
  • If you prefer to keep communication via email, simply leave it off—clients won’t see it in their portal.
  • You can enable it only when it’s helpful, and keep it hidden otherwise.

✅ 6. The Best Way to Use the Message Centre

  • Use it for quick updates and clarifications that the client might want to refer back to later.
  • Keep larger or more formal discussions in email if needed.
  • Think of it as a convenient, optional add-on to keep communication simple and centralised when appropriate.
A skilled craftsman working on a skateboard design in a cluttered workshop.

8. Adding & Managing Quotes

✅ 1. Adding a Quote Once you’ve created a commission or project, you can add a quote by: A quote typically includes: 💡 Quotes are hidden from clients by default, so you can prepare them early and make them visible at the right time. ✅ 2. Optional Deposit & Payment Link When creating a quote, […]

A skilled craftsman working on a skateboard design in a cluttered workshop.

9. Adding & Managing Invoices

✅ 1. How Invoices Are Created There are two ways invoices are created in freehand: ✅ 2. Viewing Invoices You’ll find all existing invoices (and quotes) in the Quotes & Invoices section at the bottom of the commission or project record page. From here, you can: ✅ 3. Editing an Invoice When you open an […]

A skilled craftsman working on a skateboard design in a cluttered workshop.

10. The Tasks Page

✅ 1. What the Tasks Page Shows This means you can see everything that needs to be done in one place—no more jumping between different project pages to check tasks. ✅ 2. Priority Tasks Always Come First At the top of the Tasks Page, you’ll find the Priority Tasks section. 💡 This is ideal for […]