Episode 329

full
Published on:

9th Jul 2026

Building Custom Workflows for Custom Services in Dubsado with Xan Heller

What if the best systems in your business didn't make your client experience feel more automated, but actually made it feel more personal?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Xan Heller, who has gone through both Systems in Session and The Experience Edit, to talk about what happened when she stopped trying to figure out her CRM on her own and finally built systems that supported the custom, high-touch experience she wanted every client to have.

What I think you'll find funny about Xan's experience is that she actually told me "no" more times than almost any client I've worked with. No to schedulers her clients wouldn't actually use and no to proposals as a core sales tool. Protecting her client experience mattered more than saving a few minutes—we'll get into those solutions too.

If you've ever felt like systems and high-touch, custom client experiences are at odds with each other, this episode is for you!

Find It Quickly:

00:25 - Meet Xan

01:43 - CRM Struggles & Mini Sessions

05:02 - One Hour Success

08:36 - Systems In Session

10:19 - Support Tickets And Coaching

13:41 - Knowing But Not Doing

16:46 - Offer Math And Profitability

23:35 - Automation Pushback Schedulers

31:11 - Email Design And Branding

34:30 - Proposals And Templates

38:43 - Why CRMs Matter

40:43 - Mapping Touchpoints

46:16 - Workflow Building Mindset

48:29 - Notifications and Scheduling Wins

52:03 - Done-With-You Philosophy

55:39 - New Dubsado Features

59:55 - Portal Problems and Alternatives

01:03:54 - Accountability and Focus

01:07:12 - Experience Edit

01:11:08 - Client Experience Takeaways

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Experience Edit

Systems in Session

Connect with Xan:

Website: xanheller.com

Instagram: instagram.com/xan_heller

Show artwork for Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers
A podcast about systems, workflows, and business advice for creative service providers.
Business-First Creatives is a podcast for photographers and creative service providers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business without drowning in admin work, client experience chaos, or systems that let you down.

This show delivers clear, actionable conversations around marketing, CRM workflows, client communication, Dubsado and Honeybook automation, Airtable systems, and workflow strategies, giving photographers and creative entrepreneurs the systems that scale, operational clarity, and strategic, human-first client experiences they need to build streamlined, referral-worthy business operations that don't require working 24/7.
If you're tired of babysitting your inbox, chasing down contracts, or watching your workflows break the moment you look away, this show will help you move beyond "figuring it out as you go" and toward a creative business that brings you joy and a paycheck.

This podcast provides answers to questions like:
How do I automate my client journey without losing the personal touch?
What CRM workflows do photographers and creative businesses need?
How can I use Dubsado or Honeybook to streamline my client experience?
What systems do photographers need to save time and deliver exceptional client experiences?
How do I reduce admin time in my creative service business?
Why do my workflows keep letting me down (and how do I fix them)?
How can I build a profitable creative business that brings me joy and a paycheck?
What's the best way to communicate with clients throughout their journey?
How do I create systems that work even when I'm not babysitting them?
How can I map my client journey to convert more inquiries into bookings?

Hosted by Colie James, a Dubsado Certified Specialist, Honeybook Educator, and Workflow and Automations Guru with 10+ years helping creatives systemize their businesses—this show delivers practical, no-BS guidance for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to streamline their client journey, automate their operations, and make money from their craft.

If you're done dropping balls and ready to build a business-first creative operation with systems that scale, you're in the right place.

Find out more about Systems in Session ➡️ https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session