Flowlu

What is Flowlu

Flowlu is a comprehensive, all-in-one business management software designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Its core purpose is to unify various business operations into a single platform, eliminating the need for multiple, separate applications. The platform integrates project management, customer relationship management (CRM), financial management, invoicing, and team collaboration tools. By bringing these functions together, Flowlu helps teams to organize workflows, track progress, manage customer interactions, and monitor financial health from one central location. The company aims to provide an affordable and powerful solution that simplifies complex business processes and improves overall productivity.

Flowlu Features

Flowlu offers a wide range of features to cover most aspects of business management. Here are some of the key functionalities:

• Project Management: Plan, execute, and track projects from start to finish. It includes tools for task management, Gantt charts for timeline visualization, and Agile boards for iterative development.
• CRM & Sales Automation: Manage your customer pipeline, track leads and opportunities, and store all client communication in one place. Automation rules help you follow up with leads and manage routine sales tasks.
• Task & Time Tracking: Create and assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and monitor progress. The built-in time tracker allows you to measure time spent on tasks, which is useful for billing and productivity analysis.
• Financial Management: Keep track of your company's income and expenses. You can plan budgets, categorize transactions, and generate financial reports to get a clear view of your business's financial performance.
• Invoicing & Estimates: Create professional invoices and estimates quickly. The system supports online payments, recurring invoices, and automated payment reminders to help you get paid faster.
• Team Collaboration: Communicate with your team in real-time using the built-in chat. You can also leave comments on tasks and projects to keep discussions organized and context-specific.
• Knowledge Base: Build a central repository for your company's important information, such as internal guides, procedures, and client-facing manuals.
• Mind Maps: Brainstorm ideas, plan project structures, and visualize concepts with interactive mind maps. You can convert ideas from mind maps directly into tasks.
• Client Portal: Provide your clients with a secure portal where they can view project progress, approve estimates, pay invoices, and collaborate with your team.

Flowlu Pricing Plans

Flowlu offers several pricing tiers to suit businesses of different sizes and needs. The plans are structured to provide more features, users, and storage as you move up the tiers.

• Free Plan: Designed for small teams or individuals just starting out, offering basic features for a limited number of users.
• Team Plan: A good option for growing teams that need more advanced project management and collaboration tools.
• Business Plan: This plan includes the full suite of features, including advanced CRM, financial management, and automation, suitable for established businesses.
• Professional Plan: Offers extended capabilities, more storage, and priority support for larger organizations with more complex needs.
• Enterprise Plan: A custom solution for large corporations requiring specific configurations, enhanced security, and dedicated account management.

Flowlu Free Plan

Flowlu offers a Free Plan that is ideal for small teams of up to two users. This plan includes access to core features like project management, CRM for a limited number of contacts, task management, and basic financial tracking. While it has limitations on the number of users, projects, and storage, it is a great way to use the platform's essential tools without any cost. For those wanting to test the premium features, Flowlu also provides a 14-day free trial for its paid plans, with no credit card required to sign up.

How to use Flowlu

Getting started with Flowlu is a straightforward process. Here is a typical workflow for a new user:

1. Sign Up: Create an account on the Flowlu website. You can start with the free plan or a 14-day trial of a paid plan.
2. Set Up Your Workspace: Once logged in, configure your company's details, currency, and business hours. Invite your team members by sending them email invitations.
3. Create a Project: Navigate to the 'Projects' module. Create your first project, define its goals, set a budget, and establish a timeline.
4. Add and Assign Tasks: Break down the project into smaller tasks. Assign each task to a team member, set deadlines, and add descriptions or checklists.
5. Manage Contacts in CRM: Go to the 'CRM' module to add your existing clients and leads. You can create a sales funnel to visualize and manage your sales process.
6. Track Finances: Use the 'Finance' module to record your income and expenses. Connect it to your projects to track profitability.
7. Send an Invoice: When work is complete, create and send an invoice directly from Flowlu. You can connect a payment gateway to accept online payments.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your business operations within Flowlu.

Pros and Cons of Flowlu

Pros:

• All-in-One Solution: Combines multiple business tools into one platform, which can reduce costs and simplify workflows.
• Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers a wide range of tools covering projects, CRM, finance, and more.
• Affordable Pricing: The plans are competitively priced, making it accessible for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Good Automation: Provides automation rules in many modules to reduce manual, repetitive tasks.
• Flexible Views: Users can view data in different formats like lists, Kanban boards, and Gantt charts.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: The large number of features can be overwhelming for new users, and it may take time to learn how to use the platform fully.
• Interface Can Feel Crowded: For users who only need one or two specific functions, the interface might seem cluttered with too many options.
• Mobile App Limitations: The mobile app is functional for on-the-go updates but may not have the full capabilities of the desktop version.

Flowlu Integrations

Flowlu connects with various third-party applications to extend its functionality and ensure a smooth workflow with tools you already use. Key integrations include:

• Zapier: Connect Flowlu to thousands of other web applications to automate workflows between different platforms.
• Google Workspace: Integrate with Google Calendar for syncing events and deadlines.
• Microsoft 365: Sync your Outlook Calendar with Flowlu to keep your schedules aligned.
• Payment Gateways: Integrates with popular payment processors like PayPal and Stripe to facilitate online invoice payments.
• Communication Tools: Connect with communication apps to streamline notifications and team collaboration.

These integrations are typically configured in the settings or marketplace section of your Flowlu account.

Flowlu Alternatives

If Flowlu isn't the right fit for your business, consider these alternatives:

• ClickUp: A highly customizable productivity platform that also aims to be an all-in-one solution. It is known for its flexibility and extensive feature set, which can sometimes be complex to set up.
• Monday.com: A visual Work Operating System (Work OS) that allows teams to build custom workflows for projects, sales, and more. It is very user-friendly but can become costly for larger teams.
• Asana: A popular project management tool that excels at task and workflow management. It is less focused on CRM and financial features compared to Flowlu.
• Zoho One: A comprehensive suite of over 40 integrated business applications. It is a very powerful alternative, offering more tools than Flowlu, but can be more complex to implement.
• Trello: A simple and intuitive Kanban-based project management tool. It is great for straightforward task management but lacks the integrated CRM and finance features of Flowlu.

Flowlu API

Yes, Flowlu provides a REST API that allows developers to create custom integrations and connect Flowlu with other software. The API enables you to programmatically manage data related to projects, tasks, CRM, finance, and other modules.

To get started with the API, you need to generate an API key. This is typically done within your Flowlu account settings, under a section like 'API Settings' or 'Integrations'. You will need to create a new 'Application' to receive your API Key and Authentication Code.

Here is a basic example of how to make an API request using cURL to get a list of tasks:

curl -X GET \
  'https://youraccount.flowlu.com/api/v1/tasks' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json'

Replace youraccount.flowlu.com with your Flowlu domain and YOUR_API_TOKEN with your generated API token. The full API documentation is available on the Flowlu website for developers.

Flowlu Affiliate program

Flowlu offers a partner program for those who wish to promote the software and earn commissions. As a Flowlu partner, you can earn a recurring commission for every new customer you refer who subscribes to a paid plan. The commission is typically a percentage of the subscription revenue generated from your referrals.

To join the program, you need to apply through the 'Partners' page on the Flowlu website. Once your application is approved, you will receive a unique referral link and access to a partner dashboard where you can track your clicks, referrals, and earnings. Payments are usually made through methods like PayPal or bank transfer once you reach a minimum payout threshold. This program is suitable for bloggers, consultants, and agencies who work with businesses that could benefit from Flowlu.