Graphic design clients without the scattered feedback, endless revisions, or late payments
Arkathos is business software for graphic designers and small design studios. It keeps client feedback and approvals in one place, count revision rounds against your contract, and send the deposit and final invoices on time, with your books in QuickBooks or Zoho Books.
- Feedback spread across five email threadsOne place for approvalsClients review proofs, comment, and approve from one portal link, and every sign-off is recorded.
- Round six of a two-round projectRevision limits that holdRounds are counted on every project, and going past the limit drafts a paid change order instead of free work.
- Starting work before the deposit landsDeposits and final invoicesThe deposit invoice goes out when the contract is signed, and the balance goes out the moment the client approves.
Also: proposals & contracts · discovery-call booking · inbox triage · studio marketing · books synced to QuickBooks or Zoho Books · plans from $39/mo
Sound familiar?
The design is the fun part. It's everything around it that eats your week.
Feedback is scattered everywhere
Notes arrive by email, text, and DM, and "which version did they approve?" turns into a search party.
The "one small tweak" that never ends
Round three becomes round six, and the extra hours come straight out of your profit.
Chasing deposits and final payments
Work starts before the deposit lands, and the final invoice sits unpaid after the files go out.
Your studio's back office
These are the agents designers lean on most. Every plan includes all 16.
- CRM
Sentinel
Tracks every inquiry from first email to signed project, with deadlines, follow-ups, and how many revision rounds each job has used.
- Documents
Scribe
Builds proposals and design contracts from your templates, with usage rights and revision limits, signed online.
- Client portal
Client Portal
One link where clients review proofs, leave comments, and approve, instead of five email threads.
- Finance
Treasury
Sends the deposit invoice up front and the balance on approval, runs monthly retainers, and syncs to QuickBooks or Zoho Books.
- Scheduling
Quartermaster
Lets new leads book a discovery call straight into your calendar.
- Email
Courier
Sorts your inbox by client and drafts replies to the routine emails.
- Marketing
Herald
Schedules posts of finished work and keeps your studio easy to find online.
- Compliance
Watchtower
Tracks your business registration, annual report, and insurance renewals.
A project day with Arkathos
From inquiry to paid invoice without opening a spreadsheet.
- Lead to call. An overnight inquiry for a restaurant rebrand books a discovery call for Thursday.
- Proposal out. Scribe drafts the proposal and contract from your template; it's signed by lunch and the 50% deposit invoice goes out.
- Round two approved. The client signs off on the logo in the portal; Sentinel shows 2 of 3 included rounds used.
- Extra round requested. The client asks for a fourth round, and Arkathos drafts a change order instead of you eating the hours.
- Files out, invoice out. Final files are approved and the balance invoice goes out automatically.
Registrations and renewals Watchtower tracks
Design businesses don't need many licenses, which is exactly why the few they need get forgotten.
| What | Who issues it | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Business registration and annual report | Your state's business filing office | Yearly in most states |
| DBA / trade name registration | State or county | Renewal varies by state |
| Local business license or home occupation permit | Your city or town | Usually yearly where required |
| Sales tax registration | State revenue department | If you sell printed products or taxable digital goods |
| Professional liability (E&O) insurance | Your insurer | Yearly |
| General liability insurance | Your insurer | Yearly |
| Workers' comp insurance | Insurer / state | Yearly, once you have employees |
Requirements vary by state and town. This list covers common ones and isn't legal advice; confirm with your local office.
Works with the tools you already use
Keep your design tools and your bookkeeping. Arkathos runs the client side of the business and keeps your books in sync.
QuickBooks Online
At launchYour books stay in QuickBooks; invoices and expenses sync both ways.
Zoho Books
At launchBooks, invoices, and contacts, plus payroll totals from Zoho Payroll.
Gusto
Coming soonPayroll and contractor history for labor costs and 1099 tracking.
Avalara
Coming soonAddress-level sales tax on the invoices Arkathos creates.
QuickBooks is a trademark of Intuit Inc.; Zoho Books and Zoho Payroll of Zoho Corporation; Gusto of Gusto, Inc.; Avalara of Avalara, Inc. Arkathos is not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies.
Plans from $39/mo. Every agent included. Add-ons: Business Phone for texting and an AI receptionist, and Books & Payroll with Zoho.
Compare plansGraphic design business questions
What is the best software to run a graphic design business?
Most designers stitch together a CRM, a contract tool, an invoicing app, and email. Arkathos puts inquiries, proposals, contracts, client approvals, revision tracking, invoices, and studio marketing in one place, with your books synced to QuickBooks or Zoho Books.
How do I stop scope creep as a graphic designer?
Put the number of included revision rounds in your contract, count rounds as you go, and quote extra rounds as a paid change order. Arkathos tracks rounds on each project and drafts the change order when a client goes past the limit.
Should graphic designers take a deposit?
Many designers take 30–50% up front before starting, with the balance due on approval or delivery. It protects your time and filters out clients who aren't committed. Arkathos sends the deposit invoice when the contract is signed.
Do graphic designers charge sales tax?
It depends on your state and what you deliver. Printed materials are usually taxable, design services often aren't, and digital files vary by state. Check with your accountant; Arkathos tracks what you sell so the numbers are ready.
How do I get clients to approve designs faster?
Give them one place to review, comment, and approve, with a clear deadline for each round. Arkathos's client portal keeps every version and comment together and records each sign-off.
How much does Arkathos cost?
Plans run from $39/mo for one seat to $499/mo for ten, with every agent included. Texting and the AI receptionist are a Business Phone add-on. You can start with a 14-day free trial on Launch.
More time designing. Less time chasing.
Set up your studio in minutes and send your next proposal from Arkathos.
Start free Ask about setup