Blog/Author
Marlon Misra
Cofounder/CEO at Assembly
193 posts
How to retain clients for your agency (6 strategies)
During the past couple of years, I've had (almost) perfect client retention. Here is my guide on how to retain clients for the long term.
Marlon MisraMay 22, 202410 best Liscio alternatives for service businesses in 2025
Looking for a Liscio alternative to help you run your accounting business? Here are our top picks for business owners in 2025.
Marlon MisraMay 20, 2024Custom visibility for apps
With custom visibility for apps, you can dynamically control which clients have access to an app. This lets you provide differentiated levels of service to clients. For example, you might only allow clients with custom field plan = premium access to schedule time with you (e.g. access to the Calendly App) and message you (e.g. access to our Messages App). You can also create dynamic onboarding experiences. For example, a new lead may need to sign a contract before they can access other parts of
Marlon MisraMay 2, 2024How to start a staffing agency in 7 steps (with examples)
Explore our comprehensive guide on how to start a staffing agency. Learn about examples, niche selection, financing, and effective marketing strategies.
Marlon MisraApr 30, 202410 tools you need in your marketing agency tech stack
Looking to build out your marketing agency tech stack? Here are my 10 favorite tools I use ever single week to run my content marketing agency.
Marlon MisraApr 19, 202410 best Indy alternatives to run your service business
Looking for the best Indy alternatives to help you manage your service business? From client onboarding to sending invoices, here are our top picks!
Marlon MisraApr 15, 20247 best consulting contract templates for any service
Discover the best consulting contract templates to help you look professional when signing new clients for your service business.
Marlon MisraMar 28, 2024Introducing App Store and Platform
At Assembly, we set out almost 4 years ago to build the best software suite for creative and professional service businesses. In the beginning, we focused on the foundation and must-have features like a flexible CRM, payments, messaging, and contract management. But every service business is unique and we learned quickly that there was no way to build everything that our customers wanted fast enough. The only way forward was to build a true platform and developer ecosystem. Today we’re excited
Marlon MisraMar 28, 20247 best freelance contract templates for any service
Ready to sign your first client? Here are seven different freelance contract templates you can use to make sure you don't run into any issues.
Marlon MisraMar 27, 202410 best AI consulting firms and companies in 2024
Looking for examples of the best AI consulting firms? Here are our top picks based on a range of different industries and services.
Marlon MisraMar 25, 202410 best marketing agency software built for growth
Looking for the best marketing agency software to help you get more clients, run your business, and deliver your services? Here are our top picks!
Marlon MisraMar 19, 2024How to use AI in accounting to run your firm efficiently
The future of accounting is bright. In this article, I'll go over what the AI accounting firms of tomorrow will look like and how to prepare your firm.
Marlon MisraMar 8, 202420+ best law firm websites and examples to learn from
Looking for some inspiration for your law firm website? We put together a list of examples you can learn from. Discover the best law firm websites!
Marlon MisraMar 1, 20242023 Winter Release
We’re excited to announce the Winter Release 2023. Watch the video to see a full product walkthrough of new features or read about them below. ⬇️ Contracts App There are dozens of eSignature solutions out there, but we wanted to build something better – something that is tightly integrated with the rest of the Assembly Platform. The Contracts App is just that – it’s the 6th addition to our app marketplace and is joining our Messaging App, Billing App, Files App, Forms App, and Helpdesk App.
Marlon MisraJan 19, 2024333+ unique business name ideas for startups of all kind
Discover over 333 unique business name ideas for startups in various industries. Craft a memorable brand identity with expert tips for success.
Marlon MisraJan 17, 2024How to start a social media marketing agency in 2025
In this article, I'll show you how to start a social media marketing agency in 2025. You'll learn everything from finding clients to getting paid.
Marlon MisraDec 29, 2023How to start a virtual bookkeeping business (In 5 Steps)
You’ve decided to take the leap and start your own virtual bookkeeping business. That’s great, but where do you begin? Learn the basics here.
Marlon MisraDec 26, 2023How to get web design clients for your service business
Discover proven strategies on how to get web design clients. Boost your business with our expert tips on portfolio creation, outreach, and more!
Marlon MisraDec 19, 2023New client onboarding questionnaire template (13 questions)
Here's a simple client onboarding questionnaire template you can use to set new clients up for success.
Marlon MisraDec 7, 2023Announcing Assembly on Make
Starting today, Assembly is available and fully supported on Make. Now, alongside our existing API and Zapier capabilities, you can harness the power of Make's visual programming to automate workflows between Assembly and the apps you use daily. Check out our Make profile here. Why we built Assembly on Make Previously, the only no-code tool available for creating automations we supported was Zapier. In order to give you more flexibility when it comes to automations, we decided to release all
Marlon MisraNov 8, 2023Secure client file sharing portal with Assembly
Did you know file sharing with clients comes with potential risks? Learn how secure file sharing portals work and how to choose a secure service.
Marlon MisraOct 20, 20234 steps to automate your client intake forms
Learn how to streamline your firm's workflow with our guide on creating an automated intake form using Assembly's form builder.
Marlon MisraOct 12, 2023How to send an email proposal to a new client (4 samples)
Master the art of sending compelling email proposals to clients. Uncover tips, examples, common mistakes, and how Assembly can simplify the process.
Marlon MisraOct 6, 2023Assembly 2023 Fall Release
We’re excited to announce the Assembly Fall Release 2023, a collection of features we’re releasing today or shipped over the last few weeks. Log in with Google for clients One of our product principles at Assembly is to remove as much friction as possible for your clients. In line with that, today we rolled out Sign up and Log in with Google and enabled it for clients in all portals. Google authentication works seamlessly for new clients and also for clients that previously set up with an ema
Marlon MisraSep 26, 2023How we built it: Reply via email
Many startups build chat capabilities into their products. For example, most marketplace, community, and social products provide users with a way to communicate with one another. At Assembly, we make client portal software, and an important use case for us is to let service businesses communicate with clients and vice versa using our web-based Messaging App. In the first iteration of the service, when users sent messages in our web app, we sent out messaging email notifications to inform recipi
Marlon MisraSep 19, 2023Working backwards from the customer experience
Startups are often founded on a small number of product insights that significantly shape their trajectory. In this post I wanted to share what one of those early insights was for us. TLDR: While most startups prioritize just their immediate customers, we felt that there was an important and under-appreciated opportunity to prioritize our customers’ customers instead. How we came to this realization Assembly wasn’t the first company my cofounder Neil and I started. We’ve done so before, and
Marlon MisraSep 18, 202310 client acquisition strategies that work (with examples)
An expert shares proven-to-work client acquisition strategies and shows how you can implement them to grow your business.
Marlon MisraSep 1, 2023Recurring revenue business models: what you need to know
How to transition from a one-time sale model to a recurring revenue business model.
Marlon MisraAug 31, 2023What is a client portal and what features to look for?
Client portal software helps professional service firms manage their clients and grow their business. Learn how client portals work and how to set one up.
Marlon MisraAug 9, 2023What is client retention? 6 strategies you can learn from
Client retention is arguably the most important thing in business, but few businesses know how to keep their most loyal customers. Here are some tips.
Marlon MisraJul 26, 2023How to collect online credit card payments
Payment processing can be intimidating for small business owners. Learn how to collect online credit card payments the right way.
Marlon MisraJul 24, 2023How Assembly helps you improve client retention
In this article, we'll show you how Assembly can improve client retention for your agency or firm.
Marlon MisraJun 21, 20235 Ways to Automate Client Portals With Assembly and Zapier
Unlock the power of automation for your service business with Assembly and Zapier. Learn 5 ways to streamline operations and enhance your client services.
Marlon MisraJun 14, 2023Introducing Assembly Automations
We’re excited to launch Assembly Automations, a set of pre-built workflows that help you save time, reduce human error, and overall run a more streamlined business. Jump right in and check out the new automation templates or read on to learn more about our motivation for this release and the rundown of new features. Also, don’t forget to join us for a live webinar where our experts will demo Assembly Automations. Why we built Assembly Automations When we first launched Assembly, we set to pro
Marlon MisraJun 13, 2023Introducing Forms 2.0
We’re excited to announce a completely redesigned Forms App that comes with support for always-on mode, multiple submissions per client, and more. Along with the product update, we’ve also redesigned our API for forms so that you can more easily set up workflows that begin with a forms submission. Watch the product walkthrough A more powerful & intuitive design We’ve redesigned the Forms App for both internal and client users. For internal users, when you click into a form you’re now greete
Marlon MisraJun 6, 2023How to Create a Client Portal in WordPress
Discover the best client portal platforms and learn how to create a secure white-label client portal and integrate it with your WordPress website.
Marlon MisraMay 31, 2023Proposal Follow Up Email Best Practices (With Sample)
Discover the best practices of a proposal follow up email and get a sample of a follow up email you can use after sending a proposal to a client.
Marlon MisraMay 26, 2023What Is a Client Intake Form and How to Create One?
A client intake form is your first chance to impress a client. Learn how to design client intake forms that will set you apart from your competition.
Marlon MisraMay 3, 2023How to Craft the Perfect Meeting Request Email (4+ Examples)
Master the art of communication with our guide on crafting the perfect meeting request email. Explore our effective templates and real-world examples.
Marlon MisraMay 2, 202320 Best Freelance Writing Sites for Serious Writers
Discover the 20 best freelance sites for writers in 2023, offering lucrative opportunities and tips for success in your freelance writing career.
Marlon MisraApr 26, 20237 Steps to Start a Freelance Business (With a Full-Time Job)
Ready to take the leap and learn how to start a freelance business? In this article, we'll go over how you can get your freelance career started.
Marlon MisraFeb 23, 2023How to Ask for a Referral From a Client (+ Best Templates)
Some of the best clients come from personal recommendations. Learn how to ask for client referrals and discover email referral templates you can use.
Marlon MisraFeb 22, 202315 Questions To Ask Clients Before Signing a Contract
We asked the experts for the top 15 questions to ask potential clients to ensure they're a good fit for your business. Here's what they said.
Marlon MisraFeb 15, 2023Introducing Copilot 1.0 and Announcing our Series A
We started working on Copilot (previously Portal) more than two years ago to help service companies start, run, and grow their business. Today we're delighted to unveil our latest version, Copilot 1.0. With Copilot 1.0, businesses can set up a client portal that enables clients to send messages, make payments, sign contracts, access custom apps, and more. We’re also thrilled to announce our $10M Series A round (covered by TechCrunch here) which enables us to create the best possible software to
Marlon MisraJan 19, 2023Assembly 2022 Winter Release
We're excited to share details of the Assembly Winter Release – the most significant release in our company's history. It includes four major new features and hundreds of design and performance improvements. Read on! A revamped Assembly Admin The new Assembly Admin is out and you can access it by logging in on assembly.com. You'll see a refreshed look, faster loading speeds, improved search, and a better overview of everything important to your business. The client experience (i.e. , your por
Marlon MisraJan 19, 2023How To Create an Effective Value-based Pricing Strategy
Learn how to create an effective value-based pricing strategy to generate more revenue from your productized services.
Marlon MisraNov 2, 2022How to get referrals from clients (with expert tips)
The best way to tap into word-of-mouth marketing is through client referrals. Asking for referrals directly can be anxiety inducing and time consuming, which is why you need to learn how to secure client referrals without asking.
Marlon MisraNov 2, 20225 Client Communication Best Practices for Small Agencies
Customers are the lifeblood of every business. Learn how to communicate professionally with your clients and reduce conflicts as a small agency.
Marlon MisraSep 18, 2022How to hold an effective international off-site as a Series A startup
Everything we learned about doing an off-site in a far-away place with a team of 15.
Marlon MisraSep 3, 2022Assembly is now HIPAA compliant
Assembly is now HIPAA-compliant, meaning healthcare startups and consulting firms can now use our client portal software for their business operations.
Marlon MisraApr 28, 2022Assembly is now SOC 2 compliant
Assembly is now SOC 2 certified, which allows us to deliver the highest level of data security, transparency, and compliance to our customers.
Marlon MisraApr 25, 2022The Client Communication Manifesto: 6 Simple Rules to Live By
In this article, we share six simple rule that can help you improve client communication, and boost your agency's performance.
Marlon MisraMar 29, 2022Introducing Helpdesk 2.0
From 1.0 to 2.0 We released the first version of the Knowledge base module 14 months ago. At the time we believed that service businesses (agencies, law firms, etc.) all had an incredible amount of knowledge that customers were willing to pay for. We've learned a lot since then and couldn't be more excited about Knowledge base 2.0, our most important update yet. What's new in Knowledge base 2.0 A Powerful New Editor The Knowledge base now comes with a powerful rich text editor that lets yo
Marlon MisraDec 1, 2021How To Analyze Metrics To Reduce Customer Support Time
Learn metrics to monitor and tips to improve customer support.
Marlon MisraNov 30, 2021What Are Customer Billing Portals and Why You Need Them
Giving your clients access to a billing portal can save you time, increase revenues, and improve client relationships.
Marlon MisraNov 17, 2021September Highlights: Instant Bank Payments, Invoice Previews, and Multi-select Tags
In September, the Portal team focused on improvements to the Billing Module.
Marlon MisraSep 30, 2021How To Become A Successful Account Manager At An Agency
Learn what you need to know to be a successful client management professional at a marketing agency.
Marlon MisraSep 28, 2021How To Grow A Marketing Agency & Make a Meaningful Impact
Grow your marketing agency so that you can make a meaningful impact on the world.
Marlon MisraSep 22, 2021Think Outside The Dropbox: Better Alternatives For Small Teams
Learn about Dropbox alternatives here.
Marlon MisraSep 20, 2021The No-Code Movement: Benefits, Best Tools, and Predictions in 2021
The no-code movement provides a fantastic opportunity for new, fresh ideas to be brought to life.
Marlon MisraSep 3, 2021