You're Switching from HoneyBook.
Here's Why Set Designers Choose Nexa.

HoneyBook
$39/mo
$468/year — every year, forever
Nexa
$279
Once. Own it forever.
or 3 payments of $99
Break even in 7.2 months. Then it's free forever.
"Switched from HoneyBook after the last price increase. Nexa does everything I needed for $279. Wish I'd done it sooner."
— Verified Set Designer, former HoneyBook customer

The Bottom Line

Set Designers on HoneyBook pay $39/month — $468/year. Over three years, that's $1,570. Nexa is $279 once. Break-even runs about 7.2 months. The median Set Designer earns $45,000/year, so HoneyBook's annual cost is roughly 1.0% of typical revenue — every year, forever.

Key Numbers

$45,000
Median Set Designer income
3.5%
Typical SaaS spend as % of revenue
7.2 mo
Break-even vs HoneyBook
$1,291
3-year savings switching to Nexa

What HoneyBook Is Costing You

The Damage

HoneyBook monthly $39/mo
Annual drain $468/yr
Year 2 (11.4% SaaS inflation) $521
Year 3 $581
3-year total $1,570

That's $1,570 gone. And you don't own anything. Stop paying, lose access.

Your HoneyBook subscription has cost you $0.00 since you opened this page.

Why Set Designers Leave HoneyBook

✗89% price increase in February 2025
✗Payment processing fees add up
✗Limited geographic availability
✗Team member caps on lower tiers
✗Not suited for complex workflows
✗My least favorite thing is the price. As a solo entrepreneur, budget is tight and the barrier to entry is around $40 a m
✗89% price hike - is it still worth it to stay or switch?
Set Designers are leaving HoneyBook every week.

You're not the only one who's had enough.

Why This Matters for Set Designers

Most days begin at the drafting station, refining a ground plan to the actual theater: I'm checking wing space for the storage of moving pieces, the fly-rail line set schedule for what can hang, and sightlines from the worst seat in the house so the back row isn't staring at a masking flat. The director loves the second-act reveal, but the scenic shop just sent labor hours that blow the build budget, so I spend the morning value-engineering — keeping the moment, losing the weight and the dollars. After lunch I'm in a production meeting with the lighting designer and the technical director: my upstage wall is exactly where she wants a backlight boom, so we negotiate a gap she can shoot through. I update the model in SketchUp so everyone's looking at the same thing. Late afternoon I cut a quick scale model of the tricky platform unit, because foamcore in my hand tells me things the screen won't — whether the stairs read, whether an actor can exit cleanly. I draft paint elevations for the scenic artist and note the door hardware. Tech week is coming, and I know the notes will pile up the moment real bodies move on real platforms.

Set Designers face unique challenges: Designing to a real stage's fixed dimensions, sightlines, wing space, and fly-rail capacity — a gorgeous set that doesn't clear the proscenium is useless. The build budget and the scenic-shop labor hours never match the director's vision, and the value-engineering conversation falls on the designer. Coordinating with lighting, sound, and the technical director so a set piece doesn't block an instrument, a speaker, or a quick scene change. Tech week changes — a set piece that's too heavy to move in the blackout, a door that doesn't latch, a platform that flexes — landing days before opening. On top of all that, HoneyBook charges $39/month ($468/year) — money that comes directly from your revenue. The median Set Designer earns $45,000/year. Software at $468/year is a meaningful percentage of that income, every year, forever. And you do not own anything.

Your Vectorworks or AutoCAD is yours. You bought it once. Nexa works the same way — $279 once for invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, and full accounting. All connected. All offline-capable. You own it like you own your tools.

Your Full Stack Cost

HoneyBook is just one piece. What else are you losing money on?

Want this breakdown emailed to you?

Your exact HoneyBook cost, full stack total, and what switching saves. 10 seconds.

"I was paying HoneyBook $39/month and didn't question it until I did the math. $1,570 over 3 years for tools I don't even own. Nexa was $279. Once. Done."
— Set Designer business owner

What You Get Instead

Feature HoneyBook Nexa
Invoicing ✓ ✓
Scheduling ✗ ✓
CRM ✗ ✓
Time Tracking ✗ ✓
Full Accounting ✗ ✓ (SIMPL)
Task Management ✗ ✓
Price $39/mo forever $279 once
or 3 × $99
3-Year Cost $1,570 $279
Stop paying? Lose everything Keep everything forever

Switching Takes 1-2 Days

Most set designers are fully switched before the weekend.

1

Export your data

Go to Company Settings → export contacts and projects. Download templates separately.

2

Set up Nexa

15-minute setup. Import your contacts and recreate your key templates.

3

Parallel run

Run both for 1-2 weeks. Transition active projects after they complete.

4

Cancel HoneyBook

Cancel before renewal. Save any contract templates as PDFs.

✓ Run both in parallel. Cancel HoneyBook when you're confident. Zero risk.

What set designers actually deal with

A day in the life of a set designer

Most days begin at the drafting station, refining a ground plan to the actual theater: I'm checking wing space for the storage of moving pieces, the fly-rail line set schedule for what can hang, and sightlines from the worst seat in the house so the back row isn't staring at a masking flat. The director loves the second-act reveal, but the scenic shop just sent labor hours that blow the build budget, so I spend the morning value-engineering — keeping the moment, losing the weight and the dollars. After lunch I'm in a production meeting with the lighting designer and the technical director: my upstage wall is exactly where she wants a backlight boom, so we negotiate a gap she can shoot through. I update the model in SketchUp so everyone's looking at the same thing. Late afternoon I cut a quick scale model of the tricky platform unit, because foamcore in my hand tells me things the screen won't — whether the stairs read, whether an actor can exit cleanly. I draft paint elevations for the scenic artist and note the door hardware. Tech week is coming, and I know the notes will pile up the moment real bodies move on real platforms.

The tools a working set designer actually owns

Local set designers on Nexa

Real set designers near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a set designer? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every set designer on Nexa →

FAQ

Is Nexa really a HoneyBook replacement for set designers?

For solo operators and small teams (1-5), yes. Nexa includes invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting. HoneyBook may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.

$279 seems like a lot.

It's $7.75/month over 3 years. HoneyBook is $39/month — that's $1,570 over 3 years. Which is more? And if you'd rather split it, Nexa is also available as 3 payments of $99.

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.

What if I don't like it?

30-day money-back guarantee. Full refund. If Nexa doesn't save you $500 in year one, you get every penny back.

Can I import my HoneyBook data?

Export your data from HoneyBook as CSV, import into Nexa in about 5 minutes.

Set Designers in Torrance

The average solo operator there spends about $3,240/year on software — and Set Designer face their own version of that math. CA state licensing requirements apply.

Numbers reflect typical solo operators in the Torrance metro. Your situation will vary.

If You Need These — Nexa Has Them

Specific gaps Set Designers run into with HoneyBook, and what Nexa does instead.

✗
HoneyBook gapLimited for product-based businesses
✓
NexaBuilt into Nexa’s $279 once purchase — no separate add-on.
✗
HoneyBook gapNo inventory management
✓
NexaInventory tracking included for product and service businesses.
✗
HoneyBook gapBasic reporting
✓
NexaP&L, balance sheet, and 21 reports — built in.
"HoneyBook raised prices again and I was done. Found Nexa — $279 once. I own it. No more 'we're updating our pricing' emails. Best business decision this year."
— Set Designer, switched from HoneyBook

Stop Losing $468/Year to HoneyBook

$1,570 over 3 years. Or $279 once (or 3 × $99). Own your tools.

Get Nexa — $279 Once
or 3 payments of $99
✓ 30-day money-back guarantee — save $500 or full refund

Still want HoneyBook?

We think Nexa is the better deal at $279 once vs $39/mo. But if you've decided on HoneyBook, here's the link. No hard feelings.

HoneyBook — $39/mo →

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