Accessing the Customer Portal
How customers view documents
At a Glance
- Share links are secure URLs that open one specific document: no login required
- Customer Portal links show agreement details on Starter and full documents on Enhanced
- Customers receive share links via email, or you can share either link type directly via text/chat
- Links work on any device with a web browser
How your customers reach and use WorkSnap Pro's two link-based sharing options: single-document share links, and the multi-document Customer Portal.
Share Links vs. the Customer Portal
WorkSnap Pro has two different kinds of customer-facing link. Both are secure, hard-to-guess URLs that require no login - but they open different things:
- Share links open one specific document (an invoice, estimate, or change order). You generate one from the Get Share Link action on that document, and a fresh one is created automatically whenever you email a document to a customer.
- The Customer Portal is one link per customer that opens a dashboard of everything you've sent them - all their estimates and invoices, plus their running balance. You generate it from the action on the customer's detail page that copies their portal link. The document dashboard requires Enhanced. Starter shows agreement details only; Free does not include the portal. Existing links follow the current plan. Individual document share links are separate.
Most of this article covers share links, since that's what a customer opens whenever you send or share an individual document. See Customer Portal for how the Portal dashboard works, and the Through the Customer Portal section below for how the two connect.
What a Share Link Is
Share links are secure URLs that give customers direct access to one document. Each link:
- Opens a specific document (invoice, estimate, or change order)
- Requires no login or password
- Works on any device with a web browser
- Is unique and hard to guess
How Customers Receive Share Links
Email Delivery
When you send a document, customers receive an email containing:
- Subject line - Indicates document type and your business name
- Document summary - Amount, date, and key details
- View button - Opens the document (a fresh share link)
- Your branding - Logo and contact information
Manual Link Sharing
You can also share a document's link directly, without emailing it:
- Open the invoice, estimate, or change order
- Click Get Share Link
- Click Copy Link in the dialog that opens
- Send it via text message, chat, or other method
- Customer clicks link to access
Portal links, by contrast, aren't emailed automatically - you generate and send one manually from the customer's detail page. See Customer Portal for the steps.
Opening a Share Link
When a customer clicks a share link:
- Browser opens - Works in any modern browser
- Document loads - Shows full document details
- Actions available - Pay, approve, download, etc.
- No login required - Immediate access
What Customers See
The document view displays:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Your logo | Company branding at top |
| Document details | Number, date, amounts |
| Line items | Full breakdown of charges |
| Action buttons | Pay Now, Approve, Download |
| Contact info | How to reach you |
Opening a Customer Portal Link
When a customer clicks their portal link, they land on a dashboard rather than a single document:
- Browser opens - Works in any modern browser
- Dashboard loads - Shows estimate/invoice counts, total balance due, recent activity, and lists of their estimates and invoices
- No login required - Immediate access
- Click into a document - Selecting any estimate or invoice opens that document's own view (the same view a share link opens), where Pay, Approve/Decline, and Download are available
See Customer Portal for full details on what the dashboard shows.
Viewing Invoices
When a customer opens an invoice link:
Invoice Information Displayed
- Invoice number and date
- Due date
- Your business name and contact
- Customer billing information
- Itemized list of charges
- Subtotal, taxes, and total
- Amount paid (if any)
- Balance due
Available Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Pay Now | Make a payment (if online payments enabled) |
| Download PDF | Save a copy of the invoice |
| Print the invoice | |
| Contact | Send a message about the invoice |
Invoice Status Indicators
Customers see their invoice status:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Due | Payment expected by due date |
| Paid | Fully paid |
| Partial | Some payment received, balance remaining |
| Overdue | Past due date, payment needed |
Viewing Estimates
When a customer opens an estimate link:
Estimate Information Displayed
- Estimate number and date
- Valid until date (expiration)
- Your business information
- Customer information
- Scope of work details
- Itemized pricing
- Total estimate amount
- Deposit required (if any)
- Terms and conditions
Available Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Approve | Accept and sign the estimate |
| Decline | Reject the estimate |
| Download PDF | Save a copy |
| Ask a Question | Send you a message |
Estimate Status Indicators
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Awaiting customer decision |
| Approved | Customer accepted |
| Declined | Customer rejected |
| Expired | Past valid date |
Viewing Change Orders
When a customer opens a change order link:
Change Order Information
- Original estimate reference
- Changes to scope
- Price adjustments (additions/removals)
- New total if approved
- Reason for changes
Available Actions
- Approve - Accept the changes
- Decline - Reject the changes
- Download PDF - Save a copy
- Ask a Question - Request clarification
Downloading Documents
Customers can save PDF copies of any document:
How to Download
- Open the document link
- Click Download PDF or the download icon
- PDF saves to device
- Open with any PDF reader
PDF Contents
Downloaded PDFs include:
- Full document details
- Your branding
- All line items
- Totals and calculations
- Terms (if applicable)
- Professional formatting
Uses for Downloaded PDFs
Customers download PDFs for:
- Record keeping
- Expense reports
- Tax documentation
- Sharing with others (spouse, accountant)
- Printing
Mobile Portal Experience
Both share links and the Customer Portal work on phones and tablets:
Mobile Features
- Responsive design adapts to screen size
- Touch-friendly buttons
- Easy scrolling through line items
- Signature works on touchscreen
- Payment forms optimized for mobile
Best Experience
For best mobile experience:
- Use latest browser version
- Rotate to landscape for detailed views
- Stable internet connection recommended
- Allow pop-ups if prompted for payment
Link Security
How Links Are Secured
| Security Feature | Protection Provided |
|---|---|
| Unique tokens | Each link has a random, unguessable code |
| HTTPS encryption | All data encrypted in transit |
| No stored passwords | Nothing to steal or phish |
| Limited scope | A share link shows only its one document; a portal link shows only that one customer's documents |
| Expiration | Some share links expire after set time; portal links stay active for that customer |
Customer Responsibilities
Customers should:
- Not share links publicly
- Not forward to unintended recipients
- Bookmark or save links if needed again
- Request new link if concerned about security
Link Expiration
When Share Links Expire
| Document Type | Expiration Behavior |
|---|---|
| Estimates | May expire when estimate expires |
| Invoices | Generally active until paid |
| Change orders | May expire with linked estimate |
Portal links aren't document-specific, so they aren't affected by any single estimate or invoice expiring or being paid.
If a Link Doesn't Work
When customers encounter an expired or invalid share link:
- Contact you to request a new link
- You can resend the document
- New link is generated automatically
If a portal link doesn't work, confirm the customer is using the exact link from their customer detail page, or copy and send it again.
Viewing History
What a customer can see about their document history depends on which link they're using:
Through the Customer Portal
The Customer Portal dashboard shows:
- All invoices sent to them, with status and balance
- All estimates sent to them, with status
- Their total outstanding balance across all invoices
The Customer Portal is available on certain plans - check Settings > Billing. Generate a customer's portal link from the action on their detail page; see Customer Portal for the steps.
Through Individual Share Links
Each share link shows:
- That specific document only
- Payment status for invoices
- Approval status for estimates
What Happens After Viewing
For Invoices
When a customer views an invoice:
- Invoice status may update to "Viewed"
- You may receive notification
- View is tracked for your records
For Estimates
When a customer views an estimate:
- View is tracked
- Estimate awaits their action (approve/decline)
- You may receive notification
Troubleshooting Access Issues
Link Not Working
If the link doesn't open:
- Check for typos if manually entered
- Try clicking directly from email (don't copy/paste)
- Clear browser cache
- Try different browser
- Request new link
Page Won't Load
If the portal page won't load:
- Check internet connection
- Refresh the page
- Disable ad blockers temporarily
- Try incognito/private mode
- Try different device
Wrong Document Showing
If unexpected content appears:
- Verify the link is from you
- May be viewing old/different document
- Request correct link
Tips for Business Owners
Helping Customers Access Documents
- Test links yourself - Send test documents to yourself first
- Clear subject lines - Help emails avoid spam filters
- Provide instructions - Tell customers what to expect
- Be available - Respond quickly to access questions
- Resend promptly - If link issues, resend immediately
Tracking Document Views
You can see when customers view documents:
- Check document detail page
- View tracking shows date/time
- Helps with follow-up timing
Previous: Customer Portal Next: Making a Payment
What Happens Next
- 1Customer clicks the link and the document (or portal dashboard) loads in their browser
- 2Actions like Pay, Approve, or Download are available on the individual document view
- 3Document status updates in your dashboard when customers engage
Common Questions
- What if a customer says the link doesn't work?
- Ask them to try a different browser or device. You can also resend the document (for a share link) or copy a fresh link from their customer detail page (for a portal link).
- Do portal links expire?
- Share links generally remain active, though a cancelled invoice or an expired estimate can limit what they show. Customer Portal links follow the organization's current plan and the link's expiry or revocation status.
- Can customers bookmark the link?
- Yes, they can bookmark or save either a share link or a portal link for future access.
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