From Cork startup to 20,000+ clients worldwide – how this Irish agency-born project manager transforms professional service teams into productivity powerhouses with client-first tools that actually understand the difference between task management and complete client operations
If you’re an agency owner juggling multiple client projects across scattered freelancers, you’ve probably wrestled with project management tools that feel like they were built by people who never had to track billable hours across three different platforms. Client communications, shifting deadlines, and scattered deliverables can make coordination feel less like management and more like conducting an orchestra where half the musicians are on different continents and the rest are playing different songs. And when it comes to managing client relationships, most systems make it feel harder than throwing a surprise party for someone who already knows about it.
That’s why Teamwork exists: to transform the chaos of agency project management into a surprisingly harmonious operation. No degree in client psychology required, just the belief that running an agency shouldn’t feel like a three-ring circus where everyone forgot the script and the tent is on fire.
Executive Summary
Product Name & Vendor
Teamwork by Teamwork.com Limited, co-founded in 2007 by Peter Coppinger and Dan Mackey in Cork, Ireland. Originally emerging from their frustrations as Basecamp users while running their web development agency Digital Crew, the founders created Teamwork Project Manager (later renamed Teamwork Projects, now simply Teamwork) specifically to address the unique challenges of managing client work. Today, Teamwork serves over 20,000 clients across 170 countries including major brands like Disney, Spotify, and HP, with a global team of over 350 employees and annual revenue exceeding $70 million following their 2021 funding round from Bregal Milestone.
Quick Overview
Teamwork is a comprehensive work and project management platform specifically designed for agencies, consultancies, and client services teams, combining project management, resource planning, client collaboration, time tracking, and billing features in a unified solution that focuses on delivering client work profitably and efficiently.
Who Should Read
Creative agencies and digital marketing teams managing multiple client projects, professional services firms requiring comprehensive project oversight, consulting organizations tracking billable hours and deliverables, design studios coordinating creative workflows, small to medium agencies seeking scalable project management solutions, operations managers optimizing team productivity, and business owners running client-focused organizations requiring integrated project management and business operations tools.
Product Snapshot
Target Audience
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Industries | Creative & digital marketing agencies, professional services & consulting, design & creative studios, web/software agencies, marketing & advertising firms, architectural & engineering firms, legal & accounting practices, and client services businesses needing project management, resource planning & client collaboration. |
| Company Sizes | Small creative teams (5–10 members) to large agency networks (hundreds of employees). Strong fit for mid-market agencies, growing creative businesses, and established consultancies seeking scalable project management without enterprise-level complexity or costs. |
| User Roles | Project managers, account directors, creative directors, team leads, operations managers, resource planners, business owners, agency principals, client services coordinators, freelancers/contractors, and finance professionals managing billable hours & project profitability. |
Deployment Options
Cloud-based SaaS platform with web application interface optimized for team collaboration, native mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling remote project management, desktop applications for time tracking, browser extensions for seamless workflow integration, offline capability with synchronization, and comprehensive API access for custom integrations with existing agency tools and systems.
Core Capabilities
Primary Features
- Comprehensive Project Management and Task Organization:
Advanced project creation with customizable workflows, hierarchical task management with subtasks and dependencies, multiple project views including lists, tables, Kanban boards, and Gantt charts, project templates for recurring client work, and milestone tracking with deadline management enabling systematic project oversight from inception to completion. - Advanced Time Tracking and Resource Management:
Sophisticated time tracking with desktop applications and mobile timers, resource scheduling and workload management, team capacity planning and allocation, billable vs. non-billable hour categorization, automatic time logging from integrated applications, and detailed productivity analytics helping agencies optimize team utilization and project profitability. - Client Collaboration and Communication Platform:
Dedicated client access with customizable permissions, branded client portals for project visibility, file sharing and proofing capabilities, client communication tools with message threading, project status updates and reporting, and feedback management systems enabling transparent client relationships while maintaining internal team coordination. - Financial Management and Billing Integration:
Project budgeting with cost tracking and alerts, automated invoice generation from tracked time, expense management and receipt capture, profitability analysis by project and client, integration with accounting systems like QuickBooks, and comprehensive financial reporting enabling agencies to maintain profitability and cash flow visibility.
Specialized Modules
- Teamwork Desk (Help Desk and Customer Support):
Integrated ticketing system for client support requests, shared inbox management for team email accounts, knowledge base creation and management, automated response systems, ticket routing and escalation workflows, and support analytics providing comprehensive customer service capabilities within the project management ecosystem. - Teamwork Chat (Team Communication):
Real-time messaging and team communication, project-specific chat channels, file sharing within conversations, video calling and screen sharing, integration with project tasks and timelines, and notification management ensuring seamless team coordination without external communication tools. - Teamwork Spaces (Knowledge Management):
Centralized knowledge base and documentation system, client onboarding resources and process documentation, template libraries and standard operating procedures, team training materials and best practices, searchable content repository, and collaborative editing capabilities supporting organizational knowledge management and client services standardization. - Teamwork CRM (Client Relationship Management):
Client and prospect database management, deal pipeline tracking and sales forecasting, contact history and communication logging, integration with project management for seamless client-to-project workflow, proposal creation and tracking, and sales reporting providing comprehensive client lifecycle management.
Integrations
Teamwork provides extensive integration capabilities with over 100 popular business applications including CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce), communication tools (Slack, Microsoft Teams), cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive), accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks), design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma), development platforms (GitHub, GitLab), and marketing automation tools enabling seamless workflow integration.
Value Proposition
Business Impact
Dramatically Improved Client Project Delivery and Profitability:
Agencies consistently achieve better project outcomes through comprehensive project visibility, accurate time tracking preventing revenue leakage, improved resource allocation reducing project overruns, and enhanced client communication leading to higher satisfaction and retention rates, with many organizations reporting 20-30% improvement in project profitability.
Enhanced Team Productivity and Collaboration:
Platform eliminates common agency challenges through centralized project information, streamlined approval workflows, reduced email dependency, automated routine tasks, and comprehensive project templates, resulting in significant time savings and improved team coordination across distributed creative teams.
Superior Client Experience and Relationship Management:
Integrated client portals, transparent project communication, professional project presentations, efficient feedback collection and implementation, and comprehensive project documentation create exceptional client experiences leading to improved retention, referrals, and project scope expansion.
Operational Efficiency and Business Intelligence:
Comprehensive reporting and analytics provide insights into team performance, project profitability, resource utilization, and client relationships enabling data-driven business decisions, strategic planning, and continuous operational improvement supporting sustainable agency growth.
ROI & Cost Savings
Immediate Operational Benefits:
Agencies typically achieve measurable improvements within 30-60 days through reduced project management overhead, improved time tracking accuracy, streamlined client communication, and elimination of multiple software subscriptions, with many organizations reporting complete ROI recovery within 6-12 months of implementation.
Long-Term Strategic Value:
Investment in comprehensive project management creates sustainable competitive advantages through improved project delivery consistency, enhanced client relationships, scalable operational processes, and strategic business intelligence enabling confident business growth and market expansion.
Hidden Cost Reductions:
Organizations eliminate expenses associated with project overruns, revenue leakage from untracked time, inefficient resource allocation, multiple software subscriptions, and administrative overhead while gaining competitive advantages through professional client presentation and comprehensive project documentation.
Competitive Differentiators
Unlike generic project management tools or basic task trackers, Teamwork provides a comprehensive solution specifically designed for client services organizations, offering superior client collaboration features, integrated financial management, extensive customization options, and proven results across agency environments, positioning it as the definitive project management platform for businesses serious about delivering client work profitably.
AI & Technology Deep Dive
Teamwork utilizes advanced project management technology and intelligent automation specifically optimized for client services organizations, team collaboration, and business operations while maintaining security, scalability, and performance standards across diverse agency environments.
- Intelligent Project Planning and Resource Optimization:
Advanced algorithms providing project timeline optimization, resource allocation recommendations, workload balancing across team members, and predictive project analytics enabling strategic project management and resource planning based on historical performance data. - Smart Time Tracking and Productivity Analytics:
Automated time tracking with intelligent project categorization, productivity pattern analysis, billable hour optimization, and comprehensive reporting providing insights into team performance and project profitability without intrusive monitoring. - Advanced Client Collaboration Technology:
Sophisticated client portal systems with secure access controls, real-time project updates, intelligent notification management, and seamless feedback integration enabling professional client relationships while maintaining team productivity and project momentum. - Comprehensive Integration and Workflow Automation:
Sophisticated API connectivity enabling seamless integration with popular agency tools, automated workflow triggers, project template intelligence, and comprehensive data synchronization ensuring unified business operations across multiple platforms and applications.
User Experience
Interface & Usability
Intuitive Project Management Interface:
Teamwork features clean, professional interfaces with multiple project visualization options, drag-and-drop task management, customizable project dashboards, streamlined navigation between projects and clients, and consistent user experience across web and mobile platforms ensuring productive adoption across diverse skill levels.
Comprehensive Client Portal Experience:
Dedicated client interfaces providing project visibility without overwhelming complexity, branded portal customization matching agency identity, selective information sharing based on client needs, intuitive feedback and approval workflows, and mobile-responsive design enabling professional client interactions.
Seamless Multi-Platform Consistency:
Platform maintains consistent functionality across web applications, mobile apps, and desktop tools with real-time synchronization, unified project data access, integrated time tracking across devices, and comprehensive offline capability ensuring uninterrupted productivity regardless of work environment.
Customization
Flexible Project and Workflow Configuration:
Users can customize project templates, task workflows, approval processes, client permissions, notification settings, and reporting structures according to specific agency requirements and client needs without requiring technical expertise or extensive training.
Comprehensive Branding and Client Experience Customization:
Platform supports custom branding for client portals, personalized project presentation, customizable invoice templates, branded communication templates, and tailored reporting formats enabling agencies to maintain consistent brand experience throughout client interactions.
Advanced Permission and Access Management:
Granular role-based access controls enabling precise user permissions, client access limitations, project-specific visibility settings, and team collaboration boundaries according to agency hierarchy and client confidentiality requirements while maintaining operational efficiency.
Accessibility
Teamwork provides comprehensive accessibility support including responsive web design, native mobile applications with full functionality, offline synchronization capabilities, keyboard navigation support, multi-language interface options, and inclusive design principles ensuring productive use across diverse user needs, technical capabilities, and work environments.
Security & Compliance
Teamwork implements comprehensive security and compliance measures specifically designed for client services organizations managing sensitive project data, client information, and business operations while maintaining regulatory compliance across diverse global markets and industry requirements.
Data Protection
Enterprise-Grade Security Infrastructure:
- Advanced Data Encryption:
Industry-standard encryption for data at rest and in transit with secure data centers and comprehensive backup systems - Access Control and Authentication:
Multi-factor authentication, role-based permissions, single sign-on (SSO) integration, and granular access controls - Data Privacy and GDPR Compliance:
Comprehensive GDPR compliance with data processing agreements, privacy controls, and data portability features - Regular Security Audits:
Continuous security monitoring, regular penetration testing, and compliance assessments ensuring ongoing data protection
Compliance
Comprehensive Regulatory and Industry Compliance:
- GDPR and Data Privacy:
Full European privacy regulation compliance with automated consent management, data retention controls, and comprehensive privacy protection - SOC 2 Compliance:
Independent validation of security controls and operational procedures across trust service principles with regular assessments - Industry-Specific Security:
Additional security measures for agencies working with regulated industries including healthcare, finance, and government sectors - Client Data Protection:
Comprehensive client confidentiality measures, project isolation, and secure client communication ensuring protected client information management
Pricing & Packages
Pricing Structure
Teamwork operates on transparent subscription-based pricing with monthly and annual billing options, offering significant discounts for annual commitments, and providing scalable plans that grow with agency size while delivering exceptional value compared to enterprise project management solutions and multiple point-solution subscriptions.
Plan Comparison
Teamwork Pricing Plans:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 5 users, 2 projects, basic time tracking, task management, file storage, integrations | Small teams testing platform capabilities |
| Deliver | $13.99/user/month | $9.99/user/month | Unlimited projects, team management, client users, project templates, basic reporting, time tracking | Growing agencies needing comprehensive project management |
| Grow | $25.99/user/month | $19.99/user/month | Advanced budgeting, resource scheduling, workload management, custom branding, advanced reporting, portfolio views | Established agencies requiring advanced features |
| Scale | Custom pricing | Custom pricing | Unlimited automation, advanced customization, enterprise integrations, dedicated support, advanced security | Large agencies with complex requirements |
Teamwork One Bundle:
Comprehensive solution including all Teamwork products (Projects, Desk, Chat, Spaces, CRM) with custom pricing providing complete agency management platform.
Trial & Demo Options
Teamwork offers comprehensive evaluation options including a generous free plan for up to 5 users with full core features, 30-day free trial of paid plans with complete functionality, interactive product demonstrations with agency workflow specialists, migration assistance from existing project management solutions, and dedicated customer success support ensuring thorough platform assessment.
Implementation & Onboarding
Implementation Timeline and Process:
| Phase | Timeline | Activities | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup and Configuration | Week 1 | Account creation, team setup, project template configuration, integration planning, basic training | Configured Teamwork environment ready for project testing |
| Pilot Project Deployment | Week 2-3 | Limited project testing, workflow validation, client portal setup, team training, feedback collection | Validated system with pilot project success and user acceptance |
| Full Agency Rollout | Week 4-5 | Organization-wide deployment, comprehensive training, client onboarding, process documentation | Complete platform adoption with trained teams and established workflows |
| Optimization and Enhancement | Week 6-8 | Performance monitoring, advanced feature adoption, workflow refinement, reporting setup | Optimized agency operations with maximum productivity and client satisfaction |
| Continuous Growth | Ongoing | Feature expansion, process improvement, strategic consultation, performance analysis | Long-term platform value and expanded agency capabilities |
Rapid Value Realization:
Teamwork’s intuitive design and agency-focused features enable organizations to begin productive use within days of deployment, with measurable improvements in project management typically visible within 2-4 weeks and comprehensive ROI achievement within 6-12 months.
Expert Migration and Change Management:
Organizations receive comprehensive migration assistance including project data transfer from existing systems, team training and change management support, client communication templates, and strategic implementation guidance ensuring successful adoption with immediate productivity improvements.
Support & Resources
Customer Support
Channels:
- Comprehensive Customer Support: Multi-channel assistance including email, live chat, and extensive help documentation with knowledgeable project management specialists
- Video Training Library: Extensive collection of tutorial videos covering platform features and agency workflow optimization
- Knowledge Base and Documentation: Comprehensive self-service resources with implementation guides, best practices, and troubleshooting information
- Community Forum: User community for peer learning, workflow sharing, and collaborative problem-solving
- Migration and Onboarding Support: Dedicated assistance for transitioning from other project management platforms
Hours:
Business hours support with extensive self-service resources available continuously; specialized support during implementation and workflow optimization; responsive assistance for urgent project management needs and client-critical situations.
Responsiveness:
Consistently praised customer support with knowledgeable staff providing both technical assistance and agency workflow guidance, proactive feature development based on user feedback, and responsive problem-solving approach that repeatedly differentiates Teamwork from competitors in user reviews.
Learning Resources
| Category | Key Offerings |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Agency Management Education | Project management best practices, client relationship management strategies, resource planning optimization, and agency profitability improvement through expert-led content and proven methodologies supporting agency transformation. |
| Implementation & Business Optimization Support | Customer success assistance including platform customization guidance, workflow optimization consultation, team training programs, and ongoing strategic support ensuring successful adoption and maximum business value realization throughout agency growth phases. |
| Industry-Specific Best Practices & Templates | Specialized resources for creative agencies, professional services, consulting firms, and other client services organizations including project templates, workflow examples, and operational best practices enabling rapid implementation and immediate productivity improvements. |
Customer Insights
User Ratings
Teamwork maintains strong performance across review platforms with 4.4/5 rating on Capterra based on 900+ reviews, high ratings on G2 with consistent praise for client collaboration features and comprehensive functionality, and recognition as a leading project management solution for agencies, demonstrating both user satisfaction and platform effectiveness across diverse client services requirements.
Feedback Trends
- User Demographics and Business Impact:
Teamwork serves diverse agency communities with strong concentration among creative and digital agencies, professional services firms, consulting organizations, design studios, and marketing companies. Users consistently report improved project delivery, enhanced client relationships, and successful business growth through comprehensive project management. - Positive Feedback Trends:
Users consistently praise comprehensive client collaboration features, integrated time tracking and billing, professional client portals, excellent customer support, extensive customization options, robust reporting capabilities, and successful project delivery improvement with many expressing satisfaction with enhanced agency profitability and client satisfaction. - Areas for Improvement:
Common enhancement requests include simplified pricing structure, improved mobile app functionality, enhanced integration reliability, more industry-specific templates, better offline capabilities, and streamlined onboarding process for specialized agency requirements and complex workflows. - Success Story Validation:
Agencies frequently report successful transformations including significant project delivery improvements, enhanced client satisfaction, increased profitability, and successful business growth, validating Teamwork’s market position and value proposition across diverse client services industries and organizational sizes.
Real-World Applications
Industries & Roles
Teamwork demonstrates exceptional versatility across creative and digital agencies managing complex client campaigns and deliverables, professional services firms coordinating consulting engagements and client relationships, design studios managing creative workflows and client feedback, marketing agencies executing multi-channel campaigns, web development companies managing technical projects and client communication, and consulting organizations delivering strategic projects while maintaining profitability.
The platform serves project managers orchestrating complex client deliverables, account managers maintaining client relationships and project oversight, creative directors coordinating team workflows and creative processes, operations managers optimizing resource allocation and profitability, and agency owners seeking comprehensive business management solutions.
Case Studies/Use Cases
- Multi-Client Creative Agency Transformation:
A digital marketing agency implemented Teamwork to manage 50+ concurrent client projects, achieving 35% improvement in project delivery times, 25% increase in billable hour capture, and 40% reduction in client communication overhead while maintaining exceptional client satisfaction and expanding service offerings. - Professional Services Firm Optimization:
A management consulting firm leveraged Teamwork’s resource planning and time tracking capabilities to optimize consultant utilization, resulting in 20% improvement in project profitability, enhanced client project visibility, and streamlined proposal-to-delivery workflows enabling confident business expansion. - Design Studio Client Collaboration Enhancement:
A branding and design studio utilized Teamwork’s client portal and proofing features to transform client feedback cycles, achieving 50% reduction in revision rounds, improved client satisfaction scores, and enhanced project timeline adherence while maintaining creative quality standards. - Distributed Agency Remote Work Success:
Agencies worldwide have successfully implemented Teamwork to enable effective remote collaboration, maintaining productivity and client service quality while supporting distributed teams across multiple time zones and geographic locations.
Alternatives & Market Position
Top Competitors
Teamwork competes primarily with Monday.com offering visual project management with broad appeal, Asana providing task-focused team coordination, ClickUp delivering comprehensive productivity features, Wrike focusing on enterprise project management, Basecamp emphasizing simplicity and communication, Trello offering Kanban-based organization, and various agency-specific solutions serving particular creative industry segments.
Feature & Pricing Comparison
Comprehensive Platform Comparison:
| Platform | Best For | Pricing Model | Key Strengths | Primary Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teamwork | Client services and agency work | $9.99-19.99/user/month + free plan | Comprehensive client features, integrated billing, agency focus | Higher cost, learning curve for advanced features |
| Monday.com | Visual project management across industries | $8-16/user/month | Beautiful interface, workflow automation | Generic approach, limited client collaboration |
| Asana | Task management and team coordination | $0-13.49/user/month | Simple interface, strong free plan | Limited project management, no time tracking |
| ClickUp | All-in-one productivity platform | $7-19/user/month + free plan | Comprehensive features, competitive pricing | Complexity, steep learning curve |
| Wrike | Enterprise project management | $9.80-24.80/user/month | Advanced features, scalability | Complex setup, enterprise focus |
Market Positioning Excellence:
Teamwork strategically positions itself as the comprehensive project management solution specifically designed for client services organizations, offering superior client collaboration features, integrated financial management, and agency-focused workflows that generic project management tools struggle to replicate effectively.
Strengths & Limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Client-Focused Project Management Solution: Combines project management, client collaboration, resource planning, and financial tracking tailored for client services organizations, ensuring profitability and efficiency. | Pricing Complexity and Cost Considerations for Small Teams: Can be expensive for very small teams or solo practitioners, with minimum user requirements limiting accessibility for startups and freelancers. |
| Exceptional Client Portal and Collaboration Features: Branded portals, granular permissions, and seamless client feedback integration provide superior collaboration and professional client experiences. | Learning Curve for Advanced Features and Customization: Advanced resource planning, workflows, and reporting require significant training, which may overwhelm users seeking simple solutions. |
| Proven Agency Performance and ROI: Agencies report 20–40% improvements in delivery, productivity, client satisfaction, and profitability, providing clear competitive advantages. | Mobile Application Feature Limitations: Mobile apps support only core functions and lack full desktop-level features for advanced tasks and reporting. |
| Scalable Platform Architecture with Extensive Integration: Integrates with 100+ apps, provides flexible API access, and offers modular products for building complete business management solutions without heavy technical effort. | API and Integration Consistency Issues: Occasional API reliability and sync issues can affect workflow automation, especially in complex setups. |
| Outstanding Customer Support and Agency Expertise: Support team understands agency workflows, with responsive development and educational resources designed for client services and creative teams. | Limited Industry-Specific Customization: May not meet the needs of highly regulated industries or organizations requiring deeply specialized workflows. |
Final Assessment
Best Fit For
Teamwork is exceptionally well-suited for agencies and client services organizations across creative, digital, professional services, and consulting industries, making it ideal for teams prioritizing client collaboration and project profitability, growing agencies requiring scalable project management, organizations seeking comprehensive client relationship management, businesses needing integrated time tracking and billing, and creative teams wanting professional client presentation capabilities without sacrificing internal productivity.
Summary Verdict
Teamwork represents a compelling success story in agency-focused project management technology, demonstrating how specialized solutions designed for specific industry needs can deliver superior value compared to generic platforms. The company’s evolution from frustrated Basecamp users to serving 20,000+ clients worldwide, coupled with its $70 million funding and proven track record across diverse agency environments, validates its position as the definitive project management solution for client services organizations.
For agencies and professional services firms committed to delivering exceptional client work while maintaining profitability and operational efficiency, Teamwork offers an unmatched combination of client collaboration features, integrated business management tools, comprehensive project oversight capabilities, and industry-specific expertise that consistently transforms project management from administrative burden into competitive advantage. The platform’s focus on client services workflows combined with continuous innovation and deep agency understanding makes it the ideal choice for organizations ready to embrace project management as a driver of client satisfaction, team productivity, and business profitability rather than just task organization.
Fun Fact
Teamwork was founded when Peter Coppinger and Dan Mackey realized most project management tools were little more than glorified to-do lists (built by people who’d never had to explain to a client why their website redesign was three weeks late while juggling billable hours across five platforms and trying to remember which version of the logo was actually approved). Too many agencies faced the “how do we manage complex client projects when our system makes organizing a birthday party look like military precision” problem, or relied on spreadsheets and sticky notes that resembled a conspiracy theorist’s wall more than professional project management. The founders knew there had to be a better way than forcing agencies to choose between sophisticated tools and actually understanding what makes client work profitable.
The irony? Today, Teamwork’s agency-first platform is so intuitive that clients themselves often enjoy being part of the process. It proves that the most powerful innovation isn’t adding endless features; it’s designing software that embraces the unique chaos of agency life, where success depends on keeping clients happy, creative teams productive, and the business profitable all at once.
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