There are two ways to add a client to Cradled. Pick based on whether the family is going to use the mobile app.
Option 1: Invite a family to the app (connected client)
Use this when the family wants the full Cradled experience — daily check-ins, village coordination, care plan completion, in-app invoice viewing.
- Go to Clients.
- Click Add client.
- Choose Invite to Cradled.
- Enter the mom's email and name.
- Cradled emails her an invite with a deep link.
- She signs up on the mobile app using that email, which auto-links her to you.
You'll see her in your pipeline as Pending until she signs up, then as an active Connected client.
If you already sent her a contract and it matches her email when she signs up, the managed record you created will auto-merge into her connected account. You don't lose any history.
Option 2: Add a managed client
Use this when:
- The client doesn't want the app.
- You're logging an inquiry that hasn't become a real engagement yet.
- You're backfilling a past client you worked with before Cradled.
- Go to Clients.
- Click Add client.
- Choose Add managed client.
- Fill in what you know: name, email (optional), due date, stage.
- Save.
The managed client appears with an amber Managed badge. You can send them invoices and contracts via email, log visits, and keep internal notes.
Connected vs. managed clients explained →
Which should I use for inquiries?
Managed. Inquiries are a messy, early-stage relationship — you're still figuring out if you'll work together. Creating a full app invite for every discovery call is overkill. Add them as a managed client in the Inquiry stage; convert to connected (or merge into a connected signup) when they engage formally.