How to Create a Client Portal for Your Clients

Setting up a client portal sounds like a big project. It isn't — or at least, it shouldn't be. The right tool takes minutes to configure, not weeks.

This guide walks through the full process: deciding what you need, picking a tool, setting it up, and sharing it with your first client.

Step 1: Define what your clients actually need to see

Before you touch any software, spend five minutes answering this question: what do my clients ask about most?

For most agencies, the answer is some combination of:

• What's in progress right now?
• What's been completed?
• What's coming up next?
• When is this done?

That's your portal's core content. Everything else is secondary. Resist the urge to show clients everything — a portal packed with noise is worse than no portal.

Step 2: Choose your tool

The right tool depends on what you already use. The short version:

• Using Monday.com or Linear? Use Salkaro Portal — it connects directly and syncs in real time.
• Living in Notion? You can share a Notion page, but you'll need to maintain it manually.
• Want an all-in-one? Basecamp includes client portal features but requires migrating your workflow.

For this guide, we'll walk through the Salkaro Portal setup, since it's the fastest path from zero to a live client portal.

Step 3: Connect your project management tool

With Salkaro Portal:

1. Sign up at portal.salkaro.com
2. Go to Integrations and connect your Monday.com or Linear workspace via OAuth
3. Your boards and projects are immediately available

The connection is read-only from the client's perspective — they see your data but can't edit anything in your PM tool.

Step 4: Create your first portal

1. Click New Portal
2. Give it a name (usually the client's company name)
3. Select the board or project from your PM tool to display
4. Choose which columns or fields to show (hide internal-only fields)
5. Set your access method — open link, access code, or email verification

That's it. You now have a live portal.

Step 5: Configure branding (optional but recommended)

On a paid plan, you can:

• Upload your agency logo
• Set brand colours
• Remove the "Powered by Salkaro" badge

Even if you skip this for now, a portal with your client's project data already looks far more professional than a status update email.

Step 6: Share it with your client

Copy the portal link and send it to your client. That's the entire onboarding process on their end.

If you've set an access code, include that in your message. If you've used email verification, their address will be pre-approved — they click the link, enter their email, and receive a one-time code.

A template for your first message:

Hi [Name],

I've set up a project portal for you so you can check in on progress any time without needing to email us.

Your portal: [link] Access code: [code]

It's connected directly to our project board, so it's always up to date. Let me know if you have any questions.

Step 7: Keep your PM tool updated (and you're done)

This is the best part: there's nothing else to maintain. As you update tasks in Monday.com or Linear, the portal reflects those changes automatically. No exporting, no copy-pasting, no manual update emails.

Your client gets visibility. You get fewer interruptions. Everyone wins.

Common questions

Do clients need to create an account? No. They access the portal via a direct link. You can optionally require an access code or email verification for added security.

Can I have multiple portals for multiple clients? Yes. Create one portal per client project. Free plan includes 1 portal; Pro plan includes unlimited.

What if I want to show different data to different clients? Each portal connects to a specific board or project. You control exactly which fields and columns are visible per portal.

How long does setup take? Most agencies are live with their first portal in under 10 minutes.