Sharing the Portal

There are two ways to give a customer access to their project portal. Choose the method that best fits your client's comfort level with technology. Both methods display the same read-only portal view and both update in real time as you make changes to the project.

Method 1: Invite via Email

This method creates a full account for the customer, which is ideal if you want them to receive notifications or if they are managing multiple projects with you.

1. Open the project and navigate to Project Settings.
2. Click Invite Member.
3. Enter the customer's email address.
4. Select the Customer role from the dropdown.
5. Click Send Invite.

The customer receives a branded email with a link to accept the invitation. If they don't already have a BuildChart account, the link walks them through creating one. Once they accept, the project appears in their dashboard and they can open the portal view at any time.

Invitations expire after 7 days. If the customer does not accept in time, you can resend the invitation from the project members list.

Method 2: Token-Based URL

This method lets customers view the portal without creating an account. It is the fastest way to get a homeowner checking their project progress.

1. Open the project and navigate to the portal view at /portal/[projectId].
2. Click the Share button in the portal header.
3. The app copies a URL to your clipboard in the format /portal/[projectId]?token=xxx.
4. Send this URL to your client via text message, email, or any messaging app.

When the customer opens the link, they see the full portal view immediately — no login screen, no account creation, no friction. This is particularly convenient for non-technical homeowners who just want a quick way to check on progress from their phone.

Comparing the Two Methods

Both methods show the identical portal view with progress indicators, milestones, and assigned items. The key differences:

• Email invite — Customer has an account, can receive notifications, and sees the project in their dashboard. Better for long-term or repeat clients.
• Token URL — No account needed, instant access, easy to share via text. Better for one-time clients or quick progress checks.

You can use both methods simultaneously. Inviting a customer via email does not disable the token URL, and vice versa.