How difficult is WordPress setup?

Install is a normal WordPress plugin upload: zip, activate, open the CRM. You still need hosting you control, PHP that meets the current requirements, SMTP for reliable outbound email, and Stripe or PayPal if you collect card payments. If you want a guided landing, Setup and Migration is available after you buy Mankai.

Do I need the Photography Theme?

No. The CRM works with the theme you already have. Canvas is the photography theme that sits on top of Mankai. It needs the CRM. If you want both from the start, get Complete. If you already like your site, skip Canvas and put the plugin blocks in Gutenberg or Elementor.

How does annual licensing work?

Each product is an annual license through Freemius. You need an active CRM license to use the admin. There is no per-client or per-session cap.

What happens if my CRM license expires?

You get seven days to renew. After that, CRM admin locks until you reactivate. Your stored business data isn't deleted. Public booking and client portal pages aren't gated the same way as the admin.

What happens if my theme license expires?

Your public site keeps running with what's already there. Updates and licensed support pause until you renew. The theme doesn't use the CRM admin lock.

Does Mankai charge transaction fees?

No. Clients pay through your Stripe or PayPal at normal processor rates. Mankai adds nothing on top. Cash, check, Venmo, and other manual payments can be recorded too.

Can you migrate my existing workflow?

Yes. Setup and Migration is a one-time project. Buy Mankai first, then send a setup request. I review it and send an invoice after. Nothing auto-charges from the form. Migration covers what we can move from your current tools, not a guaranteed one-click import of every competitor.

Where is my data stored?

In your WordPress database on your hosting. You can export it. I'm not renting your client list back to you. Uninstalling doesn't wipe business data unless you turn that on yourself.

What support is provided, and what stays my responsibility?

Licensed support covers the CRM and theme products themselves. Email hello@mankaicrm.com, open every day, 8 AM to 2 PM Central (Wisconsin time). You remain responsible for WordPress hosting, backups, core and plugin updates, domain DNS, and email deliverability setup on your server.

Data migration available Contact us today

Your studio, on WordPress

Q: Which payment processors are supported?

Stripe and PayPal through your own connected accounts. One gateway is active at a time. There is no Square integration today. Manual payments can still be recorded in the CRM.

Booking, invoices, and galleries on a site you control.

Get Mankai See features

From studios using it

Your plugin. Your hosting. Your WordPress site.

We love Mankai. The whole studio finally lives in one place.

Payouts land in your Stripe or PayPal.

Mankai does not take a cut of your jobs.

It feels like it was built for how we already run the studio.

No seats, no client caps, no per-person fee.

The whole job lives on one session.

Proof and deliver files you actually own.

Your plugin. Your hosting. Your WordPress site.

We love Mankai. The whole studio finally lives in one place.

Payouts land in your Stripe or PayPal.

Mankai does not take a cut of your jobs.

It feels like it was built for how we already run the studio.

No seats, no client caps, no per-person fee.

The whole job lives on one session.

Proof and deliver files you actually own.

Book clients on your website.

They pick a session type, choose a time, fill in what you need, and pay on your domain.

Session types with price, retainer, and length
Weekly hours you actually take
Notice windows and a daily cap if you want one

The whole job sits on one session.

Client, contract, invoice, balance, files, and gallery. You can finish the work from that one screen.

Status, balance, and what is left
Documents and payments on the booking
Send the gallery without leaving the session

Public booking form for a family session

Upcoming sessions on the Mankai dashboard

Session workspace for Hart family at Riverbend

Money

Invoices stay on the session.

The invoice and the payment sit with the job. Cards go through your Stripe or PayPal. Mankai does not take a cut.

Retainers and balances on the booking
Your processor, your payout
No Mankai platform transaction fee

Client invoice with PayPal checkout for a family session

Galleries on your domain.

Proofing, favorites, downloads, and watermarks live on your site.

Favorites and proofing selections
Watermarks and download rules you control
Print shop with your products and prices

One login for the job.

Clients sign, pay, open the gallery, and order prints in the same portal on your domain.

Pay Now and documents in one place
Galleries they can come back to
Print orders on the session

Gallery editor grid with selected photos

Client portal login on a Mankai studio site

Also included

The rest of it

Messages, forms, contracts, and the other week-to-week work.

See all features

WordPress

It runs on your WordPress.

Mankai is a plugin. You install it on hosting you pick. You are not renting a studio login from someone else.

With Mankai

Your domain and WordPress site
Your database and media files
Your Stripe or PayPal account
Export and leave whenever you want

See the Canvas theme Demo coming soon

Studio files stored on your WordPress install

Mankai dashboard greeting on your own WordPress install

Pricing

The CRM, the CRM plus Canvas, or I set it up.

Already have a site

Mankai CRM

$12.50 / month

$149.99 billed yearly

Just the CRM.

Clients, sessions, and booking
Quotes, invoices, and payments
Galleries and client portal
Unlimited clients

Get started

CRM and site

Mankai Complete

$16.67 / month

$199.99 billed yearly

CRM plus Canvas.

Everything in Mankai CRM
Canvas theme included
Same look on both
One license

Get started View demo

Done for you

Setup & Migration

$799.99 one time

Once you buy

I set it up and move what I can.

Install and branding
Booking, forms, and payments
Workflows and templates
Help moving from current tools

Request Setup

Licenses are yearly. Hosting and the domain are separate.

FAQ

Questions

Does Mankai require WordPress?

Yes. Mankai CRM is a WordPress plugin, and Canvas is the photography theme. You install them on hosting you control.

How difficult is setup?

Install is a normal plugin upload. You still need hosting, PHP that meets requirements, email/SMTP, and Stripe or PayPal if you collect cards. Setup & Migration is available after you buy.

Which payment processors are supported?

Stripe and PayPal through your own accounts. One gateway active at a time. Manual payments can be recorded. No Square today. No Mankai platform fee on top of the processor.

Is there a native mobile app?

No. Staff and client workflows are mobile-friendly in the browser, and the CRM can be installed like a web app from your site.

Where does client data live?

In your WordPress database on your hosting. You can export it. Uninstall does not wipe business data unless you turn that on.

What stays my responsibility?

Hosting, backups, WordPress updates, domain DNS, and email deliverability. Licensed support covers the CRM and theme products themselves.

Ready to run it on your site?

The client, the session, the money, and the gallery stay on your WordPress.

Get Mankai See features