Most independent consultants know the value of storing key documents in a readily accessible location. While HubSpot often focuses on Contact and Deal engagements, Company records can also house important files that pertain to an entire organization—especially if they’re not specific to a single Deal. In this chapter, we’ll discuss how to manually add attachments to a Company record, why you might do it, and best practices for deciding which documents belong at the Company level versus in a Deal record.
1. Why Attach Files to a Company Record?
- Organization-Wide Documents: Some documents apply broadly to your entire relationship with that organization—such as an NDA or a master services agreement (MSA).
- Convenient Reference: By attaching these files to the Company record, you or any collaborators can locate them quickly, even if no active Deals exist.
- Context for Future Engagements: If you do multiple projects for the same company, you can always revisit the existing MSA or NDA rather than searching through Deal-specific attachments.
- Reduce Confusion: Certain files—like proposals or contracts tied to a specific project—are better stored under Deals. But more general documents remain clearly distinguished at the Company level.
2. Potential Attachments for Company Records
- NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement): If you have a confidentiality agreement covering all engagements with a particular company, keeping it on the Company record makes sense. It applies globally to any Deals.
- Master Services Agreement (MSA): A broad agreement outlining the overall terms of engagement. Attaching it at the Company level helps you reference it for subsequent statements of work or project scopes.
- General Reference Documents: Organizational charts, company profile documents, or partnership agreements that affect your entire consulting relationship, not just a single project.
- Historical or Legal Documents: Signed forms indicating compliance, disclaimers, or anything that remains in effect across multiple projects or over time.
Note: Deal-specific attachments (e.g., a proposal for a certain project) should live with the Deal record. This keeps your CRM logically organized and ensures you can easily see all materials relevant to a specific contract or project in one place.
3. How to Manually Add Attachments to a Company Record
Step 1: Navigate to the Company Record
- Log into HubSpot.
- Go to Contacts > Companies.
- Select the specific Company you want to attach a file to.
Step 2: Locate the Attachments or Notes Section
Depending on your HubSpot layout, you have a couple of ways to attach files:
- Notes:
- Create or open a note on the Company timeline.
- Look for a paperclip icon or “Attach File” button to upload your document(s).
- Attachments or Files Section:
- Some HubSpot versions include a dedicated “Attach Files” button or an Attachments module on the right-hand panel or in the timeline.
Step 3: Upload the File(s)
- Browse Your Computer
- A file picker window appears; choose the NDA, MSA, or other relevant doc.
- You can add multiple files if needed.
- Add Context (If Desired)
- If you’re attaching via a note, you can add a brief message like “Master Services Agreement – effective January 2026.”
- If your layout has a separate attachment panel, you might only see a file name; consider naming your files descriptively (e.g., “CompanyXYZ_MSA_2026.pdf”).
- Save
- The file is now uploaded to the Company record. Anyone viewing the Company can see or download it.
4. Deciding What Goes on the Company vs. a Deal
- Company-Level Attachments
- NDA: Typically covers all interactions, so attach it to the Company.
- Master Services Agreement: Often overarching; store it with the Company for easy reference.
- Global Partnerships: For example, a strategic alliance or partnership document that isn’t tied to a single Deal.
- Deal-Level Attachments
- Project Proposals or Statements of Work: Tied to a specific project or engagement.
- Project-Specific Contracts: If you have a new contract for each engagement, attach it to that Deal.
- Project Deliverables: Any final documents or reports unique to that project.
- Consistency is Key
- Decide on a system: if you always attach NDAs to Companies, and always attach proposals to Deals, you avoid confusion.
- If a document spans multiple Deals but is still unique to one ongoing project, you might keep it at the Deal level but note it in a summary note at the Company level if needed.
5. Tips & Best Practices
- Use Clear File Names: Label your documents with the company name, document type, and date (e.g., “XYZ_Co_MSA_Jan2026.pdf”), so it’s obvious which file is which.
- Leverage Notes: Add a short note describing the context for the attachment. For instance, “This MSA applies to all engagements through 2028.”
- Review Attachments Periodically: Over time, you might replace an MSA with a new version or update an NDA. Keep the most current version clearly identifiable. Consider archiving old ones or marking them as “superseded.”
- Check HubSpot Storage Limits: If you attach many large files (like PDFs with heavy graphics), be mindful of any storage constraints on your HubSpot plan. Usually, business documents are small enough not to be a big issue, but it’s worth noting.
- Keep Deal Attachments Focused on Their Project: This delineation helps you quickly scan a Deal record to see everything relevant to that project alone, without wading through overarching documents.
Lessons:
PART 1: OVERVIEW OF HUBSPOT
PART 2: INTRODUCTION TO CONTACTS
- Introduction to Contacts
- Who Should be a Contact?
- Understanding HubSpot Property Types
- Most Commonly Used Default Properties for Contacts
- How to Create a Custom Property
- Create a Custom Property for LinkedIn Connect Request Status
- Create a Custom Property for Nickname
- Custom Property for Educational Institutions Attended
- Create a Custom Property for Former Firm
- Create a Custom Property for Industry
- Create a Custom Property for Metro Area
- Create a Custom Property for Continent
- Customizing the Contact Record View
PART 3: EXPORTING AND IMPORTING CONTACTS
PART 4: MANAGING CONTACTS
- Adding Attachments Manually to Contact Records
- Adding a Manual Note to Contact Records
- Using the Call Engagement in HubSpot
- Using the Meeting Engagement Type
- Using Lists (Active vs. Static)
- Creating a Static List
- Creating an Active List
- Understanding the Default Lifecycle Stages
- Recommended Custom Names for Lifecycle Stages
- Understanding Lead Status – Default Options
- Recommendations for Custom Lead Statuses
- Adding an Association Between Two Contacts
- Merging Two Contacts
PART 5: COMPANIES
PART 6: DEALS
- Introduction to the Deal Record Type
- Introduction to the Default Pipeline
- Recommendation for Custom Deal Stages
- Customizing Deal Stages for Projects Through Staffing Firms
- How and Why to Create Multiple Pipelines
- Create a Custom Deal Property: “Source of Deal”
- Customizing the “Closed Lost Reason” Property
- Adding Attachments to the Deal Record
- Importing Previous Deals from a Spreadsheet
PART 7: EMAIL
PART 8: OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
PART 9: TASKS
PART 10: WORKFLOWS
PART 11: REPORTING
PART 12: TICKETS
PART 13: PRODUCTS
PART 14: CONTENT MARKETING
PART 15: INTEGRATIONS