Client accounts vs. Lobbying accounts

Civalta has two organization account types: Client and Lobbying. Choose the account that matches what your organization does in the relationship. The account type determines the workspace, tools, and roles available to your organization.

Choose a Client account if you hire or oversee lobbyists

This account is for companies, associations, and government affairs teams that need outside lobbying support.

Choose a Lobbying account if you represent clients

This account is for lobbying firms and independent lobbyists that pursue opportunities and deliver client work.

Your account type describes your organization—not your personal job title.
For example, a government affairs professional who hires an outside lobbying firm should use a Client account. An independent professional who performs lobbying work for clients should use a Lobbying account.

Client accounts

A Client account is designed for an organization that procures, manages, or pays for lobbying services. During workspace setup, Civalta displays this option as Business.

Client accounts can use Civalta to:

  • Search for lobbying firms and independent lobbyists.
  • Review professional profiles, issue areas, jurisdictions, and availability.
  • Create public opportunities or privately invite selected lobbyists.
  • Review, counter, accept, or reject proposals.
  • Manage engagements, contracts, tickets, and documents.
  • Review planned and issued invoices from lobbying providers.

Common examples: corporations, nonprofit organizations, trade associations, coalitions, and in-house government affairs teams.

Lobbying accounts

A Lobbying account is designed for an organization or independent practice that provides lobbying services to clients. During workspace setup, Civalta displays this option as Lobbying firm.

Lobbying accounts can use Civalta to:

  • Build a firm profile and publish profiles for practicing lobbyists.
  • Show services, issue areas, jurisdictions, experience, and availability.
  • Browse opportunities that match the firm's expertise.
  • Create proposals and respond to counterproposals.
  • Manage client engagements, contracts, tickets, communications, reports, and documents.
  • Set up payment access and manage client invoicing.

Common examples: multi-person lobbying firms, solo firms, and independent lobbying practices.

What should an independent lobbyist choose?

Choose Lobbying firm, even if you work alone. Civalta treats an independent practice as a lobbying organization with one practicing lobbyist.

When Civalta asks whether you are personally a lobbyist, select Yes. This lets you set up the organization and your own lobbyist profile as part of the same workspace.

What both account types share

The two workspaces have different tools before work begins, but both sides share the core engagement experience. Both account types can:

  • Maintain organization and member information.
  • Participate in a shared engagement.
  • Review contracts and track agreement status.
  • Use engagement tickets to organize work.
  • Share engagement documents with the other party.
  • View the relationship and its history from their own workspace.

How the account types work together

  1. The client identifies a need. The organization can search for lobbyists, publish an opportunity, or invite a selected professional.
  2. The lobbying provider responds. The firm or independent lobbyist reviews the opportunity and proposes an approach and terms.
  3. Both sides agree. The organizations review the proposal, contract, and financial terms.
  4. Civalta connects the work. Once the relationship begins, both organizations use the shared engagement while retaining their own workspace and permissions.

How to choose

Ask one question

In this workspace, will your organization hire lobbying support or provide it?

Hire or oversee support: choose Client.
Provide support to clients: choose Lobbying.

What if I chose the wrong account type?

Your organization type is selected when the workspace is created and is not editable in organization settings. Contact Civalta Support before adding members, opportunities, proposals, or engagements so we can help you determine the best next step.