If you’re running cases through Google Docs, shared folders, and homemade spreadsheets — and a client finds out — you will probably lose that client. Not because Google Docs is “bad.” But because it signals risk. From a client’s perspective: • Files live in different places • Access controls aren’t obvious • Audit trails are unclear • Chain-of-custody can’t be explained in one sentence • There’s no single system of record And the moment a client asks: “Where is everything stored, and who can access it?” “Google Drive” is not the answer they expect. Serious clients — attorneys, insurers, corporate teams — assume: • One secure platform • Role-based access • Centralized documentation • Consistent structure across every case • Proof that survives scrutiny When information is scattered across tools, confidence drops — even if the work itself is solid. This is how good professionals lose good clients: Not from bad investigations… But from systems that look improvised. If you ever have to explain why your workflow is safe instead of letting the system speak for itself, the damage is already done. Professional work deserves professional infrastructure. And your clients are paying attention — even when you think they aren’t.