3-STEP CLIENT ONBOARDING CHECKLIST

A free client onboarding checklist for your bookkeeping business.

Woot woot!!!! You just signed a brand spanking new client – cue the JT dance party playlist 🎶.

There’s no better feeling than finding a dream client, acing the discovery call, and getting them to say YES to working with you.

To make it official, you’ll need an onboarding process to kick off working together.
But first, let’s back up for a minute because you need to do a few things before you send out a contract.

Before the Contract // Converting Leads into Clients

Step 1. Bookkeeping Lead Process

When a potential client shows interest, I either have them complete a detailed questionnaire or schedule a discovery call. This step is integral in gauging the scope of work, determining if clean-up is necessary, and and allows me to understand their goals.

Step 2. Custom Proposal Creation in HoneyBook

Once I have all the information, I use HoneyBook to create a custom proposal that outlines their package, deliverables, and pricing. 

Sample questions to include in your lead inquiry form:

• What accounting software are you using to track your finances (e.g., QuickBooks)?
• What are your business goals for the next 12 months?
• How does your business make money? Through invoicing, recurring revenue from subscriptions/payment plans, selling digital products, etc?
• Is your business a S-Corp or LLC?

If the lead wants to move forward, their contract is attached to the proposal in Honeybook and we’re ready to rock 😍.

Client Onboarding Checklist for Freelance Bookkeeping Businesses

Having a solid onboarding process is the key to showing your new client that they just made the BEST decision hiring you because disorganization is not the vibe.

It’s GO time!

Here’s my simple process for onboarding new clients after the contract is signed.

🔓 Get Access to Files and QuickBooks

Request access to important files: Request access to any important financial documents or records. This could include bank statements, previous bookkeeping records, and other relevant files.

Get added to their QuickBooks account: If they’re already using QuickBooks, you’ll need access to their account. This allows you to start getting familiar with their financial landscape right away.

🖥️ Set Up a Client Portal

Time to give your client the VIP treatment with access to their very own client portal, I like to use Notion for this. The portal is their go-to spot for documents, reports, and all the goodies you’ll be sharing with them.
 Plus, it helps you keep everything in one place so you can avoid scrambling every time you’re looking for a doc.

📆 Schedule a Kick-Off Meeting

The kickoff meeting is where you’ll set the tone for your working relationship. Some of my favorite scheduling tools are Calendly and HoneyBook, both are super easy to use. 

During this meeting, you’ll go over:

• What to expect from working with you
• What their top priorities are from their bookkeeping
• What they’re currently struggling with that they want to change
• Their goals for the next year and beyond. 

You want to make sure you and your client are on the same page and expectations are set.

See, pretty simple right? An onboarding process makes your clients feel well cared for because you’re on top of things.

It doesn’t have to be overly complicated with a million steps, you just need to make sure that you get access, have docs signed, a place to store information, and a killer kick-off call and you’re good!

If you have any questions about the tools that I use or this process, shoot me an email or DM. I’d be happy to help!

Psst – Want your clients to start their inquiry process on a website that doesn’t make them yawn? Check out our web templates created specifically for bookkeepers and accountants.