Client Onboarding Process
Landing Your First Client and Onboarding Them
By Abi Connick
Client Onboarding
Once a client accepts your proposal, signs the contract, and then pays the invoice, it’s time to onboard them into your project management system.
What: Onboarding simply means working with the client in an organised and smooth system, without fail, doubts or reconsideration before the project starts.
Why: If onboarding is done correctly in an organised process this will give the client confidence and reassurance about their investment in you as a designer. This will lead to project success and prevent additional stress and overwhelm.
Step by Step Process
Step One: Email the client asking for their business details.
Copy and paste Email Template
Topic: Business Information
Hello (Client name),
I am so thrilled that you want to go ahead with the project!
So that I can start to onboard you into my client portal, may I request your business details?
This includes:
Registered company business name
Address Contact details
Company number
Charity number if applicable
Kind regards,
Rachel
Step Two: Prepare a Contract
Contracts legally define everything in clear format.
It should include:
Project Agreement & Deliverables
Payment
Termination and Cancellation
Process & Timeline Agreement
Clients Responsibility
Ownership, Rights and Confidentiality
Limitation of Liability
Out of Scope
Acceptance of Scope & Signature
Contracts provide assurance to both you and your client. This prevents stress because you know you can rely on your contract and just focus on your creative work.
Get a solicitor to review your contract.
Get business insurance to protect and cover you against claims and clients who do not pay.
