The goal should be to speed up this process to make it as efficient as possible. Remember, onboarding for an accounting client will look different than a tax planning client, much less a checklist for a CFO client. For example, when you are doing onboarding for a tax planning client, the checklist is going to look very different from a CFO services client. You need a checklist that is specific to the particular industry you’re serving along with the particular service you’re providing. The onboarding process is vital if you want to establish a strong relationship. It sets the tone for clear communication, a structured process, and helps both parties understand what the relationship will entail.
- When you’re ready to onboard new clients, ensuring they get a proper checklist of the documents you need from them is critical.
- And if there are still some details to sort out, use this step of the client onboarding template to schedule a kickoff call with your favorite meeting scheduler.
- If you’re looking for simple workflow templates to stay on top of onboarding new bookkeeping clients, you can download one for free here.
Your customer onboarding process will vary a bit in this step of the template, depending on who holds the contract. Sometimes, your client’s company has an NDA or contract from the legal team that they want you to sign. If that’s the case, you have to wait for the client to initiate this step—or nudge them to do so.
How to create a new accounting client checklist
Here it would be best if you discussed any issues with accounts that you found and what’s needed to fix the problems. After this point in the setup process, it’s time to schedule another meeting. For your records, put together a more detailed write-up of your findings and any lingering questions or concerns you need to address in the upcoming meeting. For clients, an onboarding process provides a clear understanding of what is expected of them and a sense of what resources and support are available to them as they begin working with the bookkeeper. It can also help them get up to speed quickly to start contributing and achieving their financial goals as soon as possible.
- A bookkeeping client onboarding questionnaire lists the firm and potential client’s questions and concerns before the relationship begins.
- Don’t delve too far into this; in-depth training can be covered in a dedicated meeting, but get a feel for whether they’re
comfortable using tech and if they already have experience with your tools. - Simply provide all necessary account information when connecting their bank feeds.
- Set deadlines for the next pieces of information required, and celebrate when they are met.
- So based on that, this question should be on your new client questionnaire.
It includes a simple client hub to simplify onboarding for you and your customers. In the excitement of a new project, it’s easy to forget all of the little details to get a client set up. You get clients up to speed faster, show off your organizational skills, and save mental space for the work clients hired you to do. When they think about success, especially the success of their business, what comes to mind? While this sounds like a personal question, it helps build a personal connection with the client.
Get Accounting Clients with an Accounting Client Onboarding Checklist
Once you complete it, you’ll be a member of the FreshBooks Accounting Partner Program. After the meeting, send an onboarding wrap-up letter that mentions the onboarding process has been completed and the ongoing services have now begun, so there’s no room for confusion. Now is the time to prepare to hand the client over to the relevant bookkeeper or team member. This includes reviewing monthly procedure for outstanding checks generic processes applicable to the project and saving links to their fworkflow jobs for the right person to utilize. At this stage, you’ll want to finish up any app or tool setup and ensure everyone has the necessary access. Additionally, ensure any documents giving you and your practice authority to act on behalf of your client have been signed and filed, if required.
Internal setup processes – stage 3
Maybe they created helpful visual data presentations to help them understand their portfolio value or financial reports. Asking your potential client how they think you can add value to their company will help you understand which misconceptions they might have about your role. Few people realize that a good accountant can help them manage debt as well. If your potential client has debt, let them know you can help them negotiate with creditors and develop a plan to reduce it. Your prospective client might be surprised by what resources, services, and tools you have available to help them with a wide variety of business issues.
Introduce the Collaborative Accounting™ Workflow
It can take some time for an accountant to get to know the client as well as understand their needs and preferences and develop a plan that will work best for them. An efficient system for handling business finances is at the heart of every successful business, whether it is an accounting firm or any other small company. Finance planning problems make up 66% of the most common reasons for start-up failure.
Get More Clients
It could be just the utility company, rent for the leased office space, or a car lease. There is a possibility some of the vendors are paid regularly, and others are paid once or twice a year. So, what will be the bookkeeping workload when it comes to the company’s accounts payable? There is only one way to know this—asking about their average monthly vendor invoice processing.
Why an onboarding process helps both you and your clients
Also, it allows you to offer suggestions (e.g. workforce development programs, low-cost training) for challenges they are facing with their workforce. Once the basic business accounting client questions are out of the way, let things become more personal to engage them even further. Digging into their business challenges — the problems that keep them up at night — will help you build rapport and find more ways to provide value and deliver the results they want. Before discussing anything else, you need to have an idea of what kind of business your prospective client has. Your new accounting client checklist should start with this open-ended question.