Work & projects
Client onboarding for freelancers, from contract to first delivery
A repeatable start for every new client. Paperwork, kickoff, access and a first deliverable land on set days, so the project starts on solid ground.
What’s inside
Client onboarding· 9 items
Send the proposal and agreement
7 days before the project start day
- Scope, timeline and price written down
- Payment terms and invoice details stated
- Agreement sent for signature
Confirm the signed agreement and deposit
3 days before the project start day
Set up the client in your tools
2 days before the project start day
- Client added in People with their contact details
- Project folder created
- Client's time zone noted
Kickoff call
On the project start day
- Goals and what success looks like
- Who approves the work
- How and how often you'll update them
Request access and materials
1 days after the project start day
- Logins or shared folders
- Brand files, briefs or past work
Send a kickoff summary
1 days after the project start day
Short and in writing. Repeat the scope, the dates and who approves what.
First check-in
7 days after the project start day
First deliverable
14 days after the project start day
- Delivered with a short note on what to review
- Feedback date agreed
Two-week look back
15 days after the project start day
Is the scope still what you agreed? Write down anything that has crept in.
Why it starts a week early
Most onboarding trouble begins before the work does: a missing deposit, an agreement that never came back, a login that takes ten days to arrive. Starting the template a week before the project means the paperwork is settled by day one. Requesting access the day after kickoff gives the client a clear, fresh reason to act.
The kickoff summary
The written summary on day one is the single most useful item here. It turns what everyone said on the call into something you can point to later, especially when scope starts to drift. The two-week look back exists for the same reason.
How to adapt it
- Short jobs? Delete the check-in and move the first deliverable closer.
- Retainer clients? Replace the deliverable with a monthly report and add an invoice step.
- Client manages work in ClickUp? Connect it, and the tasks assigned to you show up alongside this onboarding list.
An honest tip
The agreement checklist is a reminder to write things down, not a contract template. For what your agreements should say, talk to a lawyer or accountant where you work.