Your marketing effort and fabulous sales pitch landed you a brand-new client. And you might think this is the most significant moment in the client relationship. However, it’s the onboarding phase that determines the difference between long-term success and an increased client churn rate.
- If they’re an established company, you’ll need to make sure that you’re importing all their information from their prior system.
- Make sure that you’ve created recurring tasks lists in your system so that you don’t overlook any deadlines.
- Either way, just like bookkeeping, your onboarding method determines whether it’s a tedious, manual process or an efficient, streamlined practice.
- After the initial kickoff meeting with your new client, send a welcome email.
- Ensure sales tax rates and rules are correctly set up to accurately calculate and track sales tax liabilities.
This meeting can be done virtually or in person, but having a kickoff meeting will allow you to discuss the company’s financial structure. The discussion should include the number of bank accounts, credit cards, and loans that the company has. Then assign each team member a task and attach deadlines and instructions on how you want the project done.
How Do I Onboard a New Bookkeeping Client?
The choice of subscription depends on the client’s business size and needs. Create professional, branded invoices with custom templates that suit the client’s business style. Linking financial institutions allows for automatic transaction downloads, reducing manual data entry. professional bookkeeping service Use this handy form in your initial new client meeting to establish their needs and identify which QuickBooks solution is right for them.
Step 4: Ask the client to grant you accountant access to their books.
For the purposes of this article, onboarding is defined as the process of bringing a new client on board, incorporating training and orientation. Whether it’s a small business or a scaled one, financial reports on your client’s operations are also crucial documents for your accounting firm. Information and documentation on prior year tax returns are another essential checklist item. As you welcome a new client and conduct the onboarding process, you might find different documentation requirements for each client type. This article offers a thorough onboarding checklist to keep you ahead of the game and get you everything you need to begin working with your client. Many small business owners find QuickBooks intimidating which is where your bookkeeping services come in.
Step 2: Determine whether the client will need QuickBooks payroll services.
The contract should include details on the scope of your arrangement, and a complete, signed copy should live in your client file, ready to reference if needed. Before fully transitioning to Quickbooks, perform test transactions brs full form: bank reconciliation statement to validate that all accounts and settings are functioning correctly. To begin, create a Quickbooks account if the client doesn’t already have one. Before having the client set up QuickBooks Online, having a meeting to establish which types of reporting they need means that you can get them set up on the right version from the outset.
But if you have a new client that hasn’t been using QuickBooks before, you should have a standard process for making sure that they’re set up correctly in the system. If they’re an established company, you’ll need to make sure that what are notes to financial statements you’re importing all their information from their prior system. If they’re a new business, you’ll want to ensure that they get going on the right foot. At the early stages of your engagement, it’s the client’s responsibility to ensure you have the documentation you need to be as effective as possible.
How to Create an Effective Onboarding Checklist for Accounting and Bookkeeping Clients
Onboarding is also when the client gets connected with your team, so it’s essential that everyone within your firm makes a good first impression as well. That’s when they get to see you “walk the walk” from your initial sales pitch. Sales tax rates and rules can change, so it’s essential to regularly update these settings to ensure accurate calculations and compliance.