Free Client Onboarding Checklist
Turn a new client into a short list of steps under the right project. This free client onboarding checklist keeps contract, deposit, assets, access, kickoff and the first milestone in one Excel or CSV file. Download it without signing up.
Free download. No signup required.
No signup required. Excel includes the extra formatting. CSV is portable data only.
Outgrown the onboarding spreadsheet?
Keep the onboarding tasks under the client in ClientPlot, with the project and the next step in one place.
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- Spreadsheet rowsClient records
- Project columnProjects under that client
- Deadline columnDue dates on the work
- Next action / next taskTrackable tasks
- Client notesNotes on the client page
Official ClientPlot templates skip the mapping quiz. ClientPlot counts what it found, then you import. Unusual spreadsheets still get a mapping review.
Onboarding spreadsheet
- Steps live in a separate checklist
- Easy to lose which client is mid-setup
- Owners and due dates hide in columns
ClientPlot
- Onboarding tasks under the client
- The project sits beside the steps
- Due setup work on Today
Template preview
Sample rows so you can see what you will download. Scroll sideways on a phone if the table is wider than the screen.
| Client | Project | Onboarding Step | Owner | Status | Due Date | Waiting On | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Northwind Studio | Website refresh | Contract signed | Maya | Completed | 2026-09-01 | Signed SOW is in the client folder. | |
| 3 | Northwind Studio | Website refresh | Brand/assets received | Maya | Waiting | 2026-09-05 | Morgan: logo files | Need SVG and color values. |
| 4 | Cedar + Pine | September newsletter | Client information collected | Owen | In Progress | 2026-09-04 | Missing the billing contact. | |
| 5 | Helio Advisory | Monthly reporting | Kickoff scheduled | Maya | Not Started | 2026-09-08 | Offer Tuesday or Thursday morning. | |
| 6 | Oak & Iron | Operations review | Project workspace created | Owen | Completed | 2026-09-02 | Shared folder and task list are ready. |
What this spreadsheet looks like in ClientPlot
Upload your spreadsheet and ClientPlot turns the rows into clients, projects, tasks, deadlines and follow-ups on a live dashboard. Preview it before signup. Create a free account only if you want to save it. No credit card.
Dashboard preview
This replaces a formula Dashboard tab. Counts stay current after you import. Invoice totals and hours stay in the spreadsheet if you track them there.
Operational notes
After import, these counts stay current as you work. Invoice totals and hours stay in the spreadsheet if you track them there.
Clients with open work show here after import.
Upcoming schedule
- 2026-09-01 · Contract signed · Northwind Studio
- 2026-09-02 · Project workspace created · Oak & Iron
- 2026-09-04 · Client information collected · Cedar + Pine
- 2026-09-05 · Brand/assets received · Northwind Studio
- 2026-09-08 · Kickoff scheduled · Helio Advisory
What is in the template
Eight columns, five fictional onboarding rows, frozen headers and filters. The Excel file includes a status dropdown plus red overdue, yellow due-today and green next-seven-days highlighting through row 201. CSV has the same columns and sample data without formatting.
ClientThe new client you are setting up.
ProjectThe first named project or engagement.
Onboarding StepOne concrete setup action.
OwnerThe person responsible for the step.
StatusNot Started, In Progress, Waiting or Completed.
Due DateWhen this step should be finished.
Waiting OnA signature, file, login or decision blocking the step.
NotesWhere the file lives, and any constraint.
Who it is for
Freelancers, consultants and small agencies who start every engagement the same way and need those steps attached to a named client, not buried in a welcome email.
How to use it
1. Add one row per onboarding step
Keep the client and project names consistent. Write a specific step such as Brand/assets received instead of a vague label such as Setup.
2. Assign an owner and a real due date
Owner is the person who drives the step. Use Waiting On for a missing signature, file, login or decision, and leave it blank when the work is yours.
3. Reuse the same steps for the next client
Copy the completed rows, change the client and project, and reset Status and dates. Typical steps include contract signed, deposit received, client information collected, brand assets received, tool access granted, communication preferences confirmed, kickoff scheduled, scope reviewed, first milestone set and project workspace created.
4. Import the checklist when the sheet gets noisy
Upload the file to ClientPlot and confirm the client, project, onboarding step and date columns. Spreadsheet statuses stay in notes. Review owners before saving; names alone do not create workspace members.
When a spreadsheet starts becoming difficult
- Kickoff tasks live in a welcome email nobody opens twice
- You cannot see which new clients are still missing assets or access
- Two people think someone else collected the intake form
- The first milestone is set in a call and never written down
Keep onboarding under the client
ClientPlot turns each step into a task on the client and project, so a new engagement has the same home as the later work.
See who is still mid-setup
Filter open onboarding tasks by due date, or open the client page and finish the remaining steps there.
Use the spreadsheet until you outgrow it
Preview the import and confirm the records before saving them to your workspace.
Frequently asked questions
What should a client onboarding checklist include?
Start with contract signed, deposit received, client information collected, brand or assets received, tool access granted, communication preferences confirmed, kickoff scheduled, scope reviewed, first milestone set and a project workspace created. Add a row only if you will actually complete that step.
How is this different from a client task tracker?
This sheet is the setup sequence at the start of a client. The task tracker is the ongoing verb list after work is underway. Import either file the same way.
Can I use it for agencies and freelancers?
Yes. Agencies can assign an Owner per step. Freelancers can put their own name in Owner and still filter by client or due date.
Does the template send reminders?
No. Excel highlights dates when you open or recalculate the workbook. ClientPlot shows dated onboarding tasks in the app. Neither sends automatic emails.
Can I use it in Google Sheets?
Yes. Import the CSV for portable data, or open the XLSX in Sheets. Excel is the intended app for the dropdowns and highlighting.