What is a client onboarding checklist?

A list of the steps between a signed contract and the first delivered result, each with an owner and the document or access it produces.

What should be included in client onboarding?

Contract and billing setup, access and credentials, a written brief, and a kickoff call that agrees goals and cadence. Add the communication channels, the first deliverable, the reporting format and a 30-day review.

How long should client onboarding take?

Plan for the first ninety days. The first thirty get the client to a first result; the next sixty settle the rhythm and the first review.

Is there a client onboarding checklist template for agencies?

Yes, this one. The phases and artifacts are written for agencies and account teams, and the CSV download opens in Excel, Google Sheets or any project tool.

Where is my progress saved?

In this browser's local storage, under this address. Clearing site data or switching browsers resets the ticks. Nothing is sent to Sektra.

Client Onboarding Checklist Template (Free)

Step	Owner	Artifact
Countersigned contract and statement of work filed	Account owner	Signed PDF in the client folder
Billing contact, PO number and invoice schedule confirmed	Finance	Billing record
Sales to delivery handoff: what was promised, to whom, and why they bought	Sales lead	Handoff note
Access requested: accounts, tools, data, brand assets	Project lead	Access checklist
Internal team named, with one owner for the account	Account owner	Team page
Written brief drafted from the sales notes for the client to correct	Project lead	Brief, version 1

Step	Owner	Artifact
Kickoff call held: goals, success metric, scope, roles	Account owner	Kickoff notes with action items
Goals and the success metric agreed in writing	Account owner	Customer success plan
Meeting cadence and reporting format set	Project lead	Calendar series
Communication channels agreed: shared inbox address, WhatsApp number, who to copy	Project lead	Contact sheet
Client stakeholders listed with roles and decision rights	Account owner	Stakeholder map
Welcome note sent with the plan, the contacts and the first dates	Account owner	Sent email

Step	Owner	Artifact
All access working and tested	Project lead	Access checklist, complete
First deliverable shipped	Project lead	Delivered work
First report sent in the agreed format	Project lead	Report
Feedback loop opened: how the client flags problems and how fast you reply	Account owner	Response time note
Every commitment made so far listed with owner, date and status	Account owner	Commitments list

Step	Owner	Artifact
30-day review held: what works, what to change	Account owner	Review notes
Brief and scope updated from what was learned	Project lead	Brief, version 2
Expansion or renewal path noted in the account plan	Account owner	Account plan
First quarterly business review scheduled	Account owner	Calendar invite and agenda
Client asked how onboarding went, in one question	Account owner	Reply on file

How to use it

Work by phase. Work through the four phases in order: before kickoff, kickoff week, the first thirty days and days thirty to ninety.
One owner per item. Give every item one owner. A step with two owners has none.
Tick as you go. Tick items as they finish. The ticks are saved in this browser only, so nothing you enter leaves your machine.
Export. Copy the checklist as Markdown or download the CSV to turn it into a project board or a shared sheet.

What a client onboarding checklist should cover

Before kickoff: contract and billing, the sales handoff, access requests, the internal team and a written brief.
Kickoff week: the kickoff call, agreed goals and success metric, meeting cadence, communication channels and the stakeholder list.
First 30 days: working access, the first deliverable, the first report in the agreed format and the feedback loop.
Day 30 to 90: the 30-day review, an updated brief, the expansion or renewal path and the first quarterly business review.

The onboarding guide explains each phase. Agencies and account management teams run the same list with different artifacts.

Why the owner and artifact columns matter

An onboarding step without an owner waits for someone to notice it. A step without an artifact cannot be checked. The two columns turn a list of good intentions into a list that can be audited at the 30-day review.

Client onboarding checklist

The checklist

Before kickoff

Kickoff week

First 30 days

Day 30 to 90