If you’ve ever worked with clients one-on-one, we’re willing to bet that you have done a little happy dance when your client says these three words: “Let’s get started!” 💃🏽✨
Very few things feel better than beginning a client relationship with someone you vibe with.
You feel excited, inspired, and proud of yourself for filling yet another coaching slot.
YES, QUEEN! 👏🏽
The first step in keeping those good vibes with your new client is making sure you have an absolutely flawless onboarding process.
This process needs to be as easy and smooth as possible.
The window between getting that “Yes!” in your sales call, DM convo, or email and the point at which you get that first payment from your client can be very fragile.
This is why your onboarding process must be immaculate. It has to instill the highest possible confidence in your new client and ensure that your company’s image is a professional one.
We want to walk you through the three things you must include in your client onboarding process so that it is #Flawless. 👇🏽
1. A Legit Legal Contract
You knew this was coming. 😉
There is literally nothing we love more than legit legal contracts.
In all seriousness though, you should not start ANY work with a client until you have signed a contract between the two of you.
If there is no contract, the client is not legally bound to anything.
Think about it: You could be pouring your time, money, and energy into a project with no return.
No money. No cash. No coins.
Zero. 🙅🏽♀️
But here’s the thing, friends. We are not suggesting that you cobble together any old sketchy contract just to say you signed one. We want you to commit to having a legitimate one.
Believe it or not, frankensteined contracts are a HUGE red flag for experienced clients when they are looking to hire a new service provider.
You do NOT want to lose clients at the onboarding phase because you’ve got some dodgy-looking contracts.
Show your clients that you take your business seriously by clearly defining what your expectations are from them and what they can expect from you.
Remember: Your proposal is NOT a contract.
YES, you should include the details of your proposal in your contract, but NO, your proposal is not sufficient on its own. There are all kinds of clauses that need to be included in order to protect you and your business when engaging in one-on-one work with clients.
If you are looking to streamline the contract process entirely, our customizable contract templates will help you master your legal language and policies so you can get contracts off to your new clients with complete confidence and peace of mind.
Even better, you can plug our templates into your CRM. Whether you use Dubsado, HoneyBook, or Paperbell, the process can be even easier and more automated.
Once you’ve got your contracts under control, it’s time to send off your welcome kit.👇🏽
2. A Welcome Kit
Once your client has signed their legally legit contract and has made their first payment, they should receive a welcome kit from you via email.
This is your opportunity to let them know what to expect next.
Is there a link to schedule their kickoff call? A questionnaire for collecting their information?
This email should also include a reminder about your preferred methods of communication, deadlines, business hours, and anything else that needs to be reiterated before the fun begins.
Don’t forget! Make it clear to your new client who the point of contact will be within your organization.
It might be you, a team member, or an assistant, but just make sure that the client expects communication with that individual.
The important thing here is to prioritize having top-notch communication in your relationship from the get-go.
Bonus points if you send them a gift box or swag bag. 💃🏽✨
3. A Follow-Up to Check In
The third and final tip for your flawless onboarding process is the follow-up.
You’d be surprised how many clients will receive your welcome package or invitation to your first meeting and it will completely slip their mind and they’ll fall off the wagon.
To avoid having this happen, you and your team need to follow up with them and show that you are consistent with maintaining communication and engagement.
The last thing you want is for your client to think you are ghosting them — or WORSE, for your client to ghost you. 😳
This follow-up also might take the form of scheduling a formal check-in call about a month after your kickoff date to maintain contact and provide your client with dedicated time to speak with you and your team. This gives them the chance to ask any questions or bring up any concerns that have come up so far.
Let’s be real, things change and every client is different. It’s totally normal for you and your client to have a few extra things to work out after the first month of working together.
All of these tips will help you set the tone for a strong and sustainable client relationship. 💛
That way, you can feel that same kind of excitement you had when your client said, “Let’s get started!” throughout your work together.
Show up like the pro you are with legit contracts, a clear and inviting welcome package, and continue to check in with your clients to show them that you are there for them every step of the way.
And remember, if you need some extra help with your client contracts, be sure to check out our Contract Shop so you can make a great first impression on your new clients with our lawyer-approved, customizable contracts.
Shop our lawyer-created, plug-and-play templates here.
Check out our ready-to-use, lawyer-approved, plug-and-play legal contract templates! So you can upgrade your client contract while staying Profitable & Protected™✨
Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you. Grab our FREE Legally Launch Handbookto get the legal lowdown on everything in entrepreneurship, without the confusing mambo jumbo. We’re serving it up straight & to the point. (Heads up: It’ll forever transform the way you view your client relationships!) Grab your copy now.
*The information presented in this blog post is for educational & informational purposes only. This should not be a substitute for customized legal advice from a licensed professional in a private setting. If you need legal advice, please consult with an attorney. This is not a law firm.