Set up client onboarding

Configure The Firm Journey

Open Firm settings > Client onboarding from the firm's workspace. Overview shows the public signup link and whether the required parts are ready. Configure:

• up to three monthly bookkeeping packages, with an optional setup fee;
• the Engagement Letter the client will review and sign;
• the business questions the firm needs answered;
• the firm contact shown during onboarding;
• the Stripe account that receives payment; and
• the firm's logo, header color, and button accent.

Use Private preview before sharing the public link. The preview uses the current draft settings without making an unfinished journey public.

The Payments section opens the firm's Stripe settings. If the connected account can accept charges, an outstanding deposit-account requirement alone does not prevent onboarding. Follow the payout reminder in Stripe so the firm can receive its payouts; other payment requirements still apply.

Publish The Engagement Letter

Save the Engagement Letter draft, review the firm details and service terms, then publish a version. New enrollments use the published version. A client who has already reached the signing step keeps the exact letter version presented to them.

Only a firm owner can publish an Engagement Letter. Publishing creates a stable version for the client's review and signed PDF; editing a later draft does not rewrite an earlier signature.

What The Client Completes

The public signup link uses the firm's branding and walks the client through:

1. choosing a service package;
2. entering the signer and legal business name;
3. paying the first month and any setup fee through Stripe, which also saves the card for monthly billing;
4. reviewing and signing the Engagement Letter;
5. completing the firm's business questions;
6. sharing bookkeeping files or choosing I’ll send files later; and
7. reviewing and confirming the handoff.

The client can return through the secure resume link. Their payment status, signature, answers, and uploaded files stay attached to the same enrollment.

Share Bookkeeping Files

Share your files accepts original CSV, Excel (XLSX or XLS), PDF, and ZIP files. The customer selects the files and chooses Upload and continue. If an upload has not finished verification, use Verify uploaded files before continuing.

Customers who do not have their records ready can select I’ll send files later and finish onboarding. The accountant arranges bank connections and chooses the import method, dates, and accounting basis afterward.

Verified files create an Assisted Import request when the customer confirms the final submission. The team classifies the files and reviews the package. A send-later submission can finish without creating an import request.

Review The Submission

The final review shows the service, payment, signed Engagement Letter, business answers, and the uploaded files or send-later choice. The customer confirms once. Retrying that submission does not create another company or import request.

Open CRM, choose Open Client, then Onboarding to review the saved answers, payment and signature, verified or unfinished uploads, submission time, and import history. This tab stays available after onboarding finishes. See Manage companies in CRM.

After submission, the receipt shows Assisted Import progress when an import is needed and links to the client portal when access is ready. The portal uses the managing firm's branding and gives the owner the company's Overview, Billing, Invoices, Reports, Transactions, Statements, Requests, and Settings destinations.

When the completed enrollment is linked to its company, firm staff can manage the resulting Stripe subscription from CRM > Engagement & Billing. From Companies, Open CRM opens the same company record. Company owners can view the plan and replace the saved payment method from the client portal's Billing page. See Manage client engagement billing.

For staff-managed import follow-up, see Send an import to Assisted Import. For the firm's logo and report appearance, see Account and profile settings.