If the client has employees, configure payroll settings, including employee information, pay rates, and tax withholdings. Assign roles and permissions for users to control who can access and modify financial data within Quickbooks. Ensure that all business details such as name, address, contact information, and legal structure are accurate and up to date. As a financial advisor, you can use the client’s financial reports to help them make key decision-making.

By clicking “Continue”, you will leave the community and be taken to that site instead. Use this handy form in your initial new client meeting to establish their needs and identify which QuickBooks solution is right for them. Sales tax rates and rules can change, so it’s essential to regularly update these settings to ensure accurate calculations and compliance. Begin populating Quickbooks with historical financial data, either by importing data from spreadsheets or manually inputting transactions. To begin, create a Quickbooks account if the client doesn’t already have one.

• Using our checklist can help keep the whole Christmas office closure procedure hassle-free.
• You can assess the client’s inventory situation and offer the best inventory services through it.
• Remember, the questions can help you solve a problem or meet the client’s expectations.
• However, the onboarding process can be easier after creating a bookkeeping client onboarding questionnaire that guides you on what to ask.
• Proactively tell the client when they can expect their books to be updated and how you will address any issues going forward.

Once you’ve set up the chart of accounts, you should import the initial set of data and review the output with the client prior to importing several years of data. This allows you to fix any expense categories and give the client a sample output to review. Additionally, it should cover the banking establishments that are used by the company. You want to ensure you are aware of all of the movement of funds within the company. This is also a good time to take inventory of any personal accounts that are linked to the company accounts that regularly contribute funds and take withdrawals. You need to make sure these payments and deposits are not incorrectly entered as income or expenses.

Are You Expanding or Downsizing the Business?

You can also make direct edits to clients’ accounts directly if they invite you to be their accountant. You could track all of these processes using a spreadsheet or Google Docs, but there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Jetpack Workflow has 32 standardized accounting workflow templates that can be downloaded for free. As you can see, having an established workflow for things like client onboarding for QuickBooks can help you quickly and efficiently onboard new clients.

• Assign roles and permissions for users to control who can access and modify financial data within Quickbooks.
• With QuickBooks accounting software, you can automate invoice payment reminders, recurring bills and payroll.
• If you decide to keep your office open during the holiday season, you will need to keep in mind the rules around public holiday pay.
• Create a project-specific communication system that your team members and clients can access without challenges.
• A good client onboarding checklist determines whether a customer will remain faithful to using your products.

I wanted to inform you in advance that our office will be closed for the holidays and our team will be taking time to relax with friends and family. The office will be closed from timing difference [holiday start date] to [holiday end date]. To assist you in preparing for this temporary closure, we’ve created a guide on what you need to know about closing for the holidays.

Step 9: Import the initial set of data and reconcile the accounts.

You can access accounts, previous accounting systems, and inventory records through the communications system. Knowing the taxation and reviewing previous invoices, financial statements, or documents can also be easier. If you’re planning to develop a new bookkeeping client checklist for onboarding, this guide is for you, as we’ll delve deeper into that and much more. If you’re looking for a more robust way to track projects, deadlines, and tasks across your team, check out Jetpack Workflow with a free 14 day trial here.

This is a great way to learn how to use the program so you can work with your clients and to wow your clients when you actually begin working with them. A checklist to get things going is a good place to start, and I’d be happy to point you in the direction of the New Client Checklist mentioned in the module. Closing your office during the holiday season helps your team receive a well-deserved break during a slow period.

QuickBooks New Client Checklist*

Remember to note important details during the client onboarding meeting and follow up later to ensure everything runs smoothly. 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. I love that you’re sharpening your QuickBooks Online skills by going through the certification modules in QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA).

Proactively tell the client when they can expect their books to be updated and how you will address any issues going forward. Make sure that you’ve created recurring tasks lists in your system so that you don’t overlook any deadlines. If your client selected one of the higher tiers of QuickBooks Online, you can directly import the bank statements when the bank accounts are updated. It’s vital that you have the correct product to suit the needs of your business as well as your client companies.

Create a chart of accounts:

It’s designed to make every client engagement easier, from tasks like the onboarding of clients to building timely reports. Then assign each team member a task and attach deadlines and instructions on how you want the project done. You should also plan for an orientation meeting to brief the team members about the client, their goals, and their challenges. The bookkeeping client onboarding questionnaire is like an interview where you want to know more about the customer.

Establish user access and permissions:

So give the client time to ask any burning questions and be ready to provide solutions. Small business clients are often very savvy in their fields but may not understand the finer points of accounting. Giving them a small sample of a couple of months of accounting to review gives them something concrete to provide comments on.

Take Notes and Do Follow-Ups

You can also advise them or do a gain-and-loss forecasts for their future projects using your prior work experience. Though there are several differences between the tiers, one of the main differences is the advanced reporting and class tracking that is available in the higher QuickBooks Online tiers. If your client does not have a need for these, they can start off at a lower tier, save money, and upgrade later if need be.