Client Onboarding Checklist
The first week of a brand deal sets the tone for the whole project. This checklist makes sure the contract, brief, assets, and timeline are all locked before you create anything, so the project runs smoothly and you look like a pro.
Creator BusinessPDF6 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- A pre-kickoff checklist so no deal starts before the paperwork is signed
- A brief-and-assets section so you have everything you need to begin
- A communication-setup section that prevents mid-project chaos
- A branded, print-ready PDF you can run for every new client
How to use this template
- 1. Gate the kickoff. Don't start creative work until the pre-kickoff items are checked. A signed contract and deposit protect you before you invest time.
- 2. Collect the brief. Gather the brand's brief, guidelines, and assets in one place. Chasing logos mid-edit is how deadlines slip.
- 3. Set the rhythm. Agree on the single communication channel, the review cadence, and who has final approval before any draft goes out.
- 4. Confirm the timeline. Walk the client through the milestone dates and get explicit agreement, so revision rounds don't quietly push your delivery date.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
2 of 6 sections shown; the remaining 4 come with the free download.
What is a client onboarding checklist?
A client onboarding checklist is the fixed set of steps you complete between signing a brand deal and starting creative work. It covers the paperwork, the brief and assets, the communication setup, and the timeline, each confirmed in writing before anything gets filmed. It runs the same way for every client, whether the deal is worth four hundred dollars or fourteen thousand.
It pays off on the deals that go wrong. When a brand later claims a second video was included, or sends its fonts in week three, the onboarding record shows what was agreed on day one. It also makes you look organised to a client deciding whether to rebook.
Before kickoff
Nothing creative starts until these are done. They protect you if the deal changes.
- Contract is signed by both parties
- Deposit or first payment is received
- Scope, deliverables, and revision limit are confirmed in writing
4 more sections and the PDF are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
Notion AI
Notion AI is an AI writing and productivity assistant built directly into Notion's workspace.
$0/mo
Loom
Loom is a screen recording and async video messaging tool that lets you record your screen, camera, or both and share instantly via link.
$0/mo
Tango
Tango is a screen capture tool that auto-generates step-by-step guides with annotated screenshots as you click through any process.
$0/mo
Scribe
Scribe is a screen capture tool that auto-generates step-by-step process documentation as you click through any workflow, producing text instructions with annotated screenshots, not video.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: Screen Recording Software.
Frequently asked questions
What is a client onboarding checklist?
A repeatable list of everything you confirm before creative work starts on a new client project: signed contract, deposit, brief, brand assets, point of contact, approval route and timeline.
What should a creator do before starting a brand deal?
Confirm the contract is signed and any deposit received, collect the brief and brand assets, agree on a single communication channel and approval process, and lock the timeline. Doing this before any creative work prevents the most common mid-project disputes.
Why send a kickoff recap email?
A short recap summarizing scope, deliverables, dates, and next steps creates a written record both sides agreed to. It dramatically reduces 'I thought that was included' arguments later in the project.
How long should onboarding a brand deal take?
Two or three days of back-and-forth for most sponsorships, and almost all of it is waiting on the brand. Start the checklist the day the contract goes out, so the gaps surface while there is still room in the schedule.
What if the brand will not pay a deposit?
Larger brands often cannot, because payment runs are centralised. Ask for a purchase order number instead and treat that as your paper trail, then keep a kill fee in the contract to cover work done if the campaign is pulled.