What should I look for in a bookkeeping firm’s client onboarding checklist?

A checklist is only useful if staff follow it. Ask for completed copies from recent clients, with names removed, and see whether the boxes are filled, dated and initialled. Blank or inconsistent forms suggest each bookkeeper onboards in their own way, and that is exactly the habit that causes trouble when the owner leaves.

Read what the checklist covers. A sound one collects the engagement terms, confirms who may give instructions, records which accounts and tools the firm can reach, and captures the starting position of the books so that later problems can be traced to their cause. It should also say what the firm expects from the client, such as how often receipts arrive.

Ask who reviews each new file and how long a new client takes to settle in. Then ask about the clients who were awkward to bring on board. Their stories show where the checklist falls short. After a purchase, you may wish to use the same form to re-confirm each client’s authorizations in your own name. Ask the owner which client was the hardest to onboard and what changed afterward, because the answer shows whether the checklist is a living tool.

Key takeaways

• Ask for completed checklists, not only a blank template.
• Check that authorizations and account access are recorded for every client.
• Look for a named reviewer on each new client file.
• Use the checklist to re-confirm client permissions after the sale.