A new client signed. Your onboarding pack — welcome letter, contract copy, brief template, kick-off agenda — needs to go out today. From scratch, it's two hours. From templates, it's 15 minutes.
Here's the pack and the routine.
Build the onboarding template pack once
Five sections, each as a template PDF in `/Templates/Onboarding/`:
01_Welcome.pdf — branded welcome with client's name placeholder. 02_Contract.pdf — your signed MSA template. 03_Brief.pdf — discovery questionnaire. 04_Kickoff-Agenda.pdf — first meeting agenda. 05_Contacts.pdf — your team's contacts and escalation paths.
Build once, use forever. Update quarterly.
Personalise the welcome and brief
Copy the templates to `/Working/<client>/`. Open each in Flint edit and update the placeholders — client name, project name, key dates. Three to five minutes per document.
For the contract, use the signed version from the deal close. For everything else, the template carries the structure.
Merge into one onboarding pack
Merge the five PDFs into `Onboarding_<client>_<date>.pdf`. The client gets one file, not five attachments. Looks polished, easier to file.
For the pack to feel cohesive, ensure the templates share branding — same logo placement, same colour scheme, same font on covers.
Compress and send
Compress the pack to under 10 MB. Send with a one-paragraph email: welcome, link to the pack, next step (kick-off call). Calendar invite goes alongside.
File the sent pack in `/Engagements/<client>/Onboarding/`. It's part of the client's permanent record.
FAQ
Should I password-protect the onboarding pack?
Usually not — friction in the first interaction signals over-bureaucracy. For sensitive contracts within the pack, use a separate password-protected PDF later.
How often should I update the templates?
Quarterly. Brand changes, contract clauses, contact details all drift. Fifteen minutes a quarter keeps the pack current.
What if different clients need different onboarding?
Build a few template variants — small business, enterprise, retainer, project. Don't make 20; three or four covers most cases.
Should the brief be editable by the client?
Often yes — send the brief as both a PDF (for record) and an editable doc (for the client to fill in). The pack contains the PDF; the editable version goes alongside as a Drive link.
Onboarding is a moment of trust. A polished pack earns it. Build yours in Flint and ship the next new client in under 20 minutes.