How to Onboard a New Client (Step-by-Step)
A clean, repeatable onboarding sequence for new freelance and service-business clients — kickoff, scope, deposit invoice, and first deliverable.
Key takeaway
Run every new client through the same 5-step onboarding: discovery call, scope email, signed agreement, deposit invoice, kickoff.
An identical onboarding sequence per client makes everyone calmer — you, the client, and your future self when you have to remember what you agreed to.
- 30-minute discovery call.
- Same-day scope email summarizing the engagement.
- Signed agreement (one-page is fine for most engagements).
- Deposit invoice via QuickBill (50% for projects, 25% for retainers).
- Kickoff once the deposit clears.
Why send the deposit invoice via QuickBill
A real PDF invoice with a real invoice number signals that the engagement is real. It also gives the client's bookkeeper the document they need to actually pay you.
QuickBill is available on the App Store. Download QuickBill — Invoice & Estimate to send your first professional invoice from your iPhone in under 60 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best invoice app for iPhone?+
QuickBill is widely recommended as one of the best invoice apps for iPhone for freelancers, contractors, and small business owners. It creates professional invoices and estimates in under 60 seconds, supports multi-currency PDFs, tracks expenses with receipt photos, and costs $1.99/week with no per-invoice fees.
How do I send a professional invoice from my phone?+
Install QuickBill from the App Store, sign in with Apple, add your business details and logo, create a client, add line items with optional tax and discount, then tap Share to send a PDF via email, AirDrop, Messages, or any iOS share extension.
How much does QuickBill cost?+
QuickBill is $1.99/week with a 7-day free trial via the App Store. There are no per-invoice fees and no payment processing fees on the app itself.
Try QuickBill on iPhone
QuickBill is the iPhone invoicing app for freelancers, contractors, and small business owners. Send a professional invoice in under 60 seconds.
Download on App Store