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Picture this: a new client signs on, and everything from contracts to invoices is magically handled while you sip your hot tea. Sound too good to be true? It’s totally possible with a little automation magic! We all know that manual client onboarding can be overwhelming, especially when you’re already juggling so much.
Automating client onboarding can save time, reduce stress and make the whole process smoother. This has been one of my favorite ways that I’ve automated my business and I can’t wait to see how it changes your life! So let’s get to it.
Why Automating Client Onboarding is a Game Changer for ADHD Entrepreneurs
Lost emails, forgotten follow-ups, time-consuming back-and-forths… You’ve been there, right? It’s so frustrating and stressful! For ADHD brains, managing client onboarding manually can feel like herding cats. It’s easy to miss a step or let something slip through the cracks – especially when you’re already managing a hundred and one other tasks.
Automation is about to ease your mental load, reduce decision fatigue and streamline those repetitive tasks. By automating your client onboarding, you’re removing the need to make the same decisions over and over again. The process becomes smoother, faster and way less stressful.
Automating Client Intake
Automating the client intake process ensures that new client information is captured accurately and efficiently. Instead of chasing down details through endless email chains, use an automated intake form to gather all the necessary info upfront. One form, one step, done.
Content Snare
My favorite client onboarding automation tool is Content Snare, by leaps and bounds. You can add ALL the info you need from your client, including documents, plus add items you need them to do, all within the same Content Snare request. It autosaves their work, automatically follows up with them until the request is completely finished, and emails you when it’s past due or completed.Â
Content Snare has saved my bacon on several occasions and it’s been one of the BEST automation decisions that I’ve made in my business. (I also use it for discovery questionnaires and month-end requests, but it has a ton of templates and a wide variety of uses!)
Google Forms
Before I was ready to set up Content Snare, I used Google Forms successfully. You could also use JotForm or Typeform. Set up a simple intake form that collects key info – client contact details, project scope, deadlines – all in one go. Then, automatically send that info wherever you need it using Zapier. Google Forms will add it to a Google spreadsheet, which is extra helpful.
Just remember to keep it simple for you! Only ask for the essentials. Our ADHD brains can get overwhelmed by too much info, so streamline your questions to gather exactly what you need – no more, no less. You can always tweak your forms or Content Snare requests as you go, so they don’t have to be perfect when you first set them up.
Automating Proposals and Contracts
Holy Toledo, Batman! Talk about a game-changer in my business. Before I automated my proposals and contracts, I was drowning in this work. Not because I had clients lined up out the door, but because of how much this part will weigh you down when you’re doing it manually!
We’ve all been there: scrambling to create a new proposal, then contract, for each client, manually filling in their details. It’s tedious, it’s stressful and it’s time-consuming. But with automation, that whole process can run itself. Yes, you read that correctly!
Anchor is my must-have, all-in-one proposal, engagement, invoicing and payment platform (more about those last two below). With Anchor, you can create templates for your proposals and contracts, customize them for each client and send them out in just a few clicks. The best part? You never have to touch a piece of paper or use more than one platform.
There’s no need for clients to print, sign and scan. Tools like Anchor allow clients to sign contracts digitally, making the whole process faster and easier.Â
Automating Invoices and Payments
It’s time to prevent late payments and save time on chasing down clients. No more stressing over whether you remembered to send the invoice – or when you’ll get paid. Automation takes care of it for you, so you can focus on your actual work and know that money is going to hit your bank.
Wanna guess my favorite way to make this happen? That’s right, it’s Anchor once again! When you set up the proposal, you set the date that the invoice will run and how long it’ll run for. (ex: For my bookkeeping company, our monthly services run the first of the month, every month. Our clean-up services can be one lump sum due upon acceptance of the contract or I can set up a 3-month payment plan that runs once a month for three months.)Â
The client adds in their payment information (credit card, debit card or ACH) and Anchor automatically runs their payment when the invoice is due. No more manual follow-ups or wondering when you’re going to see that payment! It has greatly reduced my stress and mental load since I set this up.
I could obviously shout about Anchor from the rooftops! It’s free to send proposals and receive contracts, you can have your client pay the credit card processing fees, and you only pay a $5 fee for each invoice that runs. That’s much cheaper than any other payment processor I’ve looked into. If you use my link to sign up, you’ll receive a $50 Anchor credit as a welcome gift – that’s your first 10 invoices for free!
Streamlining the Entire Client Onboarding Workflow with Zapier
Zapier can automate connections between different platforms (like Content Snare, project management systems and Google Suites) so you don’t have to manually move information between tools. Zapier is the glue that ties all your tools together. Once a client fills out a Content Snare request, Zapier can automatically trigger the next steps – like adding them to your project management system and Google Contacts – so the whole process flows seamlessly.
Just remember, you don’t need to automate everything all at once. Begin by automating the parts that take up the most time – like onboarding or contracts – and add more steps as you get comfortable.
The Benefits of Automating Client Onboarding and Invoicing
Save time. Save energy. That’s basically it in a nutshell! Automating your onboarding frees up hours of your time every month. Instead of getting bogged down by admin tasks, you can focus on serving your clients and growing your business.
No more forgetting to send invoices or chasing down contracts. With automation, you can relax knowing everything is handled, and nothing falls through the cracks. You’ll reduce the stress of manually managing clients, preventing overwhelm and burnout.
A streamlined onboarding process isn’t just easier for you – it creates a better experience for your clients too. Everything feels more organized, and clients appreciate how smooth and professional the process is.
Ready to Automate Your Client Onboarding?
With the right tools and automations in place, client onboarding can go from stressful to seamless. You’ll save time, reduce stress and create a better experience for your clients. But remember, you don’t have to automate everything overnight.Â
Start with one or two steps, like automating your contracts or onboarding, and watch how much time and mental energy you get back. As ADHD entrepreneurs, we thrive when things are simple and streamlined. Let automation take the heavy lifting off your plate so you can focus on what really lights you up!
Want more ADHD-friendly business tips? Grab my free guide on How I Saved 5 Hours a Week with Gmail Labels & Filters or follow me on Instagram for more ways to streamline and simplify your entrepreneurial journey!