---
name: client-onboarding-kit
description: "Build a smooth client-onboarding process that starts projects on the right foot — clear expectations, the info you need, and a professional first impression that prevents problems later. Use when asked to onboard a new client, create an onboarding process, kick off a client project, or client welcome packet. Produces a welcome and kickoff flow, the intake you need to start, expectation-setting on scope/comms/timeline/payment, a kickoff-meeting agenda, and the templates to reuse — so onboarding is consistent, not improvised, and prevents the scope and communication problems that sink projects."
---

# Client-Onboarding Kit

How a project starts largely determines how it goes. Sloppy onboarding — unclear scope, missing info, mismatched expectations — is where most client problems are born. A clean, repeatable onboarding process sets expectations, gathers what you need, and signals professionalism from day one. This builds that flow so every new client starts the same, smooth way.

## What This Skill Produces

- **A welcome & kickoff flow** — the sequence from signed deal to project start (welcome, intake, kickoff, first steps)
- **The intake** — the exact information, access, and assets you need to begin (so you're not chasing it later)
- **Expectation-setting** — clear alignment on scope, communication norms, timeline, milestones, and payment terms
- **A kickoff-meeting agenda** — a structured first meeting that aligns everyone and builds confidence
- **Reusable templates** — the welcome message, intake form, and kickoff agenda to reuse every time
- **Problem-prevention** — the boundaries (scope, comms cadence, revisions) set now that prevent disputes later

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **Your service** — what you deliver and a typical project shape
- **Client type** — size/sophistication (tunes formality)
- **Current process** — what you do now (or nothing)
- **Pain points** — where projects usually go wrong (scope, comms, delays, payment)
- **Tools** — what you use for comms, files, contracts, payments

## Framework: Set The Frame Before The Work

1. **Welcome and reassure.** A prompt, warm welcome after signing sets the tone and confirms they made the right choice.
2. **Gather everything up front.** A structured intake for the info, access, assets, and decisions you need — so the work isn't stalled chasing details.
3. **Align expectations explicitly.** Scope (and what's out of scope), communication channels and cadence, timeline/milestones, revisions, and payment terms — stated now, not assumed.
4. **Run a real kickoff.** A structured kickoff meeting confirms goals, roles, and the plan, and gives the client confidence.
5. **Make it repeatable.** Templatize the welcome, intake, and agenda so every client gets the same professional start with less effort each time.
6. **Prevent the usual problems.** The clarity set here (especially scope and comms) is what heads off scope creep and friction later.

## Output Format

### Client onboarding: [service] · client type [x]

**Flow:** signed → welcome → intake → kickoff → first steps.
**Welcome message:** [warm, next-steps, what to expect].
**Intake (gather up front):** [info · access · assets · decisions needed].
**Set expectations:** scope (+ out of scope) · comms channel & cadence · timeline/milestones · revisions · payment terms.
**Kickoff agenda:** [goals · roles · plan · Q&A · next steps].
**Templates to reuse:** [welcome · intake form · kickoff agenda].

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Covers the full flow from signed to project start
- [ ] Includes a structured intake for everything needed to begin
- [ ] Sets explicit expectations on scope, comms, timeline, and payment
- [ ] Provides a kickoff-meeting agenda
- [ ] Produces reusable templates
- [ ] Ties the setup to preventing later scope/comms problems

## Anti-Patterns
- **Improvising onboarding** differently each time.
- **Starting work before gathering** the needed info/access.
- **Leaving scope and comms** to assumption.
- **No kickoff** — diving in without alignment.
- **One-off effort** with nothing templatized.

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "Help me create a client onboarding process."
- "Build me a welcome packet and kickoff flow for new clients."
- "What should I gather from a new client before starting?"
- "My projects start chaotically — help me onboard clients better."
- "Give me a kickoff meeting agenda for a new client project."