New client onboarding checklist for bookkeepers and accountants

Onboarding sets the tone for the whole relationship. Collect everything in one request instead of a long email thread, and you start the engagement with complete, organized information.

Business information

Legal business name and any trade names
Business address and main contact person
Formation documentsArticles of incorporation or organization, operating agreement or bylaws.
Tax ID confirmationFor example, the IRS EIN letter in the US.
Ownership details and percentages

Financial history

Prior year business tax return
Most recent financial statements
List of bank accounts, credit cards and loans
Opening balances or the last reconciled month

Systems and access

Which accounting software do you use today?
Payroll provider and payroll reports
Sales tax or VAT registrations, if any
Signed engagement letter

Tips to get every document on time

Send the onboarding request the same day the client signs, while motivation is high.
Ask for read-only access to software instead of passwords sent by email.
Split “must have before we start” from “nice to have” so onboarding never stalls on one document.

Send this checklist as a secure upload link

DocRally turns this checklist into one secure link for each client: no logins, uploads from the phone, automatic reminders until everything is in, and an AI check that flags the wrong document or period. The "New client onboarding" template is ready in every new account.