The onboarding sequence
A consistent sequence reduces back-and-forth and avoids forgotten steps.
- Intake — confirm scope, decision-maker, and timeline
- NDA — when sensitive information will be shared early
- Master agreement — the umbrella service or contractor terms
- Statement of work — deliverable-specific scope, price, and timeline
- Kickoff — signed copies saved, team introduced, first milestone scheduled
Pre-signed templates beat ad-hoc drafting
Every minute spent re-drafting an NDA or service agreement is a minute the project isn't moving. Save baseline templates so onboarding is mostly customization, not authorship.
Keep client documents grouped
Store each client's signed agreements, statements of work, and renewal dates in one place. The next time they come back, the context is already loaded.
When to renegotiate vs renew
Most ongoing client work runs on the same master agreement with new statements of work attached. Renegotiate the master only when scope, liability, or IP terms genuinely change.
Frequently asked
- Do I need both an NDA and a service agreement?
- Not always. If the master agreement has strong confidentiality terms, a separate NDA is often unnecessary. NDAs help when sensitive information moves before the main agreement is signed.
- How long should onboarding paperwork take?
- Under an hour for most engagements when templates are ready. The first one for a new client always takes longer; subsequent engagements are quick.
- Should each client get their own folder or portal?
- Yes. Grouping by client keeps signed agreements, statements of work, and renewals together and makes ongoing relationships easier to manage.
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