Getting your client list into Financial Cents correctly is one of the most important steps when setting up your practice management software. This free checklist walks you step by step through preparing, mapping, and importing your client data so nothing falls through the cracks, and your team can start managing work immediately after setup.
What’s Included in This Client Import Checklist
- Importing clients from QuickBooks Online Accountant
- Bulk import clients from a CSV file (if not using QBO)
- Default client settings
- Client Group settings
- Connecting clients not synced via QBO
Why Accounting Firms Need a Client Import Checklist
When you’re migrating to a new practice management system, client data is your foundation. If contact records are incomplete, duplicated, or mapped to the wrong fields, you’ll spend more time fixing problems than managing work. A dedicated import checklist eliminates the guesswork and gives your team a single reference to follow, so the migration happens once and happens right.
Firms often underestimate the prep work required before an import. Client names may be stored inconsistently across your spreadsheets, multiple contacts may be linked to the same client, and required fields in Financial Cents may not map directly to how you’ve been tracking clients in your previous system. Working through these issues before you hit “import” saves hours of cleanup afterward.
Once your clients are in Financial Cents correctly, everything else: projects, deadlines, billing, communications, flows from that foundation. Getting the import right on the first try means your team starts with clean, complete data and can begin delivering work for clients from day one.
How to Use This Client Import Checklist
- If you use QBO: Import your clients from QuickBooks online.
- Export your existing client list (if you are not using QBO): From your current software or spreadsheet, including all contact names, emails, phone numbers, and any custom fields
- Clean and standardize your data: Download the sample fie, fill in missing required fields, and format names and fields consistently
- Import your clients
- Verify: use the post-import section to confirm all records came in correctly
