Client intake form
The questions to ask a new client before the first meeting, so you start the work with everything you need.
An intake form saves you the first half of every discovery call. The client answers the basic questions in their own time, and you arrive at the meeting already knowing what they need, what they can spend and when they need it.
Keep the questions you need and delete the rest. Shorter forms get finished more often.
The template
Replace everything in [square brackets] with your own details.
About you
- Full name
- Business name (if any)
- Email address
- Phone or WhatsApp number
- Best way and time to reach you
What you need
- What would you like help with? (a few sentences is fine)
- What made you start looking for help now?
- What would a good result look like for you in three months?
- Have you worked with someone on this before? What went well, and what did not?
Budget and timing
- What budget do you have in mind? [Give ranges, for example: under [amount], [amount] to [amount], over [amount], not sure yet]
- When would you like to start?
- Is there a date this must be finished by? Why that date?
Who is involved
- Who else is involved in the decision?
- Who will be our main contact day to day?
Anything else
- How did you hear about [Your business name]?
- Is there anything else we should know before we talk?
[Consent line] I agree that [Your business name] can store these answers to reply to me and, if we work together, to deliver the work. [Link to your privacy policy]
Get this template free
Tell us who you are and the template opens straight away, along with every other free tool and template on this device. We'll email you when we add new ones.
Questions
How long should an intake form be?
As short as you can make it. Ten questions or fewer is a good aim. Ask for anything else on the first call.
Should I ask about budget?
Yes. Offer ranges rather than an open box. It saves both of you from a long call about work that was never going to fit the budget.
Can I turn this into an online form?
Yes. Copy the questions into any form tool. In startbuddi, form answers land on the contact record, so you have them in front of you on the call.
Related free tools
All free toolsKeep every client document in one place.
startbuddi keeps your documents next to the client, the project and the invoice, so nothing lives in a stray folder.
