What you'll get from this guide
- Welcome letter + access instructions + preference form — copy-paste ready
- First-clean expectations guide (sets the right baseline before the crew arrives)
- Communication policy + escalation contact template
Download the Client Onboarding Packet
Get the fully formatted version of this onboarding packet. Includes the welcome letter, access sheet, first-clean expectations guide, and preference form — ready to send on day one.
Disclaimer
This template is provided for general informational purposes only. Legal, tax, and regulatory requirements vary by business and jurisdiction, so you are responsible for reviewing and adapting it before use. LeadDuo makes no warranties and is not liable for outcomes resulting from use of this template.
Powered by LeadDuo ServiceHub — www.leadduo.io
Why Onboarding Matters for Retention
Cancellation rate in first 90 days
60% less
Top complaint from cleaning clients
Unmet expectations
Early cancellations from unmet expectations
40%
Referral likelihood increase
2×
Copy-Paste: Welcome Letter
Subject: Welcome to [Your Company Name] — Everything You Need for Your First Clean
Hi [Client First Name],
Welcome to [Your Company Name]! We're excited to take care of your home, and we want to make sure your experience is great from day one.
Here's what you need to know before we arrive:
Your first clean is scheduled for:
[Day], [Date] at [Time]
Your cleaner: [Cleaner Name] — [optional: brief intro, e.g., 'Sarah has been with our team for 3 years and specializes in residential deep cleans']
What to expect on your first visit:
Your first clean is a deep clean. This means it will take longer than a regular maintenance visit — typically [X–X hours] for a home your size. We'll be thorough on every surface, corner, and fixture. After this visit, your recurring cleans will be faster and more efficient because we're maintaining a clean baseline.
How to prepare:
• Clear countertops of small items you'd like us to clean around
• Secure pets in a room, crate, or outside during the clean
• Let us know about any fragile or valuable items you'd like us to avoid
• Ensure access to all rooms you'd like cleaned
How to communicate with us:
Best way to reach us: [SMS / Email / Phone] at [Contact Info]
For scheduling changes: please give us [48 hours] notice where possible
For urgent issues: call [Phone Number] and we'll respond within [X hours]
Our guarantee:
If anything doesn't meet your expectations after a clean, let us know within [24 hours] and we'll come back to re-clean the area at no charge. Your satisfaction is our standard.
Attached to this email you'll find:
• Access + entry instructions sheet (please fill in and return before your first visit)
• What to expect on your first clean
• Your client preference form (fragrance, pets, areas of focus)
We look forward to taking great care of your home.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Company Name]
[Phone] | [Email] | [Website]
Copy-Paste: Access + Key Instructions Sheet
[YOUR COMPANY NAME] — CLIENT ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS
Client Name: [Client Full Name]
Service Address: [Address, City, State, ZIP]
Date Completed: [Date]
ENTRY METHOD
□ Lockbox — Location: __________ | Code: __________
□ Key provided to company — Key tag / ID: __________
□ Client will be home
□ Garage code — Code: __________
□ Other: __________
ALARM SYSTEM
□ No alarm
□ Alarm present — Disarm code: __________ | Panel location: __________
Re-arm on exit? □ Yes □ No
Alarm company name: __________ | Contact number: __________
Special instructions: __________
PARKING
Crew may park: □ Driveway □ Street □ Designated spot — #: __________
Parking notes: __________
PETS
Pets in home? □ No □ Yes
Pet name(s): __________
Pet type(s): __________
Pet location during clean: □ Outside □ Crated □ Specific room: __________
Notes (behavior, fears, do not let out): __________
SPECIAL ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS
Gate code (if applicable): __________
Building access / intercom (if applicable): __________
Elevator instructions (if applicable): __________
Other notes: __________
AREAS OFF-LIMITS
Please list any rooms or areas the crew should NOT enter or clean:
__________
EMERGENCY CONTACT
Name: __________ | Relationship: __________ | Phone: __________
(In case we are unable to reach you during the service visit)
Client Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
Copy-Paste: What to Expect on Your First Clean
[YOUR COMPANY NAME] — WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST CLEAN
Your first clean is a deep clean.
We start every new client relationship with a thorough deep clean of your home. This takes longer than a regular visit — typically [X–X hours] depending on your home size and current condition. We want to establish a clean baseline so every future visit is a maintenance clean, not a catch-up.
What we clean on every visit:
• All bathrooms: toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, mirrors, floors
• Kitchen: countertops, stovetop exterior, sink, appliance exteriors (microwave, fridge outside), cabinet fronts
• All bedrooms and living areas: dusting, vacuuming, mopping, surface wiping
• Common areas: hallways, entry, stairs
• Floors throughout: vacuum carpets, sweep and mop hard floors
What we do not clean by default:
• Inside the oven (available as an add-on — ask us)
• Inside the refrigerator (available as an add-on)
• Inside cabinets or drawers
• Laundry or dishes
• Exterior windows
• We do not move heavy furniture
• We do not clean areas with visible mold or hazardous materials
After subsequent (maintenance) visits:
Once the deep clean baseline is established, your regular visits are maintenance cleans. These are faster and focus on keeping your home at the standard we set on the first visit.
How to give feedback:
If anything doesn't meet your expectations, please let us know within [24 hours] of your clean. Contact us at [Phone / Email]. We will schedule a re-clean of any area that did not meet our standard at no charge. We take feedback seriously and use it to improve.
Our re-clean policy:
We stand behind our work. If you notify us within [24 hours] of a completed clean, we will return to address any concerns — no questions asked.
Copy-Paste: Client Preference Form
[YOUR COMPANY NAME] — CLIENT PREFERENCE FORM
Client Name: [Client Full Name]
Service Address: [Address]
FRAGRANCE PREFERENCE
□ Unscented products only (sensitive / allergy household)
□ Light fragrance acceptable
□ Standard scented products are fine
Notes: __________
CLEANING PRODUCT PREFERENCES
□ No preference — use your standard products
□ Eco / non-toxic products preferred
□ We provide our own products — please use ours (location: __________)
Products to avoid: __________
PET INFORMATION
Pet name(s): __________
Pet type(s): __________
Behavior notes (friendly, anxious, do not let outside): __________
Pet location during clean: __________
ALARM INSTRUCTIONS
Disarm on entry: □ Yes □ No — Code: __________
Re-arm on exit: □ Yes □ No
OFF-LIMIT ROOMS OR AREAS
Please list any rooms, areas, or items you do not want touched:
__________
PRIORITY AREAS
Areas you'd like us to pay extra attention to:
__________
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Anything else we should know about your home or preferences:
__________
PREFERRED CONTACT METHOD
□ SMS / Text — Number: __________
□ Email — Address: __________
□ Phone call — Number: __________
Best time to reach you: __________
Thank you for completing this form. We'll keep it on file and reference it before every visit.
Client Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
What Goes in the Packet by Client Type
| Client Type | Must Include | Nice to Include | Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Weekly | Welcome letter, access sheet, preference form | First-clean expectations guide | Detailed pricing breakdown |
| Residential Bi-Weekly | Welcome letter, access sheet, preference form, first-clean expectations | Communication policy | — |
| Airbnb / STR | Access + key sheet (critical), turnover checklist instead of preference form | First-clean expectations adapted for turnovers | Preference form (host sets this up separately) |
| Commercial | Access sheet, SOW copy, communication policy | Supervisor contact sheet | Preference form |
For Airbnb and STR clients, replace the preference form with a turnover checklist. For commercial clients, the SOW (scope of work) document replaces the welcome letter as the primary reference document.
?FAQ
What should be in a cleaning client onboarding packet?▼
How do I reduce cancellations from new cleaning clients?▼
When should I send the onboarding packet?▼
What should I tell clients to expect on their first cleaning visit?▼
Should I include a re-clean guarantee in the onboarding packet?▼
Send This Automatically on Day One
If you want every new client to receive the full onboarding packet the moment they're added — without anyone on your team manually sending it — here's how ServiceHub handles it.
- When a new client is created, ServiceHub automatically sends the welcome letter, access sheet, and preference form — personalized with their name and service details
- Completed preference forms and access instructions are stored on the client record, visible to the crew before every visit
- Follow-up reminders go out automatically if the client hasn't completed the preference form within [48 hours]
