How to Make a Client Intake Form (Free) — Step by Step
A client intake form gathers everything you need to start work — contact details, project scope, budget, and goals — before your first call. Done online and free, it replaces a scattered email exchange with one clean submission per client. This guide covers the sections to include and how to keep new-client details organized.
Quick answer
To make a client intake form, collect the client's contact info, project or service details, budget and timeline, goals, and any files you need, then share it as one link during onboarding. OneSol's free form builder (onesol.io) — including an AI builder that drafts the form from a prompt — supports file uploads and saves each client's intake in one dashboard, so onboarding is consistent every time.
1. Capture contact and business basics
Start with the client's name, business name, email, phone, and website so you can reach them and understand who they are. Add a 'how did you find us?' field to learn which channels bring clients. Keep this section short — it's the easy on-ramp before the detailed questions.
2. Ask about the project, goals, and scope
Add fields for what the client needs, their main goal, and what success looks like, using a mix of short-answer and multiple-choice. Ask about scope specifics relevant to your service so you can price accurately. A well-framed 'what's the biggest challenge you're facing?' question surfaces the real job to be done.
3. Cover budget, timeline, and files
Ask for a budget range and desired timeline so you can qualify fit before investing time in a proposal. Turn on file upload so clients can attach brand assets, briefs, or examples up front. Offering budget ranges rather than an open field makes people more comfortable answering.
4. Share the form and standardize onboarding
Send the intake link right after a client says yes, or add it to your website so leads self-qualify. OneSol collects each submission in one dashboard so every client is onboarded the same way, and captures their email for follow-ups. Use the AI form builder to generate a first draft from a short description, then tailor the questions to your service.
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FAQ
What should a client intake form include?
Contact and business basics, project details and goals, budget and timeline, and a file upload for assets. Tailor the questions to your specific service.
When should I send a client intake form?
Send it right after a client agrees to work with you, or place it on your site so leads self-qualify before a call. Either way it saves a round of back-and-forth emails.
Can clients upload files to an intake form?
Yes, if your form supports uploads. OneSol's form builder lets clients attach briefs, brand assets, or examples along with their answers.
How is an intake form different from a contract?
An intake form gathers project information to scope the work, while a contract sets the legal terms. You typically use the intake details to draft the proposal and contract.
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