Before you begin
Your organization must have Client Onboarding enabled. Viewing requires onboarding read access; creating or changing templates and portals requires onboarding write access and active billing. Convert to Client requires onboarding management access. Your role and company scope can limit what appears. The Client Onboarding module provides a workspace for onboarding new clients to your MSP. Build reusable templates, launch branded portals for each company, and track every step of the process — from initial discovery through full deployment.Overview
Client onboarding in MSPortal works in three layers:- Templates — Reusable blueprints that define your onboarding process (phases, tasks, documents, surveys, approvals)
- Portals — Draft or active instances of templates created for a specific company, with their own contacts, progress, and timeline
- Client Portal — A branded, secure experience where clients complete tasks, upload documents, sign agreements, and track progress
Templates
Build reusable onboarding blueprints with phases, tasks, and automation
Client Pages
Reusable client-facing reference pages, shared with your Documentation Hub
Onboarding Forms
Structured forms with typed fields and optional Hudu / IT Glue mapping
Managing Portals
Launch portals, track progress, and manage the onboarding lifecycle
Client Portal
What your clients see and how they interact with their portal
Key Features
Tasks and evidence
Standard tasks, meetings, document uploads, digital signatures, credential handoff, secure file drops, training, forms, approvals, and checklists
AI Template Designer
Describe your onboarding process in plain language and AI generates a complete template with phases and tasks
Reusable Forms
Build structured forms once with typed fields, and map answers into Hudu or IT Glue
Client Pages
Share reusable reference pages in the portal, unified with your Documentation Hub
Branded Client Portal
Custom logo, accent color, and welcome message — clients access via secure link with no account required
PSA Project Integration
Link portals to PSA projects, create tickets from tasks, and log time — with configurable defaults
Activity Feed
Recorded portal activity with search and filtering
Communication Tools
Send task summaries and reminders, hold task comment threads, and let clients ask questions from their portal
Dashboard Integration
Active onboarding banner and personal task queue on your MSP dashboard
Getting Started
1
Enable Client Onboarding
Contact your account administrator to enable Client Onboarding for your tenant. Once enabled, the onboarding settings and features become available across your tenant.
2
Create a Template
Go to Settings > Onboarding > Templates and click New Template. Define your phases, tasks, and evidence requirements. See the Templates guide for details.
3
Launch a Portal
Open a company page, click the Onboarding tab, and click Start Onboarding. Select template modules, add client contacts, and create a draft. Review project linking, configuration, and the client preview before using Start Portal. See Managing Portals.
4
Track Progress
Monitor task completion, review documents, and communicate with clients from the company’s onboarding tab. Your dashboard also shows active portals and assigned tasks.
How changes take effect
Templates define future portals; portal phases and tasks are copied at creation. Template detail edits use Save Changes, while many builder item controls save separately. Portal creation saves a draft before optional project linking. Start & Send Invites activates the portal and queues invitations; View as is a separate MSP preview that does not save client responses. Review automation and email/report timing before creating a portal. Draft status prevents normal client entry but does not turn configured automation or explicit project actions into previews.Permissions
Client onboarding must be enabled at the tenant level before the feature appears in settings and company pages. Contact your account administrator to enable it.
Related Resources
Quick Start
Prepare a draft, preview it, and activate it when ready
Templates
Build and manage onboarding templates
Client Pages
Reusable client-facing reference pages
Onboarding Forms
Structured forms with field mapping
Managing Portals
Launch, track, and complete onboarding portals
Custom Dates
Milestone tracking and the portal countdown
Client Portal
The client-facing portal experience
Settings
Configure onboarding settings
Frequently asked questions
Which guide should an MSP use first?
Which guide should an MSP use first?
Use Quick Start to prepare a template and draft portal, then Managing Portals for day-to-day work and lifecycle actions.
Is this the same as Launch Center?
Is this the same as Launch Center?
No. Launch Center helps MSP staff configure their own portal rollout. Client Onboarding manages onboarding workspaces for individual companies.
Do clients build templates or manage portal contacts?
Do clients build templates or manage portal contacts?
These guides describe MSP administration. Clients use their assigned portal to complete tasks and provide information according to their access.
Do I need a PSA to use onboarding?
Do I need a PSA to use onboarding?
No. Project linking offers MSPortal Projects for native tracking. External PSA options depend on the connected provider and company mapping.
Does an MSP preview prove the portal is ready for clients?
Does an MSP preview prove the portal is ready for clients?
It verifies presentation in a selected contact or role context. Real invitation access, email delivery, and saved responses require separate verification.