# Add a client

Create a Contact and an Entity, assign Services, and decide whether to send a proposal.

Source: https://ziffa.io/user-guide/add-client

## Before you begin

Have the main contact's name and email, the Entity's details, and its agreed Services ready. The Services should already exist in [Settings → Services](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/settings/services).

You need access to create clients. If fee controls are unavailable to you, you can save the records and leave the proposal for a colleague who has access to Fees.

## 1. Open Add Client

Open **Clients**, then select **Add Client**.

![Clients list filtered to fictional demonstration clients, with the Add Client button visible.](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/images/add-client.webp)
*Start from the Clients list. Demonstration records are shown here.*

## 2. Choose the Contact

Enter the main contact's name and email. In our example, this is Joshua Gauci. If the person already exists, choose **Use existing contact** and find their record instead of creating a duplicate.

Choose **Role in this entity**, such as Director or Finance Contact. If you choose Other, enter the role name. This describes the person's relationship to this Entity; it is separate from your colleagues' firm roles.

Select **Continue** to save this step and move to the Entity details. It does not send a proposal.

![Contact step with Joshua Gauci and a fictional example.com email address.](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/images/contact.webp)
*The Contact is the person who receives communications.*

Read [Contacts and Entities](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/contacts-and-entities) if you are unsure which details belong here.

## 3. Enter the Entity details

Choose the Entity type and enter its name and the details requested for that type. Our example is Seabreeze Trading Ltd, a limited company.

Check registration, tax, and date details against your records. Complete applicable financial year-end and period-end information when available. These dates help Ziffa calculate recurring due dates; missing dates can prevent a Job from being scheduled.

Select **Continue** to move to Services. Read [Entity dates and tax details](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/entities-and-scheduling) for the scheduling effect of these fields.

![Entity step showing fictional details for Seabreeze Trading Ltd.](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/images/entity.webp)
*Entity details describe the business or individual receiving your Services.*

## 4. Choose Services and fees

Select the Services you will provide. Where you have access to Fees, review the default amounts and change them for this Entity if needed. Check VAT, line items, additional fees, and discounts that apply.

Where Billing controls are available, check the billing trigger and start policy. For Job-based billing, make sure each fee line has the correct **Bill when** selection.

The proposal preview shows recurring fees on an annual basis. For example, €250 per month appears as €3,000 a year before VAT. This is a proposal total, not an invoice that has been issued.

Select **Confirm & Continue** to save the selection and open the review step. This button does not issue an invoice.

![Services and Proposal step with a demonstration bookkeeping Service selected.](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/images/services.webp)
*Check both the Services and their commercial terms before continuing.*

Related: [Services](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/services) and [Create and issue bills](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/create-and-issue-bills).

## 5. Review and choose what happens next

Check the Contact, Entity, Services, and fees shown on the review screen.

![Review step showing the demonstration client and optional proposal preparation.](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/images/review.webp)
*Preparing a proposal is optional. Read the final button before selecting it.*

| Action | What happens |
| --- | --- |
| Leave proposal preparation off, then **Create or Update Client** | Save the client information without sending a proposal. |
| **Create & review setup**, after choosing signature | Save the client and prepare the signing setup for review. This is not the final send action. |
| **Create & send for signature** | Save the client and send the signing request to the selected recipients. |
| A final **Create & …** action for approval or email | Save the client and start the chosen delivery action. Check the selected action and recipients first. |

For recipient choices and the differences between approval, signing, and email, follow [Send a proposal or engagement document](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/send-proposal).

## 6. Check the result

Return to **Clients** and find the new Entity. Check its Services and next action. A client saved without a proposal can be picked up by the colleague responsible for sending it.

![Clients list showing Seabreeze Trading Ltd after the wizard is completed.](https://ziffa.io/user-guide/images/client-created.webp)
*The saved Entity is available in the Clients list.*

Creating the records does not automatically complete due diligence, accept the client, or issue a bill. Finish the applicable review and activation steps before expecting all Service work to begin.