There are many ways in which you can add clients to SI.

#1 Create a Client in SI

This method provides the most flexibility in specifying a client's details when creating the client in SI.

To create a client in SI, click the New button in the Client Explorer.

The New Client form will open.

General Tab

Enter any relevant information.

The default Client Type will be "Lead," but you can change this if needed.

Leads are clients without a project, service order, or service plan associated with them.
Prospects are clients without a "Won" project or a "Closed" service order or service plan.

These differentiations of "Client Type" help with forecasting using Business Analytics.

If you are entering a "Lead," you may want to set a Lead Source. Click the Manage Lead Sources link to add or edit the default list.

In addition to standard information like phone and email, you can:

Pre-assign taxes and a price type.
Set a default currency for the client if you are using multiple currencies.
Assign an Avalara Tax Exemption code if you have enabled the Avalara Tax integration.

Addresses Tab

On the Addresses tab, click the New button and enter any relevant addresses for the client. The Name field can be used to further identify the addresses when there are multiple.

You can enter any notes or comments if needed.

Contacts Tab

On the Contacts tab, enter any contacts you want to associate with the client. For residential clients, the client and primary contact may often be the same.

You can enter a new contact from scratch, add existing contacts, or import contacts from Outlook.

The first contact you add will be set as the primary contact. The primary contact is added to SI projects automatically when a client is selected for a project.

Custom Fields Tab

You can also add Client Custom Fields for clients to use in your layouts in SI and custom reports.

Cover Page Image

You can set a specific image per client for the Cover Page report and Proposal-style reports. When projects are created for the client, this image will be used for reporting.

#2 Import Clients from CSV

The CSV file you use should contain header rows. You will map the spreadsheet's columns to fields within SI.

If you want to paste your data into a template .csv file, you can create a client manually (if none exists) in SI, click the Export button, and choose CSV > Selected.

The exported CSV shows all the available fields for a client. You can export as few or as many as you need for your data.

To import a CSV file:

1/ In the Client Explorer, click Import > CSV.

You will be prompted to browse to your .csv file.

2/ Once you select your file, the Map CSV File form will open. You will need to map the columns in your CSV file to client fields in the SI.

Some fields will be pre-mapped if they are exact or close matches.

3/ When you click the Map link next to an item, you can select the appropriate field. Alternatively, you can unmap any field by clicking the None button on the form.

4/ When done, click OK.

The Import Clients from CSV form will open.

5/ Select the clients you wish to import, then click the Import and Close button or the Import button.

#3 Import Clients from Outlook

You can import clients into SI from Microsoft Outlook. Outlook should be open before importing clients. This is not required, but it will improve the speed of the import.

To import from Outlook:

1/ In the Client Explorer, click Import > Outlook on the ribbon.

The Import Client from Outlook form will open.

2/ Select the clients you want to import.

There are filters in the ribbon for showing all, new, or matched clients.

The New filter only shows clients who don't already exist in SI.
The Matched filter shows only clients already in SI. Use it to update information for existing clients.

Column filters and a search field are also available. You can also choose a specific Contacts folder from Outlook.

3/ Use filters and search to narrow down the import list.

4/ Select an available Address Type from Outlook to import as the billing and site address.

You can also choose Import Company Name as Client Name.

5/ Once you've selected your clients, click Import and Close or Import.

#4 Import from QuickBooks

You can import clients into SI from QuickBooks. QuickBooks should be open before importing clients. This is not required, but it will improve the speed of the import.

To import from QuickBooks:

1/ In the Client Explorer, click the QuickBooks button in the Import section of the ribbon.

The Import Client from QuickBooks form will open.

2/ Select the clients you want to import.

There are filters in the ribbon for showing all, new, or matched clients.

The new filter only shows clients who don't already exist in SI.
The Matched filter shows only clients already in SI. Use it to update information for existing clients.

There are column filters and a search field as well.

3/ Use filters and search to narrow down the import list.

4/ Once you've selected your clients, click Import and Close or Import.

#5 Create Client from Contact

You can create a client from an existing contact when needed.

1/ Select the contact in the Contact Explorer and click the Create as Client button.