Client Offboarding Checklist

What this is

A one-page printable checklist for closing out a client engagement. The project might have ended, the retainer might have been cancelled, or the client might have moved to an agency. In every case, a clean handover protects your reputation and keeps referrals possible.

What is inside

Access & handover

• Transfer all account ownership back to client
• Share all files, assets, and deliverables
• Document passwords / credentials handed over
• Remove yourself from tools and platforms
• Hand over any ongoing campaigns with status notes

Final deliverables

• Send final report / summary of work done
• Deliver any outstanding assets
• Document what was in progress and recommended next steps
• Archive project files for your records

Financial

• Send final invoice with complete itemisation
• Confirm all previous invoices are paid
• Issue credit note if any advance is outstanding
• Share expense receipts if applicable

Relationship

• Send a thank-you note (personal, not templated)
• Ask for a testimonial or Google review
• Ask if they’d be open to being a reference
• Request a referral (“Who else might benefit from this?”)
• Connect on LinkedIn if not already

Documentation

• Update your portfolio / case study
• Log learnings: what worked, what you’d change
• Update your CRM with engagement summary
• Set a 90-day reminder to check in

How to use it

Print it and go through it in your final meeting or during the last week of the engagement. Of everything I do, a tidy offboarding has brought me the most referrals.

Version history

Version	Date	Notes
1.0	May 2026	Initial release