CLIENT INTAKE QUESTIONS — ask these before you quote

1. What is the file? (leads, customers, event sign-ups, product list, something else)
2. How many rows and columns, roughly?
3. Where did it come from? (one export, several lists merged, typed by hand)
4. Where is it going? (which CRM or email tool, or just a tidy spreadsheet)
5. What is wrong with it today? What happened the last time you tried to use it?
6. Which duplicates should be kept: the newest row, the most complete row, or something else?
7. Do the dates use month/day or day/month?
8. Which phone format do you want? Are the numbers mostly from one country?
9. Are there columns I must not change?
10. Does the file contain sensitive information (ID numbers, payment details, health information)? If yes, stop and discuss before you accept the file.
11. When do you need it back?
12. How would you like the file sent to me, and how long may I keep it?