Generate client onboarding questionnaires
AI creates comprehensive intake forms gathering project scope, expectations, materials, and requirements systematically.
Generate client onboarding questionnaires
River's Client Onboarding Questionnaire Generator creates comprehensive intake forms for ghostwriting projects. You specify project type (memoir, business book, thought leadership, speeches) and the AI generates customized questionnaires gathering all essential information: project goals, target audience, existing materials, timeline, budget expectations, and working preferences. Generated questionnaires ensure you collect complete information before starting work, preventing misunderstandings and scope ambiguity that derail projects later.
Unlike generic intake forms, these questionnaires are tailored to ghostwriting's unique needs: voice capture questions, content ownership expectations, interview availability, feedback process preferences, and confidentiality requirements. The AI understands what information ghostwriters need upfront versus what can be gathered during the project. Strategic question ordering builds client confidence by starting with easy questions and progressing to more detailed project specifics, increasing completion rates.
This tool is perfect for ghostwriters professionalizing client intake process, freelancers tired of piecing together project details through scattered email exchanges, or writers onboarding multiple clients simultaneously who need systematic information gathering. If you've started projects only to discover critical missing information weeks in, or if clients struggle articulating their needs in initial conversations, structured questionnaires solve this. Use it when securing new clients to gather complete project requirements before proposal and contract stages.
Why Professional Onboarding Matters
Professional client onboarding through comprehensive questionnaires serves multiple purposes simultaneously. First, it gathers information you need for accurate proposals and project planning. Second, it educates clients about ghostwriting process by asking questions they hadn't considered, revealing project complexity and justifying your rates. Third, it signals professionalism—clients evaluating multiple ghostwriters often choose the one with most professional intake process because it demonstrates organized, systematic approach. Finally, it surfaces red flags early when clients resist providing information or give concerning answers to standard questions.
The alternative to structured questionnaires is piecing together project details through extended email exchanges or discovery calls where you inevitably forget to ask critical questions until mid-project. Unstructured intake leads to scope ambiguity, missing materials discovered too late, timeline conflicts not identified upfront, and budget misalignments causing payment disputes. Every ghostwriter has horror stories of projects derailed by assumptions made during informal inquiry conversations. Questionnaires prevent these problems by systematically gathering everything upfront.
Strategic question design encourages thoughtful responses rather than rushed answers. Open-ended questions ('Describe your target audience in detail') gather richer information than yes/no questions. Providing context before questions ('To ensure I capture your authentic voice, I need to understand...') increases response quality. Including examples ('For reference, similar memoir projects typically run $40,000-60,000') calibrates expectations. Well-designed questionnaires aren't interrogations—they're collaborative tools helping clients articulate their vision while you gather information needed for project success.
What You Get
Complete client intake questionnaire (15-25 questions) customized for project type
Strategic question ordering maximizing completion rates and response quality
Open-ended questions gathering detailed project vision and requirements
Red-flag detection questions surfacing budget, timeline, or expectation concerns
Format options: Google Form, Word document, TypeForm template, or plain text
Optional follow-up question paths based on initial responses for thorough information gathering
How It Works
- 1Specify project typeSelect ghostwriting type: memoir, business book, thought leadership, speeches, or custom project
- 2AI generates questionnaireSystem creates comprehensive intake form with project-appropriate questions (5 minutes)
- 3Customize and deployAdjust questions for your specific needs, export to preferred format (Google Form, TypeForm, etc.)
- 4Send to prospectsShare questionnaire link with serious prospects to gather information systematically before proposals
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I send the questionnaire—before or after initial conversation?
After brief initial conversation confirming they're serious prospect. Initial 15-minute call or email exchange qualifies them (they have budget range, realistic timeline, understand ghostwriting). Then send questionnaire: 'To create accurate proposal, please complete this project questionnaire. It takes about 20 minutes and ensures I understand your vision completely.' Sending questionnaire too early (before any conversation) gets low response rates. Sending too late (after already creating proposal) means proposal lacks complete information.
What if clients don't complete the full questionnaire?
Incomplete questionnaires are red flags. Professional clients serious about projects invest 20-30 minutes providing information. If they won't complete questionnaire, they likely won't complete interviews, provide timely feedback, or invest effort required for successful project. Follow up once: 'I noticed the questionnaire is partially complete. The missing information is essential for accurate proposal. Can you complete it by [date]?' If they still don't complete it, seriously reconsider whether to pursue project. Clients who can't be bothered with intake questionnaire often become nightmare clients.
Should questionnaires include budget questions or handle that separately?
Include budget questions. You need to know if they have $10,000 or $100,000 budget before investing hours in detailed proposal. Frame it carefully: 'To ensure I propose appropriate scope: What budget range have you allocated for this project? Most [memoir/business book] projects run $X-Y depending on scope.' Providing range helps them calibrate. Some will say 'That's my budget' (saves time if incompatible), others will confirm alignment. Never create detailed proposal without understanding budget reality.
How long should client questionnaires be?
15-25 questions taking 20-30 minutes to complete thoroughly. Shorter questionnaires miss critical information. Longer questionnaires reduce completion rates. Balance comprehensiveness with client time investment. Use skip logic (conditional questions appearing based on earlier answers) to keep questionnaire feeling manageable while gathering depth where needed. For example, if they answer 'yes' to 'Do you have existing draft or notes?', show follow-up questions about material volume and organization.
Should I charge for completing proposals after questionnaire?
Generally no—questionnaire is part of normal sales process and proposal creation. However, for extremely complex RFPs requiring extensive custom work (corporate clients requesting detailed methodology documents, sample chapters, multiple pricing scenarios), you might charge consultation fee applied toward project if they proceed. This is rare. For most individual memoir or business book clients, questionnaire and proposal are part of professional business development. The questionnaire actually saves you time by gathering information efficiently rather than through scattered emails.
How do I follow up on concerning questionnaire answers?
Schedule call to discuss before sending proposal. Example: If budget answer is far below market rate, call to discuss: 'I reviewed your questionnaire. The $8,000 budget for 60,000-word memoir is well below market rates of $35,000-50,000 for projects of this scope. Let's discuss whether we can find compatible scope and budget, or whether this timing isn't right.' Don't send proposal you know they'll reject. Have honest conversation first. Sometimes you can adjust scope to fit budget. Sometimes you confirm incompatibility and save everyone time. Questionnaire makes these conversations possible before wasting hours on misaligned proposals.
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