How I Onboarded My First Client for ArcInfini by Using AI

Introduction: From “first-client nerves” to a 2–3 day onboarding in Finland

If onboarding your first client feels intimidating—you’re not alone. I felt it too. As a Lahti-based international business student building ArcInfini, I needed a fast, clean, and professional way to welcome my very first client for AI-powered marketing. The twist? I did it in 2–3 days using a custom GPT, clear SOPs, and a tight checklist.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I onboarded my first client by using AI, the prompts and documents I relied on, and the small lesson that would’ve saved me days (hint: e-signatures!).

Target readers: local small business owners and founders who want a simple, repeatable onboarding system—without hiring a big agency. ArcInfini’s promise is custom, hands-on service for each business we help grow.

The Blueprint: Treat AI like a teammate, not a tool

I created a custom GPT—my “ArcInfini Strategist”—and fed it everything it needed to act like my in-house expert: my services, deliverables, tone, target clients, and goals. With that “brain” set up, I could generate client-ready documents and iterate conversationally, which dramatically sped everything up.

• Why it worked: context-rich inputs → tailored outputs (no generic fluff)

• Result: clean drafts for SOPs, agreements, and request lists in minutes—not days

• Pro tip: never paste sensitive data; use placeholders and fill them later manually

Helpful resources for context:

• What is GDPR? — European Commission

• Custom GPTs overview — OpenAI

Step-by-Step: How I onboarded my first client using AI

1) Build your custom GPT “brain”

I started by brain-dumping everything into the instructions: services, pricing logic, brand voice, promises, local market nuances (Lahti), and how I want deliverables formatted. The richer the context, the better the drafts.

Prompt idea:

“You are ArcInfini’s strategist. Use a helpful, concise tone. Audience: local small businesses in Lahti. You know our services: AI-powered marketing, brand strategy, paid social, TikTok content, Google optimization. Output: client-ready drafts with clear headings and placeholders for sensitive details.

2) Draft the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)

Next, I asked the custom GPT to generate an SOP for the client’s engagement—scope, timelines, deliverables, check-ins, and reporting. I also pasted a short brief about the client’s niche and goals so the SOP felt custom, not cookie-cutter.

What to include in your SOP:

• Project overview & success metrics

• Channels (e.g., Meta Ads, TikTok, Google Business Profile)

• Content plan & approval loops

• Reporting cadence (weekly, monthly)

• Communication: point of contact and response times

Pro tip: ask the AI what it still needs to finalize the SOP. It will list missing info; you supply it, and the draft levels up.

3) Create the “Access & Assets” checklist

I made a clear, client-facing checklist for all the logins and assets needed to deliver work. This avoided back-and-forth and set expectations early.

Typical items for AI-powered marketing:

• Meta Business Suite & Ads Manager access

• TikTok account or Business Center access

• Google Business Profile access

• Google Analytics and (if relevant) AdSense

• Brand assets: logo files, fonts, brand colors, past creatives

• Past performance reports (if available)

Tip: Book a short working session to collect access together—especially with non-technical owners. It saves days.

4) Generate the Service Agreement + Privacy/Data Processing drafts

Using the same custom GPT (and the SOP’s details), I generated Service Agreement drafts plus Privacy & Data Processing clauses. I kept business ID, addresses, and banking details as placeholders to fill manually.

What to confirm before sending:

• Scope, fees, timelines, termination

• Content ownership and usage rights

• Data processing responsibilities (GDPR-aware)

• Confidentiality and non-disclosure

• Dispute resolution and governing law

Need a refresher on GDPR basics? See the official overview here.

5) Sign fast: choose e-signature early

My first client wanted a wet signature, which added a couple of days. Lesson learned: always ask about e-signature in the first meeting and propose it proactively. Tools like DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat Sign, or similar platforms can compress days into hours.

Add a line to your kickoff checklist:

• “Preferred signature method: e-signature or wet signature?”

Internal link idea:

• Book a Call — set expectations and choose signing method in the first conversation.

What I achieved (and what I’d improve)

Wins:

• Timeline shrank from open-ended to 2–3 days

• Fewer surprises due to a clear SOP and access checklist

• Professional client experience—documents looked polished from day one

Improvements for next time:

• Confirm e-signature upfront to remove delays

• Include a one-page Onboarding Summary: scope, milestones, logins needed, next steps

• Pre-build document templates inside the custom GPT so you only tweak per client

Copy-and-Use Prompts (steal these)

SOP Builder

“Create a client-specific SOP for [CLIENT NICHE] in Lahti. Services: [LIST]. Goals: [LIST]. Deliverables: [LIST]. Meetings: weekly. Reporting: monthly KPI summary. Ask me for any missing info, then produce a clean, client-facing version.”

Access Checklist

“Draft a non-technical access checklist for a small business owner. Include Meta, TikTok, Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, brand assets, and past reports. Make it scannable.”

Service Agreement Draft

“Draft a service agreement for AI-powered marketing for a small business in Finland. Include scope, fees, termination, confidentiality, IP ownership, data processing (GDPR-aware). Leave placeholders for sensitive fields.”

Why this matters for small businesses in Lahti (and beyond)

Small businesses don’t need bloated processes; they need clarity, speed, and care. By using AI as a teammate and tailoring everything to the client’s context, ArcInfini delivers a custom, hands-on experience that makes owners feel supported—not overwhelmed.

If you want to adopt the same system, start with:

1. a custom GPT “brain,”

2. a tight SOP,

3. a concrete access checklist, and

4. a clear agreement with e-signature.

Ready to onboard faster—with zero chaos?

ArcInfini helps local businesses launch or level up marketing fast with a personalized, AI-enabled workflow. If you’re in Lahti (or nearby) and want an onboarding experience that respects your time and goals, let’s talk.

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