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Adding a New Client

This guide walks you through adding new clients to your Shorebird OS CRM. Clients are the core of your business relationships, so keeping accurate client records is essential.

Prerequisites​

  • Access to the CRM module
  • "Create Client" permission (most users have this by default)

Quick Add: Using the Add Button​

The fastest way to add a client:

  1. Navigate to CRM → Clients
  2. Click the + Add Client button in the top-right corner
  3. Fill in the client information (see fields below)
  4. Click Save

Client Information Fields​

Required Fields​

FieldDescription
NameClient's full name
EmailPrimary email address

Optional Fields​

FieldDescription
PhoneContact phone number
CompanyAssociated company (select existing or create new)
AddressPhysical or mailing address
TagsOrganize with custom tags
NotesInitial notes about the client
Best Practice

Always add an email address — it's required for email communications and helps identify the client uniquely.

Adding a Client with a Company​

To associate a client with a company:

  1. In the client form, find the Company field
  2. Start typing the company name
  3. Select an existing company from the dropdown, OR
  4. Click + Create new company to add a new one

If you create a new company, a quick form will appear. You can add full company details later.

Adding Multiple Clients (Bulk Import)​

Need to add many clients at once? Use the import feature:

  1. Go to CRM → Clients
  2. Click the ⋮ menu
  3. Select Import Clients
  4. Download the CSV template
  5. Fill in your client data following the template format
  6. Upload the completed CSV
  7. Map columns to fields
  8. Click Import

CSV Template Format​

name,email,phone,company,tags
John Smith,john@example.com,555-0123,Acme Inc,"enterprise,priority"
Jane Doe,jane@example.com,555-0456,Beta Corp,"startup"

Using the Command Palette​

For power users, add clients quickly using the command palette:

  1. Press Ctrl+K (or ⌘+K on Mac)
  2. Type "add client"
  3. Press Enter
  4. Fill in the quick-add form

After Adding a Client​

Once you've added a client, you can:

  • Add notes — Document important information
  • Create a project — Start tracking work
  • Send an email — Communicate directly from Shorebird OS
  • Upload files — Attach relevant documents
  • Schedule meetings — Add calendar events

Common Questions​

Can I add a client without an email?​

Email is required as it's the primary identifier. If you don't have an email, you might want to add them as a Contact instead.

How do I add a client's spouse or business partner?​

Add them as a separate client and link both to the same company, or use the notes field to reference the relationship.

What happens if I add a duplicate client?​

Shorebird OS will warn you if an email address is already in use. You can proceed anyway or view the existing client.