How to add new clients on FreshBooks

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Adding new clients in FreshBooks involves navigating to the Clients section from the main dashboard and clicking Add Client. You'll then fill in the client's business and contact information before saving the new client profile.

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Prerequisites

Active FreshBooks account
Business owner or admin access privileges
Client contact information ready
Understanding of basic FreshBooks navigation

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Clients section

Log into your FreshBooks account and navigate to the main dashboard. Click on Clients in the left sidebar menu to access your client management area.

You can also use the search bar at the top to quickly find the Clients section by typing 'clients'.

Start adding a new client

On the Clients page, locate and click the + Add Client button, which is typically positioned in the upper right corner of the screen. This will open the new client form.

Enter basic client information

Fill in the required fields in the client form:

Company Name - Enter the client's business name
Primary Contact - Add the main contact person's first and last name
Email Address - Input the primary email for invoices and communications

The email address you enter here will be the default recipient for all invoices sent to this client.

Add contact details and address

Complete the contact information section:

Phone Number - Add business or contact phone
Mobile Number - Optional mobile contact
Business Address - Enter street address, city, state/province, and postal code

Adding a complete address is helpful for tax purposes and professional invoice appearance.

Configure billing preferences

Set up billing options for this client:

Currency - Select the appropriate currency from the dropdown
Language - Choose the language for invoices and communications
Payment Terms - Set default payment terms (Net 15, Net 30, etc.)

Setting payment terms at the client level ensures consistency across all invoices for this client.

Add additional contacts (optional)

If needed, click + Add Another Contact to include additional people from the client's organization. Enter their name, email, and role for each additional contact person.

Multiple contacts are useful for larger organizations where different people handle different aspects of your business relationship.

Set client notes and tags

In the Internal Notes section, add any relevant information about the client that will help you remember important details. You can also add Tags to categorize clients for easier filtering and organization.

Tags are particularly useful for grouping clients by industry, project type, or priority level.

Save the new client

Review all entered information for accuracy, then click the Save button at the bottom of the form. Your new client will be added to your FreshBooks client list and will be available for invoicing and project assignment.

After saving, you'll be redirected to the client's profile page where you can immediately create an invoice or start a project.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Email address shows as 'already exists' error

This means the email is already associated with another client. Check your existing client list or use a different email address. You can also edit the existing client if it's a duplicate.

Currency option not available in dropdown

Go to Settings > Business Profile > Preferences and ensure the desired currency is enabled in your account. Some currencies may require account verification.

Unable to save client information

Ensure all required fields (marked with asterisks) are completed. Check that the email format is valid and phone numbers don't contain special characters except hyphens and parentheses.

New client not appearing in client list

Refresh your browser page or clear the search/filter options on the Clients page. If the issue persists, log out and log back into your FreshBooks account.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official FreshBooks website before purchasing.

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