Employee onboarding: A step-by-step guide, best practices, and checklist

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and a good one is key for employee onboarding. While some businesses boil onboarding down to completing an employee background check, orientation and a week of training, this approach misses a valuable opportunity.

Effective onboarding boosts productivity and employee retention. According to the QuickBooks Entrepreneurship in 2025 survey, 33% of businesses report that hiring skilled employees contributed to most business growth. The best hiring processes empower new hires with the tools they need to be productive, successful team members. 

Ideally, you should have a standard process that you can personalize for each new hire. In this post, we'll break down employee onboarding best practices to help you make the most of every new hire.

1. Start employee onboarding before hiring

2. Create a seamless, scalable onboarding process

3. Plan for the arrival of your new hire

4. Make the first day of onboarding memorable

5. Schedule out their first week

6. Train and get acquainted

7. Do a three-month check-in after onboarding

8. Evaluate one year after onboarding

Benefits of an employee onboarding program

Hiring the right people for your small business

1. Start employee onboarding before hiring

New hire onboarding doesn’t start on the first day—it begins the moment a candidate accepts your offer. While orientation covers the basics like paperwork and policies, onboarding is a longer-term process designed to integrate employees into your company culture, workflows, and team.

Before they arrive, make sure they have access to the right resources. A clear, organized system for sharing company policies, benefits, and expectations ensures that new employees start with everything they need.

Key employee onboarding essentials to prepare before day one:

• Outline company policies and consider creating an employee handbook.
• Give information about whether you offer health insurance and how to sign up for it.
• Settle a PTO policy and share it with new employees.
• Share additional opportunities like employee benefits. 
• Make payment schedules and other financial information easy to access.

Also, don’t forget to prepare your existing team members. Let them know when the new hire is starting and how they can contribute—whether it’s leading a tool walkthrough, being a go-to mentor, or just offering a warm welcome.

Planning ahead of time will help you establish a smooth onboarding process for you and your new hire. 

Who should lead the onboarding process?

The HR department or a dedicated onboarding manager often handles the employee onboarding process, but the hiring manager or team leads may take the lead in smaller businesses. The chosen leader should be organized, communicative, and able to ensure the new hire feels welcomed and supported throughout their journey.

2. Create a seamless, scalable onboarding process

A smooth, repeatable onboarding process lays the foundation for long-term employee success. Start by building a standardized workflow that’s easy to replicate and automate—so every new hire has a consistent, professional experience.

Before the start date, automate and prep the following tasks:

• Collect emergency contact and banking information through secure online forms.
• Get their banking information to set up direct deposit.
• Ensure all parts of your payroll systems are set up.
• Send and track the completion of tax forms like I-9 and W-4.
• Share benefits enrollment details and deadlines.

You can also streamline the onboarding process using tools such as payroll software, training platforms, and HR management systems (HRMS). 

QuickBooks HR services, for example, can help automate payroll and benefits setup.

Build a timeline and team around onboarding

Plan onboarding to span at least the first 30-90 days, with key milestones in week 1, month 1, and beyond. Collaborate with HR, Payroll, IT, and department managers to assign clear roles—from setting up equipment to scheduling training and check-ins.

The result: fewer first-day bottlenecks, a stronger start for your new hire, and a scalable process you can improve over time.

Completing these steps in advance eliminates first-day bottlenecks and ensures your new hire feels supported from the start.

The 5 C's of onboarding

The 5 C’s of onboarding represent the key focus areas to ensure a comprehensive onboarding experience:

• Compliance: Ensure that new hires complete all necessary legal paperwork and follow company policies.
• Clarification: Clearly explain the new employee's role, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Culture: Introduce the company's values, mission, and team dynamics.
• Connections: Foster relationships between the new hire and colleagues, mentors, and other teams.
• Check-back: Regularly check in with new hires to assess progress and gather feedback.

3. Plan for the arrival of your new hire

Once your onboarding plan is in motion, it’s time to turn your attention to the in-person details that shape their first impression. Set your new hire up for success by preparing their workspace and ensuring they feel welcome before they walk through the door.

Get everything in place before they arrive:

• Set up email accounts, software logins, and equipment.
• Provide office keys, security badges, or remote access.
• Send a welcome email with the first-day agenda and parking details.
• Announce their arrival to the team to encourage introductions.
• A well-organized first day makes a strong impression and helps new employees settle in quickly.

Having everything ready for your new hire will make them feel comfortable and confident to start making meaningful contributions to the team. 

4. Make the first day of onboarding memorable

A great first day sets the tone for an employee’s experience. Create opportunities for them to connect with their team and get comfortable in their new role.

How to make a strong first impression with new hires:

• Welcome them personally: Greet them at the door or via a virtual check-in.
• Introduce them to the team: Host a new employee orientation lunch or a casual meet-and-greet.
• Give a workplace tour: Show them key areas like restrooms, break rooms, and meeting spaces.
• Review company policies: Set aside time to go through the employee handbook.
• Provide job-specific training: Walk them through their responsibilities and expectations.
• Check in at the end of the day: Answer any questions and set clear expectations for day two.

A well-organized first day signals that your company is thoughtful and prepared—helping you build trust early and boost long-term retention.

5. Schedule out their first week

The first week should reinforce key information while keeping new hires engaged and productive. Use this time to lay a solid foundation, set expectations, and create a welcoming environment.

Assign a mentor or a buddy

Pairing your new hire with a more experienced team member gives them a go-to person for questions, context, and support. This relationship helps them get up to speed faster while easing the pressure of asking their manager every small question. A mentor also provides valuable insights into company culture, team dynamics, and unwritten norms.

Choose a mentor who’s approachable, patient, and enthusiastic about helping others succeed. Make sure they have time carved out for regular check-ins during the first few weeks.

Deepen role-specific training

Once your new hire is oriented, shift focus to deeper, job-specific training. Walk them through the tools they’ll be using, explain your team’s workflows, and show how their role fits into broader business goals. Avoid information overload by breaking up training into manageable sessions over the first week.

Hands-on learning—like shadowing a coworker or completing a small project—can boost retention and build confidence early on.

Encourage team bonding

Strong relationships make work more enjoyable and collaboration more effective. Kick things off with a team lunch, a group coffee break, or a virtual hangout. These informal moments help new hires feel like part of the team faster.

If your team is remote or hybrid, schedule short, casual one-on-one meetings with key teammates to foster connection and build trust from day one.

Reinforce company culture

Culture isn’t just about perks—it’s how your team communicates, makes decisions, and handles challenges. Use the first week to clearly communicate your company’s mission, values, and expectations. Share stories or examples that bring those values to life.

Make sure new hires understand how success is defined, how feedback is given, and how teams collaborate. The sooner they feel aligned with your culture, the more confident and motivated they’ll be.

Check in daily

Short daily check-ins give new hires space to ask questions, share feedback, and flag issues early. Even a five-minute conversation can surface useful insights—like which tools they’re struggling with or what still feels unclear.

These early conversations build trust and show that your team is invested in their success. As onboarding continues, you can space out check-ins but keep the communication open and consistent.

6. Train and get acquainted 

Onboarding doesn’t stop after the first week. The first month is crucial for building confidence, reinforcing expectations, and ensuring that new hires feel supported.

How to keep employees engaged during the first month:

• Schedule one-on-one check-ins: Discuss goals, responsibilities, and progress.
• Continue role-specific training: Provide hands-on learning and job shadowing opportunities.
• Go over 30-60-90 day goals: Ensure the first month focuses on learning, the second on contributing, and the third on independent work and growth
• Encourage cross-team collaboration: Introduce them to other departments for a broader understanding of company operations.
• Review benefits and policies: Answer questions about PTO, health insurance, or company perks.
• Gather feedback: Ask about their onboarding experience to improve the process.

Over the course of three months, your new hire will settle into their role. Between training, shadow sessions, and the gradual buildup of new tasks, they should understand everything expected of them—from job duties to time tracking. Regularly check in with new employees in case they have any questions or problems.

7. Do a three-month check-in after onboarding

By the 90-day mark, new hires should have a solid grasp of their role and workplace expectations. This is the perfect time to assess their progress and gather insights.

What to cover in a three-month check-in:

• Discuss strengths, challenges, and areas for growth.
• Learn what’s working in your onboarding process and what needs improvement.
• Explore training, mentorship, or advancement opportunities.
• Set goals for the next six months to keep them motivated.

Continue checking in on your new hires and taking time to answer questions and get to know them.

8. Evaluate one year after onboarding

A strong onboarding process extends beyond the first few months. Regular performance reviews and check-ins throughout the first year help employees stay engaged, aligned, and motivated.

How to keep employees on track through their first year:

• Conduct regular performance reviews: Schedule evaluations every three to six months to assess strengths, challenges, and development opportunities.
• Encourage team-building activities: Plan monthly or quarterly events to strengthen company culture and collaboration.
• Review policies and procedures: Keep employees informed by updating the handbook and guiding them through your employee portal.
• Gather feedback: Ask what worked well during onboarding and where improvements are needed.

Ongoing support and clear expectations set employees up for long-term success—while giving you insights to refine the onboarding experience for future hires.

You can measure the success of an onboarding program through employee retention rates, engagement levels, and feedback surveys. You can also track productivity and performance milestones, such as how quickly new hires reach competency in their roles. 

Benefits of an employee onboarding program

Effective onboarding makes your business look well-managed, giving new hires a positive feeling, which makes them more likely to stay. 

Some benefits to employee onboarding include: 

• Giving a great first impression: Onboarding determines how employees engage in your culture. Will you make them feel part of a team or set them up to treat work like a chore?
• Boosting productivity: A solid onboarding process means you can efficiently turn your new hires into valuable, contributing employees. Businesses with solid onboarding improve employee productivity by 70%, according to Brandon Hall Group.
• Improving retention: The last thing you want is to train a great employee and then see them hit the road. Fortunately, your onboarding experience has a direct impact on your employee retention.
• Increasing job satisfaction: Happy employees lead to a thriving business. When you onboard effectively, your employees better understand the expectations of their role and how they can be successful.

Overall, a structured onboarding experience makes employees feel confident in their employers and more engaged with their new roles.

Hiring the right people for your small business

While most businesses share the same onboarding outcomes, each organization has its ideal format. Create staff onboarding best practices that fast-track new hires into their roles and your company culture. While the process takes time, its impact on new hires more than justifies the cost.

To further streamline your hiring and employee management processes, consider using tools like accounting software with payroll integration to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency. These solutions can help keep your business organized while allowing you to focus on building a strong, engaged team.