How-to
Core Workflows
Import clients from a spreadsheet
Learn how to bulk-import your client list using a CSV or Excel file. This saves you time by avoiding manual data entry for each client.
5 min read
Updated June 3, 2026
This guide shows you how to import a list of clients from a spreadsheet. Importing in bulk saves significant time compared to adding clients one by one.
The import process uses a file in CSV (Comma Separated Values) or Excel format. Most spreadsheet programs, like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, can work with these file types.
Before you start
- You need Admin or Manager permissions to import clients.
- Prepare your client list in a spreadsheet program.
- Ensure your file is saved in either CSV (
.csv) or Excel (.xlsx) format.
Prepare your import file
We recommend using our template to ensure your data is structured correctly. This makes the import process much smoother.
- Navigate to Clients from the main menu.
- Click the More Actions menu (represented by three dots) in the top right corner.
- Select Import Clients from the dropdown list.
- On the Import Clients screen, click Download our CSV template.
- Open the downloaded file in your spreadsheet software.
- Add your client information into the columns provided. You can copy and paste data from your existing spreadsheets.
💡 Tip: For best results, clean your data before importing. Check for spelling errors, inconsistent formatting, and duplicate entries to avoid issues.
The table below explains the fields in the template file. Only the Client Name is required.
| Column Name | Required? | Description |
|---|---|---|
Client Name | Yes | The name of the client's business or organization. |
Contact First Name | No | The first name of your primary contact person. |
Contact Last Name | No | The last name of your primary contact person. |
Email | No | The primary email address for the client or contact. |
Phone | No | The primary phone number for the client. |
Address Line 1 | No | The first line of the client's street address. |
City | No | The city for the client's address. |
State / Province | No | The state or province for the client's address. |
Postal / Zip Code | No | The postal or ZIP code for the client's address. |
Country | No | The country for the client's address. |
Import your client list
Once your file is prepared and saved, you can upload it to AtomicSam.
- Navigate to Clients → Import Clients.
- Drag your saved CSV or Excel file into the upload area on the screen. You can also click browse for a file to select it from your computer.
- The system processes your file and shows a preview of the data.
- Next, you map your columns. For each field in AtomicSam, select the matching column header from your spreadsheet using the dropdown menu.
- If you used our template and did not change the column headers, the fields should map automatically. Review them to ensure they are correct.
- Click Review Import.
- You will see a summary of how many clients will be created. This screen also highlights potential errors or warnings, such as duplicate client names.
- If everything looks correct, click Complete Import to finish.
⚠️ Heads up: The import process may take a few minutes if you have a very large list of clients. You can navigate away from the page while the import runs in the background.
Good to know
- The import tool checks for duplicate clients based on the Client Name. If a client with the same name already exists in your organization, that row in your file will be skipped.
- Importing only adds new clients. It cannot be used to update existing client records in bulk. You must edit existing clients individually.
- If any rows in your file have errors (like a missing required field), they will be skipped. You can download a report of the skipped rows after the import is complete to correct them for a future upload.
- Custom fields are not supported in the client import process. You can add information to custom fields by editing the client record after the import is finished.