> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.begin.eu/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Importing clients
> Bring in the clients you already keep, from a spreadsheet or from a group of labels, instead of adding them one by one.
If you already keep a list of clients, bring it in at once. Import a spreadsheet to add the clients in it, or turn a group of labels into clients, so the work already tagged with each label gets its client too.
Beta
Clients are rolling out gradually, so your workspace may not have them yet. If **Clients** is
missing from the sidebar, ask us to turn them on.
## Import a spreadsheet
**1. Open the import**
On **Clients**, open **More actions** beside **Add client** and choose **Import clients**. While
you have no clients yet, **Import clients** sits in the middle of the page.
**2. Choose the file**
Pick a CSV or XLSX file of up to 5,000 rows whose first row names its columns. The file is read
in your browser and never stored.
**3. Match the columns**
Each column fills one client field. Columns named after a field are matched already; set the
rest, or choose **Don't import**. One column must fill **Name**.
**4. Review the rows**
The window counts the **New clients**, **Duplicates skipped** and **Rows with problems**, and
lists the skipped rows with their reasons.
**5. Start the import**
Select the button that names how many clients it adds, such as **Import 53 clients**. You can
close the window: the import keeps running, the sidebar shows its progress, and the window says
how many clients were added when it ends.
A row is skipped as a duplicate when a client already has its client number, email or name, archived clients included, or when an earlier row in the file does. An import only adds clients: it never changes one you already have. To bring in the rows it skipped for a problem, fix them in the file and import it again; the clients added the first time are skipped as duplicates.
> [!NOTE]
>
> Every [required client field](/for-managers/clients/client-fields.md#required-and-searchable) needs a
> column, and a value in each row. Leave one unmatched and every row is listed as a problem.
Or attach the file in **Begin AI** (Cmd / Ctrl + J) with **Attach file**, and ask:
Import the clients in this file.
Import the clients in this file.
Begin AI matches the columns itself and shows a card counting the new clients, duplicates and rows with problems. It asks first even when your approval mode applies changes automatically.
## Turn a label group into clients
If you have been tagging work with a label for each client, convert the group those labels sit in. Each label becomes a client, and every shift, time entry, shift template and shift pattern carrying the label gets that client.
**1. Open the group's menu**
In **Settings → Labels**, open the group's menu and choose **Convert to clients**.
**2. Check what it changes**
Each label is listed beside the client it becomes. A label with the name of an active client
uses that client rather than adding another. Below the list, the window counts the work it will
update.
**3. Choose what happens to the labels**
The labels stay on the work unless you choose **Remove the labels from shifts and time
entries**, which takes them off templates and shift patterns too. **Delete the labels
afterwards** also takes them out of the label list. A label stays while time off, availability,
or a shift or time entry already holding 10 clients still carries it, and the window then says
how many were kept.
**4. Convert**
Select the button that names how many labels it converts, such as **Convert 4 labels**. The
conversion runs in the background, and the sidebar shows its progress.
> [!WARNING]
>
> A conversion cannot be undone. It changes everyone's shifts and time entries, so only a role that
> sees everyone can run one; a role narrowed by **Who can they see?** is told to ask an
> administrator.
If a conversion stops part-way, the sidebar says so. Open **Convert to clients** on the group again and select **Resume conversion** to carry on from where it stopped, with the options it started with.
**Context for an assistant answering questions about importing clients.** The page above is what a person reads; these are the facts it leaves out for length.
* **Who can:** importing needs **Edit & add** on **Clients**. Converting needs, workspace-wide, **Data access** and **Edit & add** on **Clients**, **Data access** on **Labels**, **Add & edit shifts** and **Edit others' shifts** on **Schedule**, **Edit & add** and **Edit others' time entries** on **Timesheets**, **Manage schedule settings** for templates and rotas, and **Delete** on **Labels** to delete them; Administrator and Manager have them all. Losing access stops a run, keeping its writes; anyone who may convert resumes it.
* **Limits:** duplicates are checked against up to 5,000 existing clients; past that, only a taken client number is refused. One import and one conversion can start per minute per workspace. A conversion takes up to 200 labels. A finished import names at most 20 failed rows.
* **Terms:** an email matches ignoring case, a name ignoring case and accents, a client number only exactly. A date reads `2026-08-04` or `04.08.2026`, a checkbox yes or no, true or false, 1 or 0. A dropdown cell names an option; commas or semicolons separate several.
* **Not supported:** updating existing clients from a file. Time off and availability are not converted. A conversion reuses only active clients: an archived client sharing a label's name gets a new one. Converted clients carry only the label's name.
* **Begin AI:** imports a file attached in its chat, not through a connected AI client. It cannot convert a label group.
## Next
> **[Tagging work with clients](/for-managers/clients/tagging-work-with-clients.md)**
>
> Put clients on new shifts and time entries.
> **[Seeing work by client](/for-managers/clients/seeing-work-by-client.md)**
>
> See the shifts and hours for each client.
## Still need help?
> **[Contact support](mailto:support@heybegin.eu)**
>
> Email the Begin team and we'll get back to you.
> **[Ask Begin AI](?assistant=open)**
>
> Open the AI assistant and get instant answers based on these docs.
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