Set up your client and contact records in Canopy by filling out and uploading the Client Import Workbook with your firm's data.
Why it matters: Manually creating hundreds of client and contact records one by one would take days. The Client Import Workbook lets you bring your entire client list into Canopy at once, ready for your team to use immediately.
Table of Contents
Download and Set Up Your Workbook
Go to Clients > Client List.
Click the three-dot menu on the right next to Add Client.
Select Import Clients.
Select Download Template.
Save the workbook to your computer.
Enable macros in Excel (required for the workbook to function):
Find the downloaded workbook in your file explorer.
Right-click the file and select Preferences.
Scroll to the bottom and find the Security section.
Select Unblock and click Save.
Open the workbook in Excel. You may see a prompt below the ribbon to enable macros — select Enable.
Prepare Your Data
Extract your client and contact information from all your current systems (QuickBooks, accounting software, spreadsheets, etc.) and consolidate it into one place.
Format your data to match Canopy's requirements before pasting it into the workbook:
Dates: mm/dd/yy format (e.g., 03/15/24)
SSN/EIN: Include dashes (e.g., 12-3456789)
Client Owners: Use the email address of the Canopy team member assigned to each client
Reference the template guide — Use Canopy's KB article "Use Client Import Templates" for detailed field requirements and field-by-field guidance on what to include.
Add Rows and Fill in the Workbook
📝 Note: The workbook is locked to protect the embedded formulas. You must use the Excel tools to add rows before pasting data.
Open the Client Import Workbook in Excel.
Use the Add/Paste Rows tool in the Excel ribbon:
Click Add/Paste Rows.
Add at least as many rows as you have clients and contacts to import (rows can be added in groups of 1,000).
This unlocks cells so you can paste your data without breaking the workbook.
In your prepared data, select and copy all the information you want to import.
In the workbook, click the first unlocked cell in your data range.
Right-click and select Paste Special > Paste Special Values Only.
This ensures formatting doesn't interfere with the import.
Verify all contacts have a First and Last Name — this is required for the import to work.
If you need to add custom fields beyond the standard ones, use the Add Custom Field tool in the Excel ribbon.
Prepare and Upload
In the Excel ribbon, click Prepare For Upload.
This tool scans for formatting errors (date issues, missing required fields, etc.) and fixes them automatically, making the import faster.
Once preparation is complete, use the secure upload link sent by your Implementation Specialist or Data Migration Specialist to upload the workbook to Canopy.
Your Data Migration Specialist will handle the import and reach out if they have questions.
Summary
This article covered how to download the Client Import Workbook, enable macros, format your client and contact data, and upload the file to Canopy. Your Data Migration Specialist will complete the import and notify you when it's ready to review.
Related Articles
Use Client Import Templates — Field-by-field guide for what to include in each column
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