New Employee Onboarding Checklist: 90-Day Template for Small Businesses

The first 90 days determine whether a new hire stays or leaves. Research consistently shows that employees who go through a structured onboarding process are 58% more likely to still be with the company three years later.

Before Day 1: Pre-boarding

• Send offer letter and collect signed acceptance
• Complete I-9 and W-4 paperwork
• Add employee to payroll system
• Create company email and system accounts
• Send welcome email with first-day instructions
• Assign onboarding buddy or mentor

Week 1: Orientation

• Office or facility tour
• Introductions to team members
• Review employee handbook — signature required
• Review job description and 90-day expectations
• System access and tools training
• End-of-week check-in with manager

Days 8–30: Role Integration

• Begin core job duties with supervision
• Shadow experienced team members
• Complete required training or certifications
• End-of-month performance check-in

Days 31–60: Independence

• Full responsibilities with reduced supervision
• Set 60-day goals with manager
• Address any performance gaps early

Days 61–90: Performance Review

• 90-day formal performance review
• Set 6-month goals
• Confirm continued employment
• Gather new hire feedback on onboarding

Different industries need different onboarding steps. Processly generates a complete, role-specific onboarding checklist for your industry in under 60 seconds.