# vertical-onboarding

Guides the design of first-run workflows and data import for switching SMB customers away from legacy software. Keeps time-to-first-value under minutes.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 107
- Author: avelikiy
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/avelikiy/great_cto/tree/HEAD/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/vertical-onboarding

## What it does

The skill structures onboarding around a single activation goal instead of leaving users on an empty screen. The workflow starts by prompting new accounts to import their records directly from platforms like Toast, Shopify, or ServiceTitan. Users review incoming records in a dry-run stage before approving the batch. If files are not ready, the interface offers sample data.

Setup is trimmed down to essentials. The system prefills fields using imported records and avoids asking for payment credentials before activation unless the tool bills per transaction. Only one critical integration is permitted before users reach their first milestone, while secondary settings move to the profile area.

This playbook does not apply to internal tooling that lacks external customer signups. It outputs onboarding specifications directly into `docs/architecture/**` or `docs/design/**`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add avelikiy/great_cto --skill vertical-onboarding -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/vertical-onboarding/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add avelikiy/great_cto --skill vertical-onboarding -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add avelikiy/great_cto --skill vertical-onboarding -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install avelikiy/great_cto vertical-onboarding
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add avelikiy/great_cto --skill vertical-onboarding -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/avelikiy/great_cto --path skills/vertical-onboarding
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add avelikiy/great_cto --skill vertical-onboarding -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/avelikiy/great_cto/tree/HEAD/skills/vertical-onboarding/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- outline a switching funnel from legacy SMB platforms
- define a single activation milestone for a new product
- prevent blank dashboard drop-off using sample data fallbacks
- document data import rollback and dry-run steps

## Example prompts
- Design the initial run funnel for a restaurant ordering tool replacing Toast.
- Specify the activation milestone and data import steps in docs/architecture/onboarding.md.
- Create an onboarding flow for home services with dry-run quote imports.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 13ed2546023c73cb.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 13ed2546023c73cb
````text
---
name: vertical-onboarding
description: Onboarding-and-switching playbook for SMB Product-Builder products. Defines the first-run experience that turns a prospect leaving an incumbent (ServiceTitan/Toast/Mindbody/Shopify/QuickBooks) into an activated user — import-first onboarding, the activation milestone, sample-data fallback, and the time-to-first-value target. Applied by migration-import-engineer and architect/pm so onboarding is designed as a funnel, not an afterthought. Our whole wedge is "low switching cost"; this skill makes that real on day one.
when_to_use: |
  Apply when:
  - migration-import-engineer designs the import that feeds first-run
  - architect/pm specs the first-run / activation flow for a new product
  - a product's adoption depends on leaving an incumbent (any of the 40 products)
  Do NOT apply for internal tools with no external onboarding.
effort: low
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Grep, Glob
paths:
  - "docs/data-import/**"
  - "docs/architecture/**"
  - "docs/design/**"
---

# Vertical onboarding — switch them in, to first value, fast

The incumbent's moat is switching cost. Our wedge is dissolving it. Onboarding is where
that promise is kept or broken. **Design onboarding as a funnel with one activation
milestone, import-first.**

## 1. Import-first, not blank-slate

The default first-run path is **"bring your data from {incumbent}"**, powered by
`migration-import-engineer`'s import contract — not an empty dashboard the user must fill
by hand. A new user should see *their own* customers/jobs/menu/listings within minutes.

- Offer the import on screen one, with the named incumbent ("Import from ServiceTitan").
- Run it as a dry-run preview the user approves (the import contract's operator step).
- Provide a **sample-data fallback** ("Explore with example data") for users who can't
  export yet — never a dead empty state.

## 2. One activation milestone (define it per product)

Pick the single action that means "this user got value" — the north-star of onboarding.
Everything in first-run drives toward it. Examples:

| product | activation milestone |
|---|---|
| quoting (home services) | sent first priced quote |
| online-ordering (restaurants) | published menu + took first test order |
| class-booking (fitness) | imported members + first class booked |
| inventory (retail) | synced catalog + first reorder rule set |
| transaction-coordination (real estate) | first transaction checklist created |
| sponsorship-crm (creator) | first sponsor + deal stage |

Measure **time-to-first-value (TTFV)**; target minutes, not days. State the target in the
architecture doc.

## 3. The onboarding funnel (spec these steps)

```
1. Identify incumbent → 2. Import (dry-run → approve) → 3. Verify own data
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 13ed2546023c73cb

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