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# Importing Clients into Your Shop Roster

Shop owners and admins can bring an existing client list into the shop **Clients** page from a CSV or VCF file. Each imported client belongs to one of your artists.

## Before you start

- Only the shop owner or an admin sees **Import**. Your shop needs at least one artist.
- Use a **.csv** or **.vcf** file with up to 5,000 rows.
- Each CSV row needs a name (one full-name column, or first and last name columns) and an email or phone number.
- Optional: add an artist column with each client's artist, using the artist's full profile name or email.

Try a small file of 5 to 10 rows first.

## Import your clients

1. Switch to your shop and open **Clients**. Choose **Import**.
2. Choose **Choose file** and select your file. Check the preview, then choose **Continue**.
3. On **Match columns and artists**, choose a **Default artist**. Rows without an artist go to this artist.
4. For a CSV, pick the **Artist column** if you have one, and check the name and contact columns.
5. Choose **Check import**. Nothing is added yet. Review **Will be added**, **Already in your list**, **Needs review**, **Not added**, and **Clients by artist**.
6. Choose **Add [number] clients** and keep the window open until it finishes.
7. On the results screen, choose **Download report** to keep a list of rows that weren't added. Then choose **Done**.

## What to know

- **Needs review** means the email or phone matches an existing Apprentice account that isn't in your shop client list. Import never links an existing account. Use **Add client** if you know the person.
- Importing again is safe. Clients already added show as **Already in your list**.
- If the import stops, choose **Try again**, or reopen the import window and choose **Continue this import**.
- Imported clients are not signed up for email or text marketing, and nothing is sent to them.
- Checking and adding share a limit of 10 tries in 10 minutes. If asked to wait, try again in a few minutes.
- If your shop reaches its client limit, the import stops and the rest are reported as not added.

## Related articles

- [Viewing Shop-Wide Client Relationships](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/viewing-shop-wide-client-relationships-awiav5/)
- [Adding Walk-in Clients](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/adding-walk-in-clients-1fpqqtv/)
- [Importing Clients from a Spreadsheet](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/importing-clients-from-a-spreadsheet-1txxz05/)