First steps

The "Get started" card on the dashboard of a new company: its eight steps, how each one ticks itself, how to hide the card, and the question "Do you own the business?".

What it is for

A new company starts empty. The Get started card at the top of the admin dashboard lists the eight things to set up first, each with a link to the right screen. It shows how many are done, for example "3 of 8 done. Each step ticks itself once it is in place."

You cannot tick a step by hand. Each step looks at your real data and ticks itself when the work is done. You can do the steps in any order.

Who can use it

• Owners and admins of a company that was created by signup, or that is on a free trial, see the card. An admin can do everything an owner can.
• Supervisors, crew and accountants never see it.
• A company that was set up for you by FSMCore without signup or a trial does not have the card.

The card stays until all eight steps are done, or until you hide it. When every step is done it disappears by itself, for everyone.

The eight steps

A step that is still to do shows its number, a short description and one or more links. A step that is done shows a green tick, its name struck through, and no links.

1. Company details and logo

"Your company name, address and logo, as they print on estimates and invoices."

Link: Open company settings.

Ticks itself when the company settings hold all three: a company name (the legal name or the trading name), an address, and a logo.

2. AI setup

"Connect your own AI account: it can then read price lists and documents for you and speed up everything else."

Link: Open AI setup.

Ticks itself when an AI provider is chosen and its key is saved. FSMCore uses your company's own AI account; there is no shared one.

3. Tax and registration numbers, bank details

"Your tax and registration numbers and the bank details printed on invoices."

Link: Open company settings.

Ticks itself when the company settings hold a tax number (VAT number) or a registration number, and the bank details. One of the two numbers is enough. The word "VAT" may differ for your company's country.

4. Invite your people

"Add the people who work with you and send them an invitation."

Link: Open users (the Users list in the Settings menu).

Ticks itself when the company has a second person who is not archived, or when an invitation to a person who is not archived is still waiting to be accepted and has not expired. See Inviting people.

If you work alone, this step stays open. That is fine: hide the card when the rest is done.

5. Price list

"At least 5 items you sell, so estimates and invoices fill themselves."

Links: Import CSV or Excel and Let the AI read your price list.

Ticks itself when the price list has 5 or more items. Archived items do not count. You can also add items one by one in the price list.

6. Bring your data from another system

"Import your clients, sites and jobs from a CSV or Excel file (an export of your old system or your own spreadsheet)."

Link: Open Import (Settings > Import).

Ticks itself when an import has run and was not undone, or when the company already has a client of its own (then there is nothing left to bring). See Import clients, sites and jobs.

7. First client, site and job

"A client, a site of theirs and a job on it."

Links: Add a client, Add a site, Add a job.

Ticks itself when the company has at least one client, one site and one job. Deleted ones do not count. See Clients, Sites and Jobs.

8. First estimate or invoice sent

"Send your first estimate or invoice to a client."

Link: Open estimates.

Ticks itself when one estimate has left draft, or one invoice is sent, part paid or paid. A draft, a void estimate and a deleted document do not count.

Your data is always yours

The foot of the card reads "Your data is always yours: Settings > Export downloads everything." with the link Open Export.

An owner or admin can export all company data at any time, also during the free trial. See Trial and plans.

Hide the card

1. Press Hide this card at the top right of the card.
2. The dashboard reloads without it.

This hides the card for you only. Other owners and admins still see it. The rest of your dashboard stays as it was.

To show it again:

1. Open Dashboard options on the dashboard and choose Customise my dashboard.
2. Under Add cards, tick Get started.
3. Press Save.

The card can only come back while a step is still open.

Do you own the business?

The person who signed the company up is its admin. At the top of the Get started card that person sees a box: Do you own the business? with the text "You signed up as its admin. If you own it, you also get the owner role. Asked once."

1. Press Yes, I own it if you own the business. You keep the admin role and get the owner role as well. The message "You are now also an owner of (company)." shows. The change is recorded with your name and the time.
2. Press No if you run the software for someone else. Nothing changes. The message "Thanks. Nothing changed." shows.

Good to know:

• Only the person who signed up is asked, and only once. After an answer the box is gone.
• The answer does not change what you can do. An admin can already do everything an owner can. The owner role says who owns the business.
• Answered No by mistake, or the real owner is someone else? An admin can give the owner role to any person later, on that person's record. See Roles.
• The box is part of the card. If the card is hidden or finished before you answer, the box is not shown.

What happens after

• Each step you complete is ticked the next time the dashboard loads, and the count at the top goes up.
• When all eight are done the card is gone for good, for every owner and admin.
• Nothing is emailed and no bell is sent by this card.

Common mistakes