> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Complete the Setup Guide
> Open the in-app Setup Guide, track onboarding progress, and finish the six setup steps your facility needs before daily work.
Use the [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2) when you want a clear view of what your facility still needs before customers and staff rely on the app every day.
The Setup Guide is the same page as the **onboarding wizard hub**. It shows six large cards — Facility, Customers, Cars, Contracts, Billing, and Team — so you can finish setup one topic at a time.
**Setup Guide vs. onboarding wizard**
**Setup Guide** ([Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding)) — a checklist with **Set up** buttons that jump to any settings page. Good when you want to pick tasks in any order.
**Onboarding wizard** ([Onboarding wizard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2)) — a guided six-step flow (facility, customers, cars, contracts, billing, team). Good when you prefer one topic per screen after first sign-in.
See [Complete the onboarding wizard](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard) for the guided path.
New to the app? Read [Getting started overview](/docs/basics/overview) first for the full first-week path.
**Hub vs. step-by-step guide**
This guide explains **how to use the Setup Guide page** and track progress.
For **detailed instructions inside each step**, read [Complete the onboarding wizard](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard).
## What you will accomplish
You will learn how to open the Setup Guide, read progress, open any setup step, and know when your facility is ready for daily work.
*The Setup Guide shows six setup areas as large cards. Completed steps display a green check mark.*
*Each section lists related tasks. Click **Set up** beside a task to open the correct settings page.*
## Before you start
* You need a staff login for your facility.
* Your account should have permission to update facility settings.
* If you are not sure about a setting, ask the facility owner or manager before changing it.
## Open the Setup Guide
Go to [Create event](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard) or any staff page.
**Expected result:** You see the main sidebar on the left.
Use any of these paths:
* Click **Setup Guide** in the left sidebar (it may show a number badge when steps are incomplete).
* Open the direct link [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2).
* On some settings pages, click **Open setup guide** in the banner at the top.
**Expected result:** The page title area says **Let's set up your account**.
When at least one step is finished, the hub shows a progress line such as **2 of 6 complete** with a green bar.
**Why this matters:** You do not need to finish every step in one sitting. The hub remembers what you already completed.
## Work through the six setup steps
Each card on the hub opens one setup area. You can start with **Facility** and move in order, or jump to whichever step your manager assigned.
| Step | Card name | What it covers |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | **Facility** | Name, address, logo, and brand colors |
| 2 | **Customers** | Import a spreadsheet or add customers by hand |
| 3 | **Cars** | Import or add vehicles in your care |
| 4 | **Contracts** | Upload a storage agreement PDF (optional) |
| 5 | **Billing** | Connect Stripe for online payments (optional) |
| 6 | **Team** | Email invites for coworkers |
Click the card for the setup area you want to work on.
**Expected result:** A focused screen opens for that topic with **Save & continue** at the bottom.
Fill in the information you have ready. Use **Skip for now** on optional steps if your manager says billing or contracts can wait.
**Why this matters:** Wrong public details can confuse customers on invoices, forms, and emails — double-check facility name and address on Step 1.
*The **Facility** step combines name, address, logo, and colors on one screen. Save before you leave so customers see the right business name on emails and portal pages.*
Click **Save & continue** when the step looks correct.
**Expected result:** You return to the hub and that card shows a green **Complete** badge.
You do not need all six steps before adding real customers and cars. Many teams finish **Facility**, **Customers**, and **Cars**, then return later for billing and contracts.
*Return to the hub anytime. Green check marks show finished steps; open any card again to review or update information.*
For field-by-field help on each step, read [Complete the onboarding wizard](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard).
**You do not need 100% to start working**
Many teams add their first customer and car while billing or contracts are still open. Use [Prepare your first customer and car](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car) as soon as facility basics look correct.
## When the Setup Guide disappears from the sidebar
The **Setup Guide** menu item hides automatically after all six steps are marked complete.
That does not mean setup is frozen — you can still change branding, billing, and team access anytime in [Settings](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings).
### Import existing customers and cars (optional)
If your facility already has a spreadsheet of customers or vehicles, you can import many records at once instead of typing each one by hand.
Go to [Import Data](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/import).
**Expected result:** The page title mentions import or bulk upload. You see options to upload a file or download a template.
*Open [Import Data](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/import) to upload a spreadsheet. This is optional — many new facilities start with one manual customer and car, then import a full list later.*
Use the facility’s template so column names match what the app expects.
**Why this matters:** A mismatched spreadsheet causes rows to fail or create duplicate records.
Upload your file and read the success or error summary before you close the page.
**Expected result:** New customers and cars appear in [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) and [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars). Search for a few names to confirm.
For a full walkthrough, read [Import customers and cars](/docs/contacts/import-customers-and-cars).
## Helpful tips
* Start with information customers will see: facility name, logo, address, phone, and email.
* Do not invite every teammate until core records and permissions are ready.
* Use [Search your facility quickly](/docs/basics/search-your-facility-quickly) (**Ctrl+K** or **⌘K**) to confirm new customers and cars saved correctly.
* Keep setup notes in a shared place if more than one manager is helping.
## Troubleshooting
**I clicked a step but I do not know what to enter**
Pause and ask the person who owns that part of the business. For example, ask accounting about billing, ask operations about cars and customers, and ask management about team invites.
**A step still looks incomplete after I saved**
Reopen that step from the hub and confirm you clicked **Save & continue**. Some steps need a successful upload (logo or contract PDF) before they mark complete.
**I do not have permission to open a setup page**
Ask a facility owner or manager to update your access in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team), or ask them to complete that step for you.
**I cannot find Setup Guide in the sidebar**
Use the direct link [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2). The sidebar item only appears while onboarding steps are still incomplete.
## What success looks like
* The hub shows green check marks on the steps your team finished (or your manager knows which steps are intentionally deferred).
* Facility name, logo, and time zone look correct on [Settings > Branding](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/branding) and [General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general).
* At least one customer and one car exist for daily practice.
* Staff can find records with [Search your facility quickly](/docs/basics/search-your-facility-quickly).
## What to do next
After you understand the Setup Guide, read [Getting started overview](/docs/basics/overview) for how setup fits into your first week.
Then read [Learn the dashboard](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard) so your team knows where daily work lives.
When vehicles arrive, open [Use the Create event home page](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home).
When managers want a single screen for schedule, parking, and inbox, read [Customize your Overview dashboard](/docs/basics/customize-your-overview).
## Related topics
- [Complete the onboarding wizard](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard.md)
- [Getting started overview](/docs/basics/overview.md)
- [Getting started](/docs/getting-started.md)
- [Learn the dashboard](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard.md)
- [Customize your Overview dashboard](/docs/basics/customize-your-overview.md)
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