> ## 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.
# Getting started overview
> Start here when your facility is new to Car Storage Software — follow a simple path from setup to your first customer, car, and daily work.
New to the app? Read [Getting started](/docs/getting-started) first for the shortest first-day path, then return here for the full first-week plan.
## What you will accomplish
After reading this overview and the linked guides, you and your team will know:
* Where to sign in and which home screen to use (**Create event** vs **Dashboard**).
* How to track setup tasks in the in-app [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2).
* How to add your first customer and car with clean, connected records.
* Where daily work lives in the sidebar (Cars, Contacts, Schedule, Payments, and more).
* Which guide to open next for the job you are doing today.
This section is written for **facility owners, managers, and front-desk staff** who may be new to business software. You do not need technical training. Take one step at a time.
## Before you start
* You have a **staff login** link from your facility (not a customer portal login).
* You can open the dashboard in a web browser on a computer, tablet, or phone.
* If someone else owns billing or settings, know their name so you can ask before changing facility-wide options.
* After sign-in, close the **What's New** pop-up by clicking **Got it** so it does not cover buttons you need to click.
**Staff dashboard vs customer portal**
Your login should open pages that start with `/dashboard`. Customer portal pages look different and are for vehicle owners, not your team. If you landed on the wrong site, sign out and use the staff link your manager gave you.
*After sign-in, many staff land on **Create event** — the large-button home for starting vehicle work. Your facility name appears at the top of the sidebar.*
*The [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding) is your in-app checklist. Each **Set up** button opens the correct settings page so you do not have to hunt through menus.*
## Who should read which guide
**Owners and managers setting up a new workspace** — start with [Complete the Setup Guide](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide) or the step-by-step [Complete the onboarding wizard](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard), then [Set up your facility profile](/docs/basics/set-up-your-facility-profile).
**Front-desk staff starting daily work** — start with [Use the Create event home page](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home), [Search your facility quickly](/docs/basics/search-your-facility-quickly), and [Learn the dashboard](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard).
**Anyone entering the first real customer and car** — use [Prepare your first customer and car](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car).
**Managers who want one screen with schedule, parking, and inbox** — read [Customize your Overview dashboard](/docs/basics/customize-your-overview).
**Anyone who prefers a guided wizard after first sign-in** — read [Complete the onboarding wizard](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard).
## Your first week — recommended order
Follow this path the first time your facility uses the app. You do not need to finish every step before trying daily work — many teams add one customer and one car while other setup tasks are still open.
If you see **Let's set up your account** after sign-in, follow the six cards for facility details, customers, cars, contracts, billing, and team invites.
[Read the full guide →](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard)
Open [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2) and work through the six setup cards your manager assigns.
[Read the hub guide →](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide) · [Read step-by-step wizard help →](/docs/basics/complete-the-onboarding-wizard)
Check your facility name, logo, time zone, and date formats so customers see the right information on emails and portal pages.
[Read the full guide →](/docs/basics/set-up-your-facility-profile)
Take a safe tour of Cars, Contacts, Schedule, Payments, Parking Spots, and Settings without changing live records. Practice **Ctrl+K** (Windows) or **⌘K** (Mac) to find a record fast.
[Dashboard tour →](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard) · [Facility search →](/docs/basics/search-your-facility-quickly)
Search first, then create records and link the vehicle to the correct owner.
[Read the full guide →](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car)
**Already have a spreadsheet?** Import from [Import Data](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/import) instead. See [Import customers and cars from a spreadsheet](/docs/contacts/import-customers-and-cars).
Pick an event type card, connect the right vehicle, and click **Continue** when your team is ready for intake or service workflows.
[Read the full guide →](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home)
Add schedule, parking, and inbox panels to [Dashboard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/v2) if your role benefits from one command-center screen.
[Read the full guide →](/docs/basics/customize-your-overview)
**You do not need 100% setup to begin**
The [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2) progress bar is helpful, but your team can add real customers and cars as soon as facility basics look correct. Waiting for perfect setup delays the learning your team needs.
## Two home screens — both are normal
The sidebar offers two starting points. Neither is wrong.
**Create event** ([Create event](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard)) — Large colored cards for starting vehicle work **right now** (drop-off, detail, pickup). Best for front desk and shop floor.
**Dashboard** ([Dashboard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/v2), labeled **Beta**) — A customizable page with widgets for schedule, parking map, inbox, and charts. Best for managers who want one overview screen.
***Create event** and **Dashboard (Beta)** are different home screens. Use whichever matches how you start your day.*
## Quick links by job
| I need to… | Open this page | Step-by-step guide |
| - | - | - |
| See what setup is left | [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2) | [Complete the Setup Guide](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide) |
| Find a car or customer fast | Press **Ctrl+K** or **⌘K** on any dashboard page | [Search your facility quickly](/docs/basics/search-your-facility-quickly) |
| Fix facility name, logo, or time zone | [Settings > Branding](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/branding) or [General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general) | [Set up your facility profile](/docs/basics/set-up-your-facility-profile) |
| Learn where everything is | [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars), [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts), etc. | [Learn the dashboard](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard) |
| Add my first customer and vehicle | [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) then [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) | [Prepare your first customer and car](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car) |
| Import many customers at once | [Import Data](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/import) | [Import customers and cars from a spreadsheet](/docs/contacts/import-customers-and-cars) |
| Start intake when a car arrives | [Create event](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard) | [Use the Create event home page](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home) |
| Build a manager overview screen | [Dashboard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/v2) | [Customize your Overview dashboard](/docs/basics/customize-your-overview) |
| Add the app to a phone home screen | [Create event](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard) or customer portal | [Install the mobile app](/docs/basics/install-the-mobile-app) |
## How Basics connects to other guides
Once your facility is past the first week, use the section that matches your daily work:
* [Cars](/docs/cars/overview) — vehicle records, parking on the car page, sessions, and photos.
* [Contacts](/docs/contacts/overview) — customers, portal invites, tags, and CRM fields.
* [Schedule](/docs/schedule/overview) — calendar planning, appointments, and rescheduling.
* [Payments](/docs/payments/overview) — invoices, quotes, and recurring storage billing.
* [Parking Spots](/docs/parking-spots/overview) — floor plan, spot assignment, and reservations.
* [Settings](/docs/settings/overview) — full facility configuration for owners and admins.
## Important words in plain English
**Onboarding wizard** — A guided six-step setup flow at [Onboarding wizard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2) for brand-new facilities (facility, customers, cars, contracts, billing, team).
**Setup Guide** — An in-app checklist at [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding) that links to the settings pages your facility still needs.
**Create event** — The staff home page with large buttons for starting vehicle workflows today.
**Customer record** — A person or company in [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts). Vehicles and billing connect to this record.
**Car record** — A vehicle in [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars). Every stored or serviced car should have one.
**Event type** — A labeled kind of work (drop-off, pickup, detail) that appears as a card on Create event.
**Portal** — The customer-facing website where owners view cars, billing, and documents. Staff use the **dashboard**; customers use the **portal**.
## Common mistakes to avoid
* Do not create duplicate customers or cars — always **search first**.
* Do not change **Settings** while exploring unless your manager asked you to.
* Do not skip linking a car to its owner — billing and messages depend on that connection.
* Do not confuse **Create event** (start work now) with **Schedule** (plan future appointments).
## Troubleshooting
**I cannot sign in**
Use the magic link or staff login URL from your welcome email. If the link expired, ask your facility owner to send a new invite from [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team). Do not share passwords — this app uses secure email links instead.
**The sidebar looks different from these screenshots**
Your role may hide some menu items. Your facility name appears at the top of the sidebar. If you need access to Payments, Settings, or another area, ask a team admin to review your permissions.
**Setup Progress stays at 0%**
Open [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding) and complete at least one task — for example save your facility name on [Settings > Branding](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/branding). Then click the refresh icon in the **Setup Progress** card. See [Complete the Setup Guide](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide).
**I feel overwhelmed**
You do not need every guide at once. Finish [Complete the Setup Guide](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide), add one customer and one car with [Prepare your first customer and car](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car), then learn the sidebar with [Learn the dashboard](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard).
## What success looks like
When Basics setup is going well:
* Staff can sign in and find Cars, Contacts, and Create event without help.
* At least one customer and one car exist with the correct owner link.
* Facility name and time zone look correct on settings pages.
* The team knows which guide to open for invoices, parking, contracts, or appointments.
## Your first day — a simple checklist
You do not need to finish everything in one sitting. Use this checklist on day one so your team makes steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Use the login link your facility gave you. Many staff see the [Create event](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard) page first — large colored cards for starting vehicle work.
**Expected result:** Your facility name appears at the top of the left sidebar. You are signed in as staff, not as a customer.
Go to [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding/v2). Read the **Setup Progress** percentage at the top.
**Why this matters:** The Setup Guide is your facility’s to-do list inside the app. Each **Set up** button opens the correct settings page so you do not have to guess.
Step-by-step help: [Complete the Setup Guide](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide).
Check name, logo, and time zone in [Set up your facility profile](/docs/basics/set-up-your-facility-profile).
**Expected result:** Branding and General settings show the business name and time zone your customers should see on emails and portal pages.
Open [Learn the dashboard](/docs/basics/learn-the-dashboard) and visit Cars, Contacts, Schedule, Payments, Inbox, and Settings without saving changes.
**Expected result:** You know where daily work lives before a car arrives at the door — including where to read customer messages and where managers change facility setup.
Follow [Prepare your first customer and car](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car). Search first — do not create duplicates.
**Expected result:** The customer appears in [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) and the car appears in [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) with the correct owner link.
When a vehicle arrives, open [Use the Create event home page](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home), pick the right card, search for the car, and click **Continue**.
**Expected result:** You reach the next screen (photos, checklist, or parking) without attaching work to the wrong vehicle.
**Close the What's New window first**
After sign-in, you may see a **What's New** pop-up about product updates. Read it if you like, then click **Got it** or close it before you take screenshots or walk through setup. It can cover buttons you need to click.
***Setup Guide** may appear in the sidebar during onboarding. You can always open it directly at [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding).*
## How to find Setup Guide in the app
The Setup Guide is not always obvious on a small screen. Use any of these paths:
* **Direct link:** [Setup Guide](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/onboarding)
* **Sidebar:** look for **Setup Guide** in the left menu (often below the main work areas).
* **From Settings:** open [Settings](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings) and look for a link or banner pointing to setup progress.
**Expected result:** The page title says **Let's set up your account** and you see six setup cards: **Facility**, **Customers**, **Cars**, **Contracts**, **Billing**, and **Team**.
For the standalone first-day walkthrough, read [Getting started](/docs/getting-started).
## What to do next
If you are brand new, open [Complete the Setup Guide](/docs/basics/complete-the-setup-guide) and click the first **Set up** button your manager recommends.
If setup is mostly done and you need real records, go to [Prepare your first customer and car](/docs/basics/prepare-your-first-customer-and-car).
If a car is arriving today, open [Use the Create event home page](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home).
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