> ## 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.
# Create and share a custom form
> Build a signup or survey page your team can share by link, QR code, or website embed—without asking customers to call the front desk.
## What you will accomplish
You will create a **custom form**: a simple web page where customers answer questions you choose (event interest, service waitlist, feedback, and more). When you are done, you will have a **shareable link** and a **Published** form ready for your website, email, or front desk.
**Forms are not the same as campaigns or registration**
A **campaign** sends a message **out** to customers. **Customer registration** is the built-in storage signup flow on your public website.
Use **Forms** when you need a **custom question list** that is separate from your main storage registration page. For example, use a form for a car-show interest survey or a detail-service waitlist.
## When to use a custom form
* You want to collect answers from people who visit your website or open house, not only existing customers.
* You need a short survey (event interest, service waitlist, feedback after a visit).
* You want a link or QR code the front desk can hand out without building a full campaign email first.
* Your standard storage registration form does not ask the questions you need.
| If you need… | Use this guide | Use something else |
| - | - | - |
| Email or text many customers at once | — | [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign) |
| Customers RSVP to an in-person event | — | [Create a social event](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-social-event) |
| Ongoing posts inside the customer portal | — | [Manage community channels](/docs/marketing-events/manage-community-channels) |
| See answers and download a spreadsheet | [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export) | — |
## Before you start
* You can open [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) from the dashboard sidebar.
* You know the questions you want to ask (keep the list short: five questions or fewer works best for most customers).
* You decided who may fill out the form: anyone with the link, signed-in customers only, or invite-only.
## Step 1: Open the Forms tab
From the dashboard sidebar, click **Marketing & Events**. You can also open [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) directly.
**Why this matters:** Forms live in the same Marketing & Events section as campaigns and community tools so your team can plan outreach in one place.
Near the top of the page, click the **Forms** tab. You can also open [Marketing & Events > Forms](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/forms) directly.
**Expected result:** You see the **Forms** heading, a **New form** button, and a list of forms your team has already created (or an empty state if this is your first form).
*Click **Forms** at the top of Marketing & Events. Published forms show a status badge; drafts stay private until you turn on **Published**.*
## Step 2: Create a new form
Click **New form** in the top-right area of the page.
**Expected result:** A window titled **New form** opens.
In **Form name**, type a name your team will recognize later. Customers may see this title on the public page.
Good examples:
* **Cars & Coffee Interest Survey**
* **Detail Service Waitlist**
* **Open House Feedback**
**Why this matters:** A clear name helps you find the form again when responses start coming in.
Click **Create form** at the bottom of the window.
**Expected result:** The window closes and you land on the form editor for the form you just created.
*Give the form a clear name before you add questions. You can change the name later on the Settings tab.*
## Step 3: Add your questions
The editor opens on the **Questions** tab. Everything saves automatically as you type. You do not need a separate **Save** button.
Make sure **Questions** is selected near the top of the editor.
**Expected result:** You see a list of question cards (or one empty card ready for your first question).
Click **Add question** to add a new short-text question. Open the question card and use **Answer type** to choose the type you need:
* **Short text** — one-line answers (name, car model).
* **Long text** — paragraphs (comments, special requests).
* **Number** — counts (how many vehicles you store).
* **Single choice** — pick one option from a list.
* **Multiple choice** — pick more than one option.
* **Vehicle** — collect make, model, year, VIN, insurance, and related details. When the submission is linked to a customer, a car is created automatically.
* **Contacts** — collect additional contacts (spouse, bookkeeper, etc.) and add them to the customer record.
* **Documents** — upload files such as registration, insurance, or license; they are saved to the customer (and linked to the new car when the form also includes a Vehicle block).
**Why this matters:** Matching the question type to the answer keeps responses easy to read later. Use Vehicle + Documents when you want to replace a paper vehicle information sheet.
Click a question card to expand it. Type the **Question**: the words customers see above the answer box.
Example: **Which events interest you most?**
Turn on **Required** for questions customers must answer before they can submit.
**Expected result:** Required questions show a marker on the public form.
Drag the handle on the left side of a question card to move it up or down.
**Why this matters:** Put the easiest questions first so customers are more likely to finish the form.
*Add questions on the Questions tab. Drag to reorder. Turn on Published in the top-right when the form is ready to share.*
**Preview before you publish**
Click the **Preview** tab at any time to see the form exactly as customers will see it, without leaving the editor.
## Step 4: Set who can fill out the form
Click **Settings** near the top of the form editor.
In **Description**, explain what the form is for. Example: *Tell us which events you would like to attend this season.*
**Expected result:** The description appears under the form title on the public page.
In **Who can fill out this form**, pick one option:
* **Anyone with the link** — best for website visitors and open-house guests.
* **Signed-in customers only** — only people logged into your customer portal.
* **Invite link only** — only people who have your special invite link (shown in **Advanced** settings).
**Why this matters:** Public forms are great for lead capture. Customer-only forms are better for surveys that should not be filled out by strangers.
*On Settings, choose who may submit the form. Most event-interest and waitlist forms use Anyone with the link.*
**Contact details and Advanced options**
On the **Questions** tab, turn on **Name**, **Email**, and **Phone number** under Contact details when you want anonymous visitors to leave contact info. Signed-in customers are filled in automatically.
Open **Advanced** on the Settings tab when you need a custom success message, a close date, a response limit, logo display, or related options.
**When to use Advanced:**
* **Close date** — stop accepting answers after your event signup period ends.
* **Response limit** — cap how many people can submit (useful for waitlists with a fixed number of spots).
* **Success message** — show a custom thank-you line after someone submits (for example, "Thanks! We will email you before the next Cars & Coffee.").
* **Show logo** — display your team logo at the top of the public form, with size and alignment controls.
## Step 5: Publish and share the link
Near the top-right of the form editor, flip the **Published** switch to **on**.
**Expected result:** The badge changes from **Draft** to **Published**. Only published forms accept new responses.
Click **Share** (or the share icon) next to the Published switch.
From the menu you can:
* **Copy link** — paste into email, text, or your website.
* **Open link** — see the live public page in a new tab.
* **QR code** — download a QR image for posters or the front desk.
**Why this matters:** Customers need the public link, not the dashboard editor URL.
From the **Share** menu, look for an **embed** or **website** option when your team wants the form on your facility website.
**Why this matters:** Visitors can answer questions without leaving your site. You still review answers on the **Results** page in the dashboard.
**Expected result:** You copy a small code snippet for your web person, or follow your facility's website guide at [Add a website embed](/docs/facility-web-pages/add-a-website-embed).
Open the public link in a new browser tab. Answer every required question and submit once.
**Expected result:** You see your **success message** (or a thank-you screen). When you return to the Forms list or open Results, the test response appears there.
*This is what customers see at your public form link. Test it on a phone before you share it widely.*
*Use Preview in the editor for a quick check. Always test the real public link once before sharing it with customers.*
## What success looks like
* The form shows **Published** on the [Forms](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/forms) list.
* You can open the public link without signing in (when visibility is **Anyone with the link**).
* A test submission appears on the **Results** page.
* Your team knows where to find answers: [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export).
## Remove a form you no longer need
Go to [Marketing & Events > Forms](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/forms).
Find the form row. Click the three-dot menu (**⋯**) on the right side of the row.
Click **Delete** and confirm when the app asks.
**Why this matters:** Deleting removes the form from your list. Export responses first with [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export) if you still need the answers.
**Expected result:** The form no longer appears on the Forms tab. The public link stops accepting new responses.
## Recipe: replace a paper vehicle information sheet
Use this when a signed-in customer should add another car (plus insurance details and docs) without filling a PDF.
Set **Who can fill out this form** to **Signed-in customers only** so the submitter is already a contact in your CRM.
Add a question with answer type **Vehicle**. Click **Use vehicle sheet preset** to turn on license plate, registration, insurance, mileage, fair market value, intake date, and special instructions, matching a typical paper sheet.
Add a **Documents** block and select types such as registration, insurance, and license. Uploaded files are saved on the customer and linked to the new car.
Add a **Contacts** block if the sheet also collects a spouse or other related contact.
Publish the form and share the link or QR from the customer portal or front desk. On submit, the car (and contacts/documents) are created on that customer automatically.
## Common mistakes to avoid
* Do not share the dashboard editor link. Customers cannot use it. Copy the **public** link from **Share**.
* Do not leave the form in **Draft** and wonder why no one can submit answers.
* Do not add twenty questions. Shorter forms get more completed responses.
* Do not forget to tell the front desk which form link to use for each event or promotion.
## Troubleshooting
**Customers say the form will not submit**
Check that the form is still **Published** and not **Closed**. Open **Settings > Advanced** and confirm the close date has not passed and the response limit is not full.
**I do not see the Forms tab**
Your account may need marketing access. Ask a facility owner to review your role in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team).
**Signed-in customers only, but a visitor cannot open the form**
That is expected. Change **Who can fill out this form** to **Anyone with the link** on the **Settings** tab, or send the customer a portal invite from [Contacts](/docs/contacts/invite-a-customer-to-the-portal).
## What to do next
1. [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export) — read answers, view charts, and download a CSV.
2. [Embed a custom form on your website](/docs/marketing-events/embed-a-custom-form-on-your-website) — show the same form on your public facility page.
3. [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign) — email customers who should fill out the form.
4. [Marketing & Events overview](/docs/marketing-events/overview) — see how forms fit with campaigns, events, and community.
This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.