# Quickstart

> Go from a new account to your first approved quote and paid invoice.

- URL: https://tillage.ai/docs/getting-started/quickstart
- Section: [Getting started](https://tillage.ai/docs/getting-started)

This guide takes you through the whole flow once: set up your account, connect Stripe, add a client, send a quote, and invoice it when it's approved. Each step links to a full guide if you want more detail.

## 1. Create your account

1. Sign up at [app.tillage.ai/signup](https://app.tillage.ai/signup). No credit card is needed.
2. Work through the setup screens:
   - **Personal**: your name and timezone.
   - **Business**: your **Company Name**, **Industry**, **Country** and **Currency**, plus your **US state** if you're in the United States. Phone, email, address and website are optional.
   - **Get Paid**: connect Stripe now (step 2 below), or click **Continue without connecting** and do it later.
3. On the last screen, click **Create Your First Invoice**, or go to the **Dashboard**.

The dashboard shows a **Get set up with Tillage** checklist until you create your first quote or invoice.

## 2. Connect Stripe

You need Stripe connected before you can send a quote or invoice.

1. Go to **Team Settings → Payments** and click **Connect with Stripe**.
2. Choose **Connect Existing** if you already use Stripe, or **Set Up Express** to create a new account.
3. Finish Stripe's verification steps.
4. Under **Fees & Invoicing**, choose who pays the **Platform fee (1%)** and the **Processing fee**: **Business absorbs** or **Client pays**.

See [Set up payments](https://tillage.ai/docs/getting-started/set-up-payments).

While you're in **Team Settings**, upload your logo on the **Business** tab and check your **Default Price** (hourly rate), **Default Variance (%)** and **Default Profit Margin (%)** on the **Quotes** tab.

## 3. Add a client

1. Go to **Clients** and click **Add Client**.
2. Enter the **Company Name**.
3. On the **Contacts** tab, click **Add Contact** and enter the contact's name and email.
4. Click **Create Client**.

See [Clients and contacts](https://tillage.ai/docs/clients/clients-and-contacts).

## 4. Build a quote

1. Go to **Quotes → All Quotes** and click **New Quote**.
2. Enter a **Project Name** and choose your **Client**.
3. In **Line Items**, click **Add Line Item**. Enter a title, a description, the **Qty** (hours), the **Price** (hourly rate) and the **Var %** (risk buffer).
4. Add the rest of your lines. The totals update as you go: base, with variance, with profit margin, and the final total.
5. Click **Preview** to see the quote as your client will.

The quote autosaves once a client is selected. Click **Save Draft** to save straight away.

To draft lines with AI instead, add your OpenAI or Claude key in **Team Settings → AI** and click **AI Generate**. See [AI quote drafts](https://tillage.ai/docs/quotes/ai-quote-drafts).

## 5. Send it

1. Click **Send Quote**.
2. Check the recipients, subject and message.
3. Click **Send Quote**.

Your client gets an email with a **View Quote** button. You'll see the quote move to **Viewed** when they open it, and **Approved** when they click **Approve Quote**. See [Send and approve](https://tillage.ai/docs/quotes/send-and-approve).

## 6. Invoice the approved quote

1. Open the approved quote and click **Next Steps**.
2. Choose **Invoice Flow** to bill from the quote, or **Contract Flow** to send a contract for signature first.
3. For an invoice, choose **Single Invoice**, set the **Due Date**, and tick **Send first invoice to client immediately** if you want it emailed now.
4. Click **Create Invoice**.

To split the total into a deposit and later payments, choose **Scheduled Payments** instead, or use a contract with a [payment schedule](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/payment-schedules).

See [Create an invoice](https://tillage.ai/docs/invoices/create-an-invoice).

## 7. Get paid

Your client opens the invoice, clicks **Pay Invoice** and pays by card or bank transfer. The invoice is marked paid automatically, and Stripe pays out to your bank account on its usual schedule.

If a client pays another way, such as by check, record the payment yourself. See [Record payments](https://tillage.ai/docs/invoices/record-payments).

## Next steps

- [Set up a service library](https://tillage.ai/docs/quotes/service-library) for the work you quote often
- [Create a contract template](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/contract-templates)
- [Invite your team](https://tillage.ai/docs/getting-started/invite-your-team)
- [Turn on invoice reminders](https://tillage.ai/docs/account/quote-and-invoice-settings#invoice-reminders)

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