Getting Started

Get up and running with your Agency OS in 30 minutes

Congratulations on choosing Agency OS! This guide will walk you through accessing your new app and understanding what you see for the first time.

Create Your Agency OS App

If you haven't created your Agency OS app yet, get started here:

Create Your Agency OS: Start for free.

First Look at Your Agency OS

When you first access your Agency OS app, you'll land on the Home page. Here's what you'll see:

Pre-Loaded Sample Data

Your Agency OS comes with sample data to help you explore and understand the system:

• Sample clients and projects

• Example tasks in various stages

• Test contacts including "Amanda Scott" (a client contact)

• Sample billing and payment records

• Sample tracked time, expenses and budgets

• Example team members

Sample Data is Safe: The sample data is there to help you learn. You can edit, delete, or keep it as reference. It won't affect your real work.

Navigation Structure

The sidebar navigation is organized by function:

• 🏠 Home: Your daily command center with tasks, time tracking, and overview

• 📊 CRM: Lead generation, opportunities, and sales pipeline

• 👥 Clients: Active client management and dashboard

• 📁 Projects: Project delivery, tasks, and dashboards

• 👤 Team: Team member management, departments, and offices

• 💰 Billing: Invoicing and payment tracking

• 💳 Expenses: Expense tracking and categorization

Your Home Page

The Home page has four tabs:

1. Tasks: Overview of your tasks and ongoing work

2. Time: Time tracking interface with start/stop timer

3. Overview: Admin dashboard with financials and metrics

4. Browse: Quick links to other sections of the app

Remember, you can customize this to meet your agency's exact workflow at any time.

What to Do First

Now that you've opened your Agency OS, you have two options:

Option 1: Explore with Sample Data (Recommended)

Take 15-30 minutes to explore the pre-loaded app:

1. Click through the navigation sections

2. Open sample client and project records

3. View sample tasks and try updating their status

4. Test the "View as Amanda Scott" feature to see the client portal

5. Explore the different dashboards and views

Option 2: Jump Right In

Ready to start using Agency OS for your real work? Follow the hands-on tutorial:

Your First Steps

This tutorial will guide you through:

• Creating your first client

• Creating your first project

• Testing the client portal view

Understanding the Interface

Build Mode vs Live Mode

Agency OS has two modes:

• Live Mode (default): Use the app normally, add data, complete tasks

• Build Mode: Customize the app structure, add fields, modify views, set up automations

You can toggle Build Mode on/off using the floating switch, it's usually found in the bottom-left corner, but you can move it out of the way. Don't worry about accidentally changing things—you can always undo customizations.

Key Interface Elements

Top Navigation Bar

• App name and logo

• Section tabs (when applicable)

• Search functionality

• User profile menu

• Notifications

Sidebar Navigation

• Organized by functional areas

• Click to expand folders

• Shows all accessible pages based on your role

Main Content Area

• Data views (lists, cards, kanban, etc.)

• Filters and sorting options

• Action buttons for creating records

• Charts and dashboards

Record Pages

• Detailed view of individual records

• Related records and relationships

• Comment/activity feed

• Action buttons

Initial Setup Tasks

Before inviting your team or clients, consider these setup tasks:

1. Personalize Your App

• Upload your agency logo (Custom Logos guide)

• Update app theme and colors (Theme & Design guide)

• Customize the welcome message on the Portal page

2. Configure Settings

• Set up email settings for notifications (Email Settings guide)

• Review user roles and permissions (User Roles guide)

• Configure login options (Login & Signup guide)

3. Add Your Data

• Import your existing clients (Import Data guide)

• Create your active projects

• Add your team members

• Set up your expense categories

4. Set Up Automations

• Review pre-configured workflows

• Customize email templates

• Set up key notifications (Workflows guide)

Don't Rush Setup: You can start using Agency OS immediately with the default configuration. Customize gradually as you learn what you need.

Next Steps

Once you're familiar with the interface:

Complete the Tutorial

Walk through creating your first client and project:

Your First Steps

Learn the Structure

Understand how Agency OS is organized:

App Structure Overview

Explore Key Features

Jump to the sections most relevant to your role:

• Home Page - Understand your command center

• Projects & Delivery - Start managing work

• Client Portal - Set up client access

• Best Practices - Learn from successful agencies

Getting Help

Built-in Help

• Nola AI Assistant: Ask Nola to help you navigate, customize, or understand features

• Tooltips: Hover over field labels and buttons for quick explanations

• Sample Data: Use it as reference for how things should look

Documentation

• This Guide: Comprehensive coverage of all Agency OS features

• Noloco Docs: General platform documentation for deeper dives

• Video Tutorials: Arcade demos embedded throughout the guides

Support

• Onboarding Call: Schedule a call with the Noloco team

• Community: Join the Noloco community to connect with other agencies

• Support: Use the in-app chat to contact the Noloco support team at any time

You're Ready! You now know how to access and navigate your Agency OS. Let's create your first client and project.