The Onboarding Dashboard Widget
On your dashboard, you will see an onboarding progress widget that tracks which steps you have completed. Each step shows a checkbox and a link to the relevant part of the application. As you complete steps, they are checked off and your progress bar fills up. The onboarding is entirely optional — you can dismiss it at any time and explore Aourly on your own. However, completing it ensures you have touched every major feature and understand the core workflow.Onboarding Steps
Step 1: Complete Your Profile
Your profile is how colleagues and clients identify you within Aourly. What to fill in:- Full name — Your first and last name
- Phone number — Optional but useful for contact purposes
- Profile photo — Helps team members recognize you in shared workspaces
Tip: A complete profile builds trust with clients and colleagues.
Step 2: Create a Gig (Gig)
Gigs are the core organizational unit in Aourly. Every time entry and expense is connected to an gig, and invoices are generated from gigs. Before creating an gig, you will need a client. If you have not created one yet, the wizard prompts you to add your first client. What you will set up:- Client — Select or create the client this work is for
- Gig name — A descriptive name for the gig
- Type — Hourly rate or fixed price
- Rate — Your hourly rate or the total fixed price
- Date range — When the gig starts and optionally ends
Step 3: Log Time
Time tracking is at the heart of Aourly. This step has you create your first time entry. What you will enter:- Gig — Select the gig you just created
- Date — The date the work was performed
- Hours — How many hours you worked (supports decimals, e.g., 1.5 for 90 minutes)
- Description — An optional note about what you did
Step 4: Add an Expense
Business expenses are costs you incur while performing work for a client. Aourly lets you track these and optionally include them on invoices. What you will enter:- Gig — Link the expense to an gig
- Amount — The expense amount in your company’s currency
- Category — The type of expense (e.g., travel, materials, software)
- Receipt — Upload a photo or scan of the receipt
- Description — A brief note about the expense
Step 5: Review an Invoice
This step shows you how Aourly turns your logged time and expenses into a professional invoice. You will see:- Line items generated from your time entries
- Expense line items if applicable
- VAT calculation based on your company settings
- Payment terms inherited from the client configuration
- Total amount including any markups
Step 6: Complete Onboarding
Once you have been through all the steps, the onboarding widget on your dashboard shows 100% progress. At this point, you are familiar with the complete Aourly workflow:- Client — Who you are working for
- Gig — What you are working on
- Time — How long you worked
- Expense — What costs you incurred
- Invoice — Getting paid for your work
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Onboarding
Log time daily
The most successful freelancers on Aourly log time daily rather than trying to remember a week’s worth of work later. It only takes a moment and the entries are more accurate.Set up your clients and gigs early
Even if you have not started work yet, creating your client profiles and gigs in advance means you can start tracking time immediately when work begins.Upload receipts right away
Take a photo of receipts as soon as you receive them and upload them immediately. Receipts fade, get lost, and are easily forgotten. Aourly stores them securely so you always have a copy.After Onboarding
With onboarding complete, here are suggested next steps:- Set up your full client list — Add all your current and upcoming clients
- Configure invoice settings — Set default payment terms, VAT rates, and invoice numbering
- Invite team members — If you work with others, invite them as coordinators or performers
- Connect integrations — Link Aourly to Fortnox or Visma for automated bookkeeping
- Explore the Knowledge Base — Read up on Swedish invoicing rules, VAT handling, and best practices
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip the onboarding?
Yes, the onboarding is optional. You can dismiss it and start using Aourly directly. However, completing it ensures you understand the core workflow.Can I redo the onboarding?
The onboarding progress widget appears on your dashboard until all steps are completed. The core guides are always available in the documentation.Do I need to complete all steps in order?
No, you can complete the onboarding steps in any order, though the suggested order follows the natural workflow: profile, gig, time, expense, invoice.I am a performer, not a company owner. Is the onboarding different?
The onboarding adapts based on your role. Performers see steps focused on time tracking and expense logging. Owners and coordinators see the full workflow including client management, gigs, and invoicing.The onboarding wizard tracks your progress on the dashboard. You can complete steps in any order and return to them later.