# First-run setup

After the first sign-in the admin dashboard shows a **Finish setting up your store** checklist. It is computed from the database, so a step turns done as soon as the setting exists. Required steps keep the checklist on the dashboard until they are done; you can hide it with **Hide from dashboard** (Admin → Getting started brings it back).

| Step | Required | Where | What it checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Company details** | yes | `/admin/general-settings` | Company name and contact email used on invoices and emails. |
| **Currencies** | yes | `/admin/currencies` | Enable at least one currency. |
| **Outgoing email** | yes | `/admin/mail-settings` | Configure SMTP so clients receive invoices and notifications. |
| **Payment gateway** | yes | `/admin/gateways` | Enable at least one way to get paid. |
| **First product** | yes | `/admin/products` | Create a product group and a product to sell. |
| **Tax rules** | optional | `/admin/tax` | Add VAT or sales tax rules if you charge tax. |
| **Domain pricing** | optional | `/admin/domains` | Add TLD prices if you sell domains. |
| **Provisioning server** | optional | `/admin/servers` | Connect a server to provision hosting automatically. |

## Company and general settings

Admin → System & settings → **General settings** holds the company name and contact email (used on invoices and emails), the system URLs, maintenance mode, localisation, ordering and support defaults, and custom head/body code. The sections are:

- `General`: 
- `SystemUrls`: 
- `Maintenance`: 
- `Localisation`: 
- `Ordering`: 
- `Support`: 
- `CustomCode`: 

Each field is listed in the developer reference [Settings keys](developers/settings-keys.md#general-settings).

## Outgoing email

Admin → System & settings → **Mail (SMTP)** sets the SMTP server. Until it is configured clients receive no invoices or notifications. See [Email and notifications](admin-email.md).

## Next steps

- Create products: [Products and orders](admin-catalog.md).
- Enable a payment gateway: [Billing and payments](admin-billing.md).
- Sell domains: [Domains and registrars](admin-domains.md).
- Provision hosting automatically: [Servers and provisioning](admin-provisioning.md).
- Lock down staff accounts: [Staff security](admin-security.md).