Akili is in beta! Try it free today →
Getting Started
Onboarding Guide

Complete Onboarding Guide

Overview

This comprehensive guide walks you through the Akili Apps onboarding process, helping you set up your account, understand key features, and start tracking expenses and creating invoices right away.

What You'll Learn

  • How to navigate the onboarding wizard
  • Essential account setup steps
  • How to add your first expense
  • Creating your first invoice
  • Understanding the dashboard layout

The Onboarding Wizard

After creating your account and logging in for the first time, you'll be greeted with an interactive onboarding wizard that guides you through the essential features.

Step 1: Welcome Screen

  1. You'll see a welcome message introducing Akili Apps
  2. Click "Get Started" to begin the tour
  3. You can skip the tour anytime by clicking "Skip Tour"

Step 2: Profile Setup

Complete your business profile:

  1. Business Information

    • Business or trading name
    • Business number (optional, for GST/HST registered businesses)
    • Industry type (for relevant expense categories)

  2. Contact Details

    • Business address
    • Phone number
    • Website (optional)

  3. Tax Information

    • Province (for accurate GST/HST calculations)
    • GST/HST registration status
    • GST/HST number (if registered)

Step 3: Dashboard Tour

The wizard highlights key areas of your dashboard:

  1. Quick Actions - Fast access to create expenses, scan receipts, and create invoices
  2. Expense Summary - Month-to-date expense tracking
  3. Recent Activity - Your latest expenses and transactions
  4. Analytics Cards - Visual insights into spending patterns
  5. Navigation Menu - Access all features from the sidebar

Step 4: Add Your First Expense

The wizard guides you through creating your first expense:

  1. Click "Add Expense" in the quick actions area
  2. Enter expense details:
    • Date of expense
    • Merchant name
    • Amount
    • Category (e.g., Office Supplies, Meals & Entertainment)
    • Payment method
    • Description (optional)
  3. Click "Save Expense"
  4. Your expense appears in the Recent Activity feed

Step 5: Scan Your First Receipt (Optional)

Learn how to use the receipt scanning feature:

  1. Click "Scan Receipt" in quick actions
  2. Choose to take a photo or upload an image
  3. The AI-powered OCR extracts:
    • Merchant name
    • Date
    • Total amount
    • Tax amounts
  4. Review and confirm the extracted data
  5. The receipt is attached to your expense

Step 6: Create Your First Invoice (Optional)

Set up invoicing for your business:

  1. Click "Create Invoice" in quick actions
  2. Add a client:
    • Client name
    • Email address
    • Billing address (optional)
  3. Add invoice line items:
    • Description
    • Quantity
    • Rate
    • Tax (GST/HST if applicable)
  4. Set payment terms (e.g., Net 30)
  5. Preview and send the invoice

Step 7: Choose Your Plan

The wizard presents plan options:

  1. Professional Plan ($19/month or $190/year)

    • Advanced receipt OCR
    • Unlimited invoices
    • Bank integration
    • AI categorization (50 questions/month)
    • Priority email + live chat support

  2. Growth Plan ($49/month or $490/year)

    • Everything in Professional
    • Team collaboration (up to 5 members)
    • Unlimited AI questions
    • Advanced reporting
    • API access
    • Dedicated account manager

You start with a 14-day free trial to explore all Professional features before selecting a plan.

Post-Onboarding Setup

After completing the wizard, take these additional steps:

Connect Your Bank Account

  1. Navigate to Settings > Bank Integration
  2. Click "Connect Bank Account"
  3. Search for your financial institution
  4. Securely authenticate through Plaid
  5. Select accounts to sync

Set Up Expense Categories

  1. Go to Settings > Categories
  2. Review default CRA-compliant categories
  3. Add custom categories if needed
  4. Set default categories for specific merchants

Configure Notifications

  1. Go to Settings > Notifications
  2. Choose email preferences:
    • Expense reminders
    • Invoice status updates
    • Weekly summaries
    • Payment reminders
  3. Enable/disable browser notifications

Explore AI Features

  1. Ask the Maple AI Assistant tax questions
  2. Let AI categorize your expenses automatically
  3. Get smart suggestions for deductions

Tips & Best Practices

  • Complete your profile - Full business details make invoices look more professional
  • Import past expenses - Use CSV import to bring in historical data
  • Set up recurring expenses - Automate regular payments like subscriptions
  • Create invoice templates - Save time with pre-configured invoice layouts
  • Enable bank sync - Automatic transaction import saves hours of manual entry
  • Use tags - Organize expenses by project, client, or purpose
  • Explore keyboard shortcuts - Speed up data entry with shortcuts

Common Questions

Q: Can I skip the onboarding wizard? A: Yes, click "Skip Tour" at any time. You can restart it from Settings > Help > Tour.

Q: How long does onboarding take? A: The complete wizard takes about 5-10 minutes, but you can complete it in stages.

Q: Can I change my settings later? A: Absolutely! All settings can be modified anytime from the Settings menu.

Q: Do I need to complete all steps? A: No, only the essential profile information is required. Other steps are optional but recommended.

Q: What if I need help during onboarding? A: Click the help icon (?) in the top right or use the live chat for instant assistance.

Q: Can I restart the onboarding tour? A: Yes, go to Settings > Help > "Restart Onboarding Tour" to see it again.

Related Articles

Need More Help?

Contact support at support@akiliapps.com or use the live chat in the bottom right corner of the app.

Account SetupDashboard Overview