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Getting Started
Quick Start Guide

Quick Start Guide - Get Started in 5 Minutes

Overview

New to Akili Apps? This quick start guide will have you tracking expenses and creating invoices in just 5 minutes. Follow these essential steps to get up and running fast.

What You'll Learn

  • Essential first steps after sign-up
  • How to add your first expense
  • How to scan a receipt
  • How to create and send an invoice
  • Key features to explore next

5-Minute Setup Checklist

Minute 1: Complete Your Profile (60 seconds)

  1. Click your profile icon (top right corner)
  2. Select "Settings"
  3. Fill in essential information:
    • Business name
    • Province (for accurate tax calculations)
    • Email for invoices
    • Phone number (optional)
  4. Click "Save"

✓ Your profile is now set up for professional invoicing!

Minute 2: Add Your First Expense (60 seconds)

  1. Click "+ New Expense" in the quick actions bar
  2. Fill in the details:
    • Date: Select the purchase date
    • Merchant: Enter the store/vendor name
    • Amount: Total spent
    • Category: Choose from dropdown (e.g., "Office Supplies")
    • Payment Method: Credit Card, Cash, Debit, etc.
  3. Click "Save Expense"

✓ Your first expense is now tracked!

Pro Tip: Notice how the amount appears in your dashboard's "Month-to-Date Expenses" card.

Minute 3: Scan a Receipt (60 seconds)

  1. Click "Scan Receipt" button
  2. Choose your method:
    • "Take Photo" - Use your camera (mobile)
    • "Upload Image" - Select from files (desktop)
  3. Wait 2-3 seconds for AI processing
  4. Review extracted data:
    • Merchant name
    • Date
    • Total amount
    • Tax amount
  5. Click "Save"

✓ Receipt scanned and attached to your expense!

What just happened? Our AI-powered OCR (Optical Character Recognition) automatically read your receipt and extracted the information. No manual typing needed!

Minute 4: Create Your First Invoice (90 seconds)

  1. Click "Create Invoice" button
  2. Add a client (if new):
    • Click "+ Add New Client"
    • Enter client name and email
    • Click "Add Client"
  3. Fill in invoice details:
    • Invoice Date: Today's date (auto-filled)
    • Due Date: 30 days from now (or customize)
    • Line Item:
      • Description: "Consulting Services"
      • Quantity: 1
      • Rate: $500 (or your amount)
    • GST/HST: Automatically calculated based on your province
  4. Click "Preview" to see how it looks
  5. Click "Save & Send"

✓ Professional invoice created and sent!

What happens next? Your client receives the invoice by email and can pay online via Stripe (if connected).

Minute 5: Explore Key Features (60 seconds)

Quick tour of what to explore next:

  1. Dashboard - Check your financial summary cards
  2. Expense Categories - Review the CRA-compliant categories
  3. Receipt Gallery - View all your scanned receipts
  4. Reports - See expense breakdown by category
  5. AI Assistant - Ask Maple a tax question

✓ You're now familiar with the main features!

What You've Accomplished

In just 5 minutes, you've:

  • ✅ Set up your business profile
  • ✅ Created your first expense
  • ✅ Scanned a receipt using AI
  • ✅ Created and sent a professional invoice
  • ✅ Explored the main dashboard features

Next Steps to Master Akili Apps

Week 1: Build Your Foundation

Days 1-2: Expense Tracking

  • Add all expenses from the past month
  • Scan all your receipts
  • Set up recurring expenses (subscriptions, rent)

Days 3-4: Invoice Setup

  • Add all your clients
  • Create invoice templates for common services
  • Set up payment reminders

Days 5-7: Integration & Automation

  • Connect your bank account via Plaid
  • Enable AI categorization
  • Set up email notifications

Week 2: Advanced Features

  • Explore Reports: Generate your first expense report
  • Tax Features: Calculate GST/HST quarterly summary
  • Team Collaboration: Invite team members (if applicable)
  • Mobile App: Download and set up mobile app

Month 1: Optimize Your Workflow

  • Review and customize expense categories
  • Set up keyboard shortcuts
  • Create saved report templates
  • Explore integrations with accounting software

Essential Features You Should Know

1. Global Search (Ctrl/Cmd + K)

Search anything instantly:

  • Type merchant name to find expenses
  • Search by amount
  • Find invoices by client
  • Locate receipts by date

2. Bulk Operations

Save time on repetitive tasks:

  • Select multiple expenses to categorize at once
  • Bulk export for accounting
  • Mass delete old test entries

3. AI-Powered Categorization

Let Akili Apps learn your patterns:

  • Automatically categorizes similar expenses
  • Suggests categories based on merchant
  • Improves accuracy over time

4. Recurring Expenses

Set once, forget forever:

  • Monthly subscriptions
  • Quarterly tax payments
  • Annual license fees

5. Invoice Templates

Speed up invoicing:

  • Save common services
  • Pre-filled tax rates
  • Consistent branding

Common First-Time Questions

Q: Do I need to pay right away? A: No! New accounts get a 14-day free trial of Professional features. You can explore everything before selecting a plan.

Q: Can I import expenses from a spreadsheet? A: Yes! Go to Expenses > Import > Upload CSV. We support standard formats from most accounting software.

Q: How do I connect my bank account? A: Go to Settings > Bank Integration > Connect Account. We use Plaid for secure, read-only access to your transactions.

Q: Is there a mobile app? A: Yes! Download the Akili Apps mobile app for iOS and Android. Scan receipts on the go and track expenses anywhere.

Q: Can I try features before committing to a plan? A: Absolutely! New accounts get a 14-day trial of Professional features to explore everything.

Q: What if I make a mistake? A: Everything can be edited or deleted. Click the edit icon on any expense or invoice to make changes.

Tips for Success

  • Start small - Don't try to import everything at once
  • Scan receipts immediately - Do it right after purchase while receipt is fresh
  • Use tags - Organize expenses by project or client
  • Check dashboard daily - Quick review keeps you on track
  • Ask the AI assistant - Maple can answer tax questions
  • Enable notifications - Get reminded to track expenses

Keyboard Shortcuts to Memorize

  • Ctrl/Cmd + K - Global search
  • Ctrl/Cmd + E - New expense
  • Ctrl/Cmd + I - New invoice
  • Ctrl/Cmd + R - Scan receipt
  • Ctrl/Cmd + S - Save current form
  • Esc - Close modal/dialog

Getting Help

In-App Help:

  • Click the "?" icon (top right) for contextual help
  • Use Maple AI Assistant for tax questions
  • Access Video Tutorials from the Help menu

Support Options:

  • Live Chat - Bottom right corner (fastest)
  • Email - support@akiliapps.com
  • Help Center - help.akiliapps.com
  • Community Forum - community.akiliapps.com

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Need More Help?

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

Creating Your Account