> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.areawp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick Start

> Deploy a WordPress template, configure your platform settings, and set up email in a few steps.

<Info>
  This guide assumes you've installed AreaWP and completed the setup wizard. If not, start with the [Installation Guide](/installation).
</Info>

## Step 1 — Deploy a WordPress Template

Templates (Blueprints) let you package a full WordPress setup and make it available for deployment. Go to **Services → Templates** (`/templates`) → **Manage** → **Add Blueprint**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Services → Templates → Manage">
    In the sidebar, navigate to **Services** → **Templates**, then click the **Manage** button and select **Add Blueprint**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload your WordPress files">
    Provide the template contents. Two options:

    | Option         | What to upload                              |
    | -------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
    | **wp-content** | A `wp-content.zip` + a `.sql` database dump |
    | **Full site**  | A full site `.zip` + a `.sql` database dump |

    Fill in the template name, description, category, and version.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the Blueprint">
    Click **Save**. The template is now available in the catalog for clients to deploy from their portal.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Step 2 — Configure Site Settings

Go to **Settings → Site Settings** to configure platform-wide options for your installation.

### Platform Mode

Choose how the platform operates:

| Mode     | Description                                                                        |
| -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **SaaS** | General hosting — clients subscribe and manage their own sites                     |
| **WaaS** | WordPress-as-a-Service — optimized for WordPress site deployments with marketplace |

### General Toggles

| Setting            | Description                                            |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Registration**   | Allow new users to register publicly at `/register`    |
| **Dev Mode**       | Enable development-only features in the sidebar        |
| **Support Center** | Show the built-in support ticket system in the sidebar |

### Site Configuration

| Field                | Description                                                                                                                   |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Default Domain**   | The primary domain for the panel (e.g. `panel.yourcompany.com`). Changing this redirects you to the new address after saving. |
| **Default Language** | UI language for new users                                                                                                     |
| **Session Timeout**  | Auto-logout after inactivity (minutes)                                                                                        |

### SSL Certificate

SSL is provisioned during the initial setup wizard. This section only needs revisiting if you change the panel domain or need to redeploy the certificate for a new domain. The **Force WWW Redirect** toggle redirects `www.yourdomain.com` to the apex domain (or vice versa) automatically.

### Company Info

Used on invoices and billing documents:

| Field                                   | Description                                |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Currency**                            | Billing currency (USD, EUR, GBP, and more) |
| **Company Name**                        | Your business name                         |
| **Email**                               | Company contact email                      |
| **Phone**                               | Company phone number                       |
| **Address, City, Postal Code, Country** | Full billing address                       |
| **VAT ID**                              | Tax registration number                    |

### Tax Management

Enable the **Tax** toggle to add tax to all invoices:

* **Tax Name** — label shown on invoices (e.g. VAT, GST)
* **Tax Amount** — percentage rate (e.g. `20` for 20%)

### Support Center Links

When the Support Center is enabled, add quick-access links shown on the client dashboard — each link has a label, description, and URL. Useful for pointing clients to your knowledge base, community forum, or external support portal.

***

## Step 3 — Set Up Email

Outgoing email is required for registration confirmations, password resets, billing invoices, and renewal reminders. Without it, clients receive nothing from the platform.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Settings → Email">
    Navigate to **Settings** and select **Email** from the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your SMTP credentials">
    | Field          | Example                           |
    | -------------- | --------------------------------- |
    | **SMTP Host**  | `smtp.sendgrid.net`               |
    | **SMTP Port**  | `587` (STARTTLS) or `465` (SMTPS) |
    | **Username**   | Your SMTP account username        |
    | **Password**   | Your SMTP account password        |
    | **From Email** | `noreply@yourplatform.com`        |
    | **From Name**  | Your platform or brand name       |

    Popular providers: **SendGrid**, **Mailgun**, **Amazon SES**, **Postmark**, or your own Postfix server.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send a test email">
    Click **Send Test Email**. AreaWP sends a verification message to the admin address. Check your inbox to confirm delivery before going live.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Customize email templates (optional)">
    Scroll to **Email Templates** to customize the content and branding of transactional emails — welcome, invoices, renewal reminders, and more.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Without a working SMTP configuration, clients will not receive registration emails, password resets, or billing notifications. Configure this before inviting your first user.
</Warning>

***

## Step 4 — Set Up Billing

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a Pricing Plan">
    Go to **Administration → Pricing Plans** → **New Plan**. Set name, price, billing period, and resource limits.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable a Payment Gateway">
    Go to **Administration → Payment Gateways**. Enable **Stripe**, **PayPal**, **Tap**, or **Bank Transfer** and enter credentials.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Invite a Client">
    Go to **Administration → Users** → **Invite User**. The client receives an email registration link and can subscribe to a plan from their portal.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Step 5 — White-Label the Platform

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings → White Label">
    Go to **Settings** and find the **White Label** category.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set brand name and logo">
    Enter your brand name, upload your logo (light and dark variants), and choose your primary color.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Changes take effect immediately across the entire UI for all users.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## What's Next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Server Fleet" icon="server" href="/infrastructure/servers">
    Agent Fleet, fleet monitor, cloud provisioning (Hosted plan only)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set Up Monitoring" icon="chart-line" href="/operations/monitoring">
    Thresholds, alerts, and public status pages
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configure Backups" icon="database" href="/operations/backups">
    Automated schedules and S3 storage
  </Card>

  <Card title="Explore Docker" icon="box" href="/infrastructure/docker">
    Containers, Compose stacks, and live metrics
  </Card>
</CardGroup>