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

# Quick start (15 minutes)

> Get ServiceBooked answering your phone, texting back missed callers, and booking appointments — all in one sitting.

This walkthrough gets you to your first booked appointment in about 15 minutes. You'll connect a phone number, turn on missed-call auto-text, hook up your calendar, and add the widget to your website. Everything else (forms, pipeline, reviews) builds on these basics.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up and pick a plan">
    Head to [servicebooked.ca/pricing](https://servicebooked.ca/pricing), pick a plan, and start your 14-day free trial. You'll add a card up front, but you won't be charged until day 15 — and you can cancel anytime.

    <Tip>
      Not sure which plan? Start with **Growth** — it's the most popular tier and includes the voice AI Receptionist. You can downgrade if you decide you don't need voice.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish the onboarding wizard">
    Right after signup you'll be walked through a short setup:

    * **Business basics** — your name, business name, and what kind of work you do.
    * **Website** (optional) — if you have one, we'll scan it to pre-train the AI Receptionist on your services and pricing.
    * **Services & service area** — what you do, where you do it, anything you don't take.
    * **Hours** — when you're open. The AI Receptionist uses this to give honest "we're closed" responses outside hours.
    * **Phone number** — pick a local number from the area code of your choice.
    * **Widget** (optional) — pick a color and welcome message for the chat bubble.

    Don't worry about getting everything perfect — every setting can be edited later from **Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Turn on missed-call auto-text">
    This is the single highest-value thing you can do. From your dashboard, go to **Settings → Phone** and toggle on **Missed call auto-text**.

    Set the message you want callers to receive when they don't reach you. The default works well, but you can personalize it. Use `{{business_name}}` to insert your business name automatically.

    <Tip>
      The default message says something like *"Hi! Sorry we missed your call — what can we help you with?"* That open-ended question gets replies. Don't change it to something passive like *"We'll call you back soon."*
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your calendar">
    Go to **Settings → Integrations** and pick one:

    * **Google Calendar** — one-click OAuth. The AI Receptionist checks your real-time availability before booking.
    * **Cal.com** or **Calendly** — paste your booking link if you'd rather route customers there.

    Once connected, the AI Receptionist can answer "do you have anything Thursday afternoon?" with the truth instead of guessing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set up call forwarding (so callers actually reach you)">
    Two ways to wire this up — pick whichever fits your situation:

    * **"Keep my existing business number"** — easier. You enable Conditional Call Forward on No-Answer with your phone carrier (we provide the exact codes). Calls ring your existing number first; missed ones forward to ServiceBooked, which fires the auto-text and AI Receptionist.
    * **"Use the new ServiceBooked number"** — simpler if you don't already have a published business number. Put the new number on your website, business cards, and Google Business Profile. ServiceBooked rings your personal mobile when calls come in; if you can't pick up, it handles the response.

    Full instructions for both paths: [Connect your phone number](/phone-and-voice/connect-your-number).
  </Step>

  <Step title="(Optional) Install the chat widget">
    If you have a website, drop a chat bubble on it. From **Dashboard → Widget**, copy the embed snippet and paste it just before `</body>` on your site. Two lines of HTML and you're live.

    Visitors can chat with the AI Receptionist, ask questions, and book appointments without ever calling.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test it">
    Call your ServiceBooked number from a different phone (or have a friend call). Don't pick up. You should get a text within seconds. That's the auto-text you just configured.

    Send a text to your number with a question like *"are you open Saturday?"* and the AI Receptionist should reply with your real hours.

    <Check>
      If both of those work, you're live. Real customers will start hitting these flows the moment you publish your number.
    </Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What's next

You've got the basics running. The next batch of guides covers everything else:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="AI Receptionist" icon="phone-call" href="/phone-and-voice/voice-ai-assistant">
    Have the AI Receptionist answer the phone like a receptionist — not just text back.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build a lead form" icon="clipboard-list" href="/forms/create-a-form">
    Capture leads from your website with a custom quote request form.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set up review requests" icon="star" href="/reputation/sending-review-requests">
    Ask every customer for a Google review automatically after each job.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reactivate past customers" icon="rotate-ccw" href="/reactivation/building-a-campaign">
    Win back customers you haven't heard from in a while with a targeted campaign.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>