---
title: "First Steps"
description: "Get started with Spark CRM - your first workflow from setup to processing orders."
---

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

# First Steps

This guide walks you through the recommended workflow for new Spark CRM users. By the end, you'll have a fully configured account ready to process orders.

## Recommended Workflow

Follow these steps in order for the smoothest setup experience:

1. Connect a payment gateway
2. Create your products
3. Create a campaign
4. Process your first order

---

## Step 1: Connect a Payment Gateway

Before you can process payments, you need to connect at least one payment gateway.

> **Important:** You must configure a payment gateway before you can process any orders. This is a required step.

### Adding a Gateway

1. Navigate to **Payments > Gateways** in the sidebar
2. Click **New Gateway**
3. Select your payment processor (e.g., Authorize.net, Stripe)
4. Enter your gateway credentials:
   - API Login ID / API Key
   - Transaction Key / Secret Key
   - Other processor-specific settings
5. Click **Create Gateway** (the button reads **Update Gateway** when you are editing an existing gateway)

![Gateway form](/assets/gateways/gateways-add-gateway-form.png)
_Screenshot: Payments > Gateways → New Gateway (credentials)._

### Testing Your Gateway

After saving a gateway:
1. Open the gateway's row menu and choose **Connection Status**, then click **Test Now**
2. Verify the connection is successful
3. If it fails, double-check your credentials

> **Tip:** Start with a sandbox/test account to verify everything works before using production credentials.

### Switching From Sandbox to Production

> **Warning:** Never use production credentials until you've fully tested your setup with sandbox credentials. Real charges will be processed with production gateways.

- Add your sandbox gateway first and run a full test order
- Once successful, add a **new** gateway entry with production credentials
- Update active campaigns to point to the production gateway when ready to go live

---

## Step 2: Create Your Products

Set up the products you'll be selling.

### Adding a Product

1. Navigate to **CRM > Products** in the sidebar
2. Click **Add Product**
3. Fill in the product details:
- **Product Name** - Product display name
- **Price** - Selling price
- **Cost** - Your cost (for profit tracking)
- **SKU** - Optional product identifier (not enforced unique)
- **Quantity** - Required; units per purchase
- **Stock**, **Category**, **Active** (plus **Tax Code**, shown only once a tax provider is connected)

   Product type is not settable from this form - products created in the app default to physical. Use the Products REST API if you need to set `product_type`.
4. Set the **Fulfillment Provider** that will ship this product, and optionally an **Est. Shipping Cost** for profit reporting. The form does not branch by product type and there is no digital-delivery configuration.
5. Click **Create Product** (the button reads **Update Product** when you are editing an existing product)

![Add product form](/assets/products/products-add-product-form.png)
_Screenshot: CRM > Products → Add Product (main fields and fulfillment)._

### Product Tips

> **Tip:** Use meaningful SKU codes that help you identify products at a glance. For example: "BOOK-001", "COURSE-ADVANCED-2024".

- Add clear, descriptive product names
- Set accurate costs for profit reporting
- Configure inventory if you track stock levels

---

## Step 3: Create a Campaign

Campaigns are your sales funnels - they define how products are sold.

> **Note:** You can create a campaign at any time — only a name is required. You will need at least one product and one active payment gateway attached to the campaign before it can process an order.

### Creating a Campaign

1. Navigate to **CRM > Campaigns** in the sidebar
2. Click **Add Campaign**
3. Enter the **Campaign Name** and click **Create Campaign**
4. You are taken to the campaign, where the rest is configured on its tabs:
- **Offers** tab - add the products this campaign sells
- **Settings** tab - pick a **Default Gateway** (and optionally a **Payment Orchestrator**)
- **Affiliates** tab - configure affiliate tracking for this campaign
5. Configure optional settings on the **Settings** tab:
   - Geographic restrictions
   - Currency settings
   - Decline salvage profile
6. Click **Save Changes**

![Create campaign](/assets/campaigns/campaigns-add-campaign.png)
_Screenshot: CRM > Campaigns → Add Campaign (campaign name)._

![Campaigns list](/assets/campaigns/campaigns-list.png)
_Screenshot: CRM > Campaigns showing all your active campaigns._

### Campaign Tips

- Start with a simple campaign with one product
- Add upsells after testing the basic flow
- Configure decline salvage to automatically retry failed payments

---

## Step 4: Process Your First Order

With a gateway, product, and campaign configured, you're ready to process orders.

### Creating a Test Order

1. Navigate to **Orders** in the sidebar
2. Click **Create Order**
3. Enter customer information:
   - First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone (or search for an existing customer)
- **Shipping address** - always required, regardless of product type
- **Billing address** - only if you clear "Billing address same as shipping"
4. Select the campaign and products
5. Enter payment details
6. Submit the order

![Create order](/assets/orders/orders-create-order.png)
_Screenshot: Orders → Create Order (customer, addresses, campaign/product, payment)._

![Orders list](/assets/orders/orders-list.png)
_Screenshot: Orders list showing all orders with status and details._

### Verifying the Order

After creating an order:
1. Check **Orders** to see the new order
2. Check **Transactions** to see the payment
3. Check **Fulfillments** to see delivery status
4. Check **Customers** to see the customer record

![Order detail](/assets/orders/orders-order-detail.png)
_Screenshot: Orders → Order detail (status, items, link to transactions)._

![Transactions list](/assets/transactions/transactions-list.png)
_Screenshot: Transactions showing payment history and status._

### Post-Order Checklist
- Confirm the gateway used matches the campaign selection
- Ensure taxes/shipping (if applicable) appear correctly on the order
- Verify customer email notifications were sent (confirmation, tracking). These only send if the campaign has an active **Auto Responder** for that trigger — set them up on the campaign's **Auto Responders** tab.
- If the order is a subscription, confirm the subscription record exists

---

## Tips for Success

> **Success Tip:** The key to a smooth setup is starting small and testing thoroughly before adding complexity.

### Start Simple
- Begin with one gateway, one product, one campaign
- Add complexity after confirming the basics work

### Test Everything

> **Important:** Always test with sandbox/test credentials first. Never go live without processing at least one complete test order.

- Use test/sandbox credentials first
- Process test orders before going live
- Verify emails and notifications work

### Monitor Your Dashboard
- Check daily for revenue and order metrics
- Watch for failed transactions
- Monitor chargeback rates

### Use Reports
- Review the Revenue report weekly
- Check Decline Salvage effectiveness
- Monitor affiliate performance

---

## Common First-Time Issues

> **Troubleshooting:** If you encounter any of these issues, check the solutions below. For additional help, contact support.

### Payment Declined
- Verify gateway credentials are correct
- Check if the card is valid for testing
- Review the decline reason in Transactions

### Order Not Created
- Ensure all required fields are filled
- Verify the campaign is active
- Check that products are available

### Fulfillment Not Triggered
- Verify fulfillment is configured on the product
- Check fulfillment provider settings
- Review the order status

---

## Next Steps

Now that you've processed your first order, explore:

- **Decline Salvage** - Automatically retry failed payments
- **Affiliates** - Set up partner tracking
- **Email AI** - Automate customer support
- **Reports** - Analyze your business performance

Have questions? Check the [FAQ](/faq) or contact support.

Source: https://docs.sparkcrm.io/account-setup/using-the-app/index.mdx