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

# Quick start

> Build, test and switch on your first assistant in about 15 minutes.

This walk-through builds an assistant for a hair salon. The steps are the same for any business; only the template changes.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create the assistant">
    Open **Clients** and click **New client** (1). Type the business name customers know and the main language customers write in. The assistant takes the business name; change it if you like, only your team sees it. See [Clients and assistants](/getting-started/clients-and-assistants).

    Pick a **template** that matches the business. A template adds a welcome message, Instagram starter questions and a question flow for booking, ordering or reserving a table.

    | Template | Good for |
    | - | - |
    | Beauty salon or studio | Hair, nails, beauty, massage, barbers |
    | Restaurant or café | Table reservations, menus, opening hours |
    | Online shop | Product questions, orders, delivery |
    | Coach, expert or courses | Consultations, programmes, enrolments |

    <Frame caption="The clients list with the New client button">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/instaforge/0u-C0WPWERW3Dyhb/images/clients.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=0u-C0WPWERW3Dyhb&q=85&s=eea12d66976ef3f06de88648d87e821f" alt="The clients list with the New client button" width="2600" height="1440" data-path="images/clients.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Teach it about the business with Quick setup">
    Open **Quick setup** in the assistant's menu. Give it whatever you have: the business's website (1), the Instagram bio, a price list or menu as a PDF or photo (2), and any notes from the client. Click **Draft the assistant** (3).

    After about a minute you get a draft: knowledge, exact FAQ answers, a welcome message, starter questions, opening hours and services. Tick what's right, fix what isn't, and apply it.

    <Frame caption="Quick setup reads a website, a bio, files and notes">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/instaforge/B8AqbF46P_4W3pwQ/images/quick-setup.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=B8AqbF46P_4W3pwQ&q=85&s=f27a4cc53cb1f1db1057b116998d3449" alt="Quick setup reads a website, a bio, files and notes" width="2600" height="1142" data-path="images/quick-setup.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Info>
      Quick setup only uses facts from what you give it. Anything it couldn't find is listed for you to ask the client.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect an AI service">
    Open **AI brain**, choose the service and model, and paste the API key. Click **Test connection**. Using the client's own key means AI usage is billed to them. See [AI brain](/build-the-assistant/ai-brain).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test it in the playground">
    Open **Playground** and write to the assistant the way a customer would: ask about a price, ask for a free time on Saturday, write in another language. The right-hand panel shows why it answered the way it did and which knowledge it used. See [Playground](/build-the-assistant/playground).

    <Frame caption="The playground with the explanation panel">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/instaforge/B8AqbF46P_4W3pwQ/images/playground.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=B8AqbF46P_4W3pwQ&q=85&s=8d82628830220437e3e9df0023920bd5" alt="The playground with the explanation panel" width="2600" height="1804" data-path="images/playground.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect Instagram and go live">
    Follow [Connect Instagram](/getting-started/connect-instagram), run through the [Go-live checklist](/getting-started/go-live-checklist), then set the status to **Live** on the assistant's Overview page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The setup checklist

Every assistant's **Overview** page has a status switch (1) and a setup checklist (2). Each step opens the page where it's done, and is crossed out once it's finished.

<Frame caption="The status switch and setup checklist">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/instaforge/B8AqbF46P_4W3pwQ/images/bot-overview.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=B8AqbF46P_4W3pwQ&q=85&s=fa86eff87e1fa490e3e91d921b4765f9" alt="The status switch and setup checklist" width="2600" height="1086" data-path="images/bot-overview.png" />
</Frame>

<Tip>
  Turn on the [website chat](/grow-sales/website-chat) on day one. It doesn't need Meta's approval, so the client can start using the assistant on their website while the Instagram connection is being set up.
</Tip>


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