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

# Getting started

> Create your first financial report in under an hour.

Go from signup to first report in under an hour.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your workspace">
    Go to [francis.app](https://francis.app) and start a 14-day free trial. No credit card required.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your accounting system">
    Francis syncs all historical journal entries, so your full history is available from day one. See [Integrations](/integrations) for setup guides by system.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start with the Francis model template">
    The template captures best practices from hundreds of set-ups, and you can customize the model however you see fit. See the [P\&L](/masterclasses/budgeting-forecasting/pnl-forecasting/pnl-fundamentals), [balance sheet](/masterclasses/budgeting-forecasting/bs-forecasting/bs-fundamentals), and [cash flow](/masterclasses/budgeting-forecasting/cf-forecasting/cf-fundamentals) fundamentals.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Break down your model by entities and departments">
    If you run multiple legal entities or plan per department, split your model with a [breakdown](/features/using-francis/breakdowns). Apply the entity breakdown first, then departments. Skip this step if you run a single entity with no departmental split.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map your GL accounts">
    Open the **Mappings** view and drag your GL accounts onto rows in your model. Actuals flow in automatically as soon as an account is mapped. See [data mappings](/features/using-francis/data-mappings) for more detail.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a dashboard">
    The Francis template includes a [management report](/features/using-francis/dashboards) that fills automatically as you map your GL accounts.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Insert budget values">
    Import your budgets to plan against actuals. See [forecasting approaches](/masterclasses/budgeting-forecasting/forecasting-approaches) for how to build them out.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Invite team members">
    Invite finance colleagues as editors and department heads as limited viewers. See [members and roles](/features/admin/members-and-roles) for what each role can do.
  </Step>
</Steps>