Navigating the Dashboard

Overview

The StartGlobal dashboard is your central hub for managing your company, tracking formation progress, and accessing all platform features. It features a collapsible sidebar for navigation, a top navbar with notifications and account options, and a main content area. This guide helps you understand the layout and find your way around efficiently.

Before You Begin

1. Understand the Sidebar Navigation

1. Look at the left side of the screen to locate the sidebar.

   What you will see

   A vertical navigation bar (280px wide when expanded) with the following menu items:

   • HOME -- Your dashboard overview with business status, action items, and promotional cards.
   • INVOICING -- Manage invoices and billing for your clients.
   • ACCOUNTING -- Access accounting tools and financial reports.
   • COMPLIANCE -- View and manage compliance requirements.
   • LEGAL -- Access legal documents and services.
   • UTILITIES -- Additional tools and utilities.
   • SUPPORT -- Create tickets and chat with the support team.

2. Collapse or Expand the Sidebar

1. Click the collapse toggle on the sidebar to minimize it.

   What you will see

   The sidebar will shrink from 280px to 64px, showing only icons instead of full labels. This gives you more screen space for the main content area.

2. Click the toggle again to expand the sidebar back to its full width.

3. Use the Company Switcher

1. Locate the blue company button at the top of the sidebar. It displays your current company name.

   What you will see

   A blue button (colored #156bff) showing your active company name.

2. Click the button to open the company dropdown.

   What you will see

   A dropdown listing all your companies and a "Create New Company" option with a Plus icon. See Using the Company Switcher for full details.

4. Check Notifications

1. In the top navbar, locate the notifications bell icon.

   What you will see

   A bell icon with a red badge showing the number of unread notifications. If you have more than 9 unread notifications, it will display 9+.

2. Click the bell icon to view your notifications.

   What you will see

   A dropdown or panel listing your recent notifications, including action items, status updates, and important messages.

5. Access Your Profile Menu

1. In the top navbar, click on your profile avatar (displayed as a circle with your initials).

   What you will see

   A dropdown menu with the following options:

   • Billing -- Access your billing portal, payment methods, and transaction history.
   • Settings -- Manage your profile, security, notifications, and connected accounts.
   • Support -- Navigate to the support section.
   • Log out -- Sign out of your account.

6. Navigate to the Home Page

1. Click "HOME" in the sidebar.

   What you will see

   Your dashboard home page with:

   • A welcome message: "Welcome, {firstName}!" followed by "Let's take a look at your business {companyName} {companyType}."
   • Business Status Card -- Overview of your company's formation progress and current status.
   • Action Items -- Tasks requiring your attention (see Viewing and Completing Action Items).
   • Promotional Cards -- Information about additional StartGlobal services.

What Happens Next

• Once you are comfortable navigating the dashboard, explore each section to manage your business effectively.
• Start with your action items on the home page, as they highlight tasks that need your immediate attention.
• Use the sidebar to access specific features as needed.