> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.activenow.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.activenow.io/en/getting-started.md).

# Getting Started

The key steps to get started with ActiveNow

Welcome to ActiveNow! Everything you need to get up and running is right here.

## Step 1 — Configure the basics

Before adding participants and instructors, set up the things that affect the whole system:

* [Add your school logo](/en/getting-started/adding-school-logo.md)
* [Set up how you bill your participants](/en/billing/billing-schedule-types.md)
* [Configure your school's offer](/en/getting-started/managing-proficiency-levels.md)
* [Adjust the calendar to your school's working hours](/en/getting-started/calendar-and-season-settings.md)
* [Add the venues where you run your classes](/en/getting-started/venues-management.md)
* [Set up your SMS sender name](/en/communication/sending-sms-and-email-to-participants.md#setting-the-sms-sender-name)

## Step 2 — Add participants and instructors

* [Add participants to the system](/en/getting-started/adding-participants-to-the-system.md) — if you have them in an Excel file, read about [how we can import them into the system for you](/en/getting-started/import-data.md)
* [Add instructors to the system](/en/getting-started/adding-instructors-to-the-system.md)

## Step 3 — Create classes and assign participants

* [Create classes in the system](/en/getting-started/creating-new-classes.md)
* [Assign participants to classes](/en/getting-started/adding-a-participant-to-a-group-course.md)

## Step 4 — Pick what you need

The next steps depend on which features your school needs.

**Want to collect online sign-ups for courses?** → [Collecting Sign-Ups for Group Courses](/en/online-sign-ups/sign-up-table.md)

**Want to accept online payments?** → [Setting Up Online Payments (PayU)](/en/billing/payu-configuration.md)

**Want participants to report and make up for absences?** → [Reporting Absences and Making Up Lessons in Group Courses](/en/absences-and-makeup-classes/reporting-and-making-up-absences.md)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://help.activenow.io/en/getting-started.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.