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

# Quickstart

> Get your AI receptionist up and running in under 3 minutes

Get your AI receptionist up and running in under 3 minutes with our streamlined onboarding process.

## Overview

DialIQ provides an AI-powered omnichannel receptionist that handles calls, SMS messages, and chat conversations 24/7 — scheduling appointments, answering questions, and qualifying leads. This guide will walk you through the three-stage setup process from trial signup to going live.

**Time to complete:** 3 minutes for first test call, 10 minutes for full configuration

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, have the following ready:

* **Business website URL** (required for automatic data scraping)
* Business email address
* Industry/business type

## Stage 1: Trial & Quick Onboarding (Under 3 Minutes)

Get your first "Hello World" test call working in under 3 minutes with our automated setup.

### Step 1: Start Your Free Trial

1. Go to [dialiq.ai/signup](https://dialiq.ai/signup)
2. Enter your email address
3. Create a password
4. Click **Start Free Trial** — no credit card required

<Note>
  Your **7-day free trial** includes full access to Growth tier features with 100 test calls included.
</Note>

### Step 2: Website Scraping (Automated)

Enter your business website URL and let DialIQ automatically extract:

* Business name and address
* Phone number and hours
* Service menu and offerings
* About/description information

<Info>
  **Why this matters**: Website scraping eliminates manual data entry. You'll review and approve all scraped data before it goes live — nothing is finalized without your confirmation.
</Info>

#### Review Scraped Data

All extracted information appears in an **Editable Card** where you can:

* Verify accuracy
* Edit any fields
* Add missing information
* Approve and continue

### Step 3: Select Your Industry

Choose your industry from the dropdown menu. This selection:

* Loads industry-specific templates
* Configures appropriate AI prompts
* Pre-fills common FAQs for your business type

**Available Industries:**

* Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Veterinary)
* Legal
* Home Services (HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, etc.)
* Real Estate
* Professional Services
* Fitness & Wellness
* Restaurants & Hospitality
* And 40+ more...

### Step 4: Industry-Specific Configuration

Answer 2-3 quick questions tailored to your industry:

**Example (Home Services):**

* Do you offer emergency calls? (Yes/No)
* What's your trip charge? (\$)
* Service radius? (miles)

**Example (Legal):**

* Do you offer free consultations? (Yes/No)
* Practice areas? (Select all that apply)
* Preferred appointment length? (30/60 min)

<Note>
  This takes **under 60 seconds** and dramatically improves AI accuracy for your specific business.
</Note>

### Step 5: Get Your Trial Number & Make Test Call

1. Click **Provision My Number**
2. Receive your dedicated trial phone number instantly
3. Call your new number immediately
4. Experience your AI receptionist answering and handling your inquiry

<Note>
  **Congratulations!** You've completed Stage 1. Your AI receptionist is now live and answering calls.
</Note>

## Stage 2: Conversion (Day 3 of Trial)

Convert your trial to a paid plan to keep your phone number and unlock full features.

<Warning>
  Your trial phone number will be **deactivated on Day 7** unless you add a payment method. Credit card is required by **Day 3** to ensure uninterrupted service.
</Warning>

### Add Payment Method

1. Navigate to **Settings → Subscription**
2. Click **Add Payment Method**
3. Enter credit card details via Stripe Checkout
4. Select your plan tier (Essential, Growth, or Professional)
5. Confirm subscription

<Info>
  **Automated Reminders**: You'll receive email and SMS notifications on Day 1 and Day 3 prompting you to add payment. This ensures your number stays active.
</Info>

### Choose Your Plan

Review your trial usage and select the appropriate tier:

* **Essential (\$49/mo)**: 50 calls/month — Solo operators
* **Growth (\$99/mo)**: 100 calls/month — Growing teams with SMS
* **Professional (\$499/mo)**: 600 calls/month — High volume with full integrations

[See full pricing details →](/subscriptions)

## Stage 3: Deep Onboarding (Post-Payment)

Once payment is confirmed, unlock advanced configuration options for maximum customization.

### Configure Business Profile

Navigate to **Settings → Business Profile** to review and refine your business information.

#### Update Business Details

* **Business Name**: Verify auto-scraped name
* **Address**: Confirm location with Google Maps autocomplete
* **Phone Number**: Primary business line
* **Email**: Notifications and receipts
* **Timezone**: Ensures accurate scheduling
* **Industry Tag**: Locked from onboarding (contact support to change)

### Set Hours of Operation

Navigate to **Settings → Business Profile → Hours** to define your availability.

#### Configure Your Schedule

Set hours for each day of the week:

* Select "Open" or "Closed" for each day
* Set opening time (e.g., 09:00 AM)
* Set closing time (e.g., 05:00 PM)

**Example Configuration:**

* Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
* Sunday: Closed

#### Special Closures & Holidays

Add exceptions for holidays and vacation days:

1. Click **Add Special Closure**
2. Select date or date range
3. Choose "Closed All Day" or set custom hours
4. Save changes

<Tip>Your AI receptionist will automatically inform callers when you're closed and offer to schedule appointments during business hours.</Tip>

### Configure Service Menu

Navigate to **Settings → Service Menu** to review and refine your service offerings.

<Info>
  **Auto-Populated**: Services are pre-filled from your website scraping. Review for accuracy and add any missing services.
</Info>

#### For Each Service, Configure:

* **Service Name**: Customer-facing name (e.g., "Initial Consultation," "AC Repair")
* **Category**: Optional grouping (e.g., "Air Conditioning Services")
* **Duration**: Fixed time (30 min, 60 min) or "Variable"
* **Price Type**: Fixed / Range / Starting At / Call for Quote
* **Price Value**: Dollar amount (optional)
* **Description**: Brief explanation for AI context

**Example Service Entry:**

* Service Name: Emergency Plumbing
* Duration: Variable
* Price Type: Starting At
* Price: \$150
* Description: Emergency plumbing services for urgent leaks, clogs, and pipe repairs available 24/7

### Set Up Call Handling Rules

Navigate to **Settings → Call Handling Rules** to configure urgency logic and after-hours behavior.

#### Urgency Triggers

Define keywords that trigger high-priority handling:

* Emergency keywords: "leak," "no heat," "urgent," "ASAP"
* Action: Transfer to mobile / Mark high priority / Send immediate SMS

#### After-Hours Configuration

Choose how calls are handled outside business hours:

* **Option A**: Take Message (Default) — AI captures info and promises callback
* **Option B**: Forward to On-Call — Enter mobile number for transfer
* **Option C**: Emergency Screening — AI asks urgency; only forwards emergencies

### Add FAQs (Optional)

Navigate to **Settings → Call Handling → FAQs** to configure common responses.

<Tip>
  Many FAQs are auto-generated based on your industry selection. Review and customize as needed.
</Tip>

**Example FAQs:**

* "Do you offer emergency service?" → Yes / No
* "Is there a trip charge?" → Yes / No + Amount
* "What payment methods do you accept?" → Custom text answer

### Set Up Team & Scheduling

Navigate to **Settings → Team & Scheduling** to add staff members and connect calendars.

#### Add Team Members

For each staff member:

* Name and role
* Mobile number (for SMS notifications)
* Calendar link (Google Calendar, Outlook, or Calendly)

#### Calendar Integration

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Connect Calendar">
    Choose your calendar provider
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authorize Access">
    Sign in and grant DialIQ read/write permissions
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Calendars">
    Choose which calendars to sync for availability checking
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test Booking">
    Make a test call to verify appointment booking works correctly
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 7: Integrate Your Calendar

Connect your calendar to enable automatic appointment scheduling.

#### Supported Integrations

* Google Calendar
* Microsoft Outlook
* Apple Calendar
* Other CalDAV calendars

#### Setup Steps

1. Navigate to Integrations > Calendar
2. Click "Connect Calendar"
3. Authorize access
4. Select which calendar to use for bookings

**Important:** Your AI receptionist will check availability in real-time and only book open time slots.

## Step 8: Test Your AI Receptionist

Before going live, test your configuration.

#### Testing Checklist

**Make a Test Call**

* Call your business number
* Verify AI answers appropriately
* Test appointment booking flow
* Confirm FAQ responses

**Check Calendar Integration**

* Verify test appointments appear
* Confirm correct timezone
* Test cancellation/rescheduling

**Review Call Recording (if enabled)**

* Navigate to Dashboard
* Listen to test call
* Note any improvements needed

## Step 9: Go Live

Once testing is complete, your AI receptionist is ready to handle real calls.

#### Final Checklist

* ✓ Business information complete
* ✓ Hours of operation set
* ✓ Services defined
* ✓ Appointment fields configured
* ✓ FAQs added
* ✓ Calendar connected
* ✓ Test call successful

#### What Happens Now

Your AI receptionist will:

* Answer all incoming calls 24/7
* Book appointments directly to your calendar
* Qualify leads based on your services
* Send you email notifications for new bookings
* Provide call summaries and transcripts

## Monitoring & Optimization

#### View Your Dashboard

Access real-time analytics:

* Total calls handled
* Appointments booked
* Call duration averages
* Common caller questions
* Missed opportunities

#### Ongoing Optimization

Regularly review:

* Call recordings - Identify improvement areas
* FAQ performance - Add new frequently asked questions
* Service descriptions - Refine based on actual calls
* Business hours - Adjust for seasonal changes

## Common Issues & Solutions

**AI Not Answering Calls**

* Verify phone number forwarding is active
* Check account status and billing
* Contact support if issue persists

**Appointments Not Appearing in Calendar**

* Reauthorize calendar connection
* Verify correct calendar is selected
* Check timezone settings match

**AI Providing Incorrect Information**

* Review and update Business Profile
* Refine Service descriptions
* Add specific scenarios to FAQs

## Next Steps

Now that your AI receptionist is live, explore advanced features:

* Custom Scripts: Tailor conversation flows
* CRM Integration: Connect with Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.
* Analytics Dashboard: Deep dive into call metrics
* Multi-language Support: Serve international customers
* SMS Follow-ups: Automatic appointment reminders