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

# Quick Start Guide

> Get started with Agatabo in 10 minutes - essential features and first steps

## Welcome to Agatabo

This guide helps you get productive with Agatabo quickly. We'll cover the essential features you'll use daily, regardless of your role.

<Note>
  **First time here?** Start with [First Login](/getting-started/first-login) to set up your account, then return to this guide.
</Note>

## Your Dashboard Overview

When you log in, you'll see the **Dashboard** - your central hub for key metrics and quick actions.

### Key Metrics Displayed

The dashboard shows real-time financial health indicators:

* **Total Savings**: Sum of all member deposit balances
* **Portfolio Outstanding**: Total amount loaned to members (not yet repaid)
* **Total Arrears**: Overdue loan amounts requiring attention
* **Cash Balance**: Available funds in bank accounts
* **Delinquent Loans**: Number of loans with overdue payments
* **Active Members**: Organization users with current savings or loans

### Quick Actions

Dashboard tiles provide one-click access to common tasks:

* Record a deposit
* Create a new loan
* Record loan payment
* View pending approvals (if you have approval permissions)

## Essential Navigation

Agatabo organizes features into logical sections in the left sidebar:

| Section                | What You'll Do Here                                   |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Dashboard**          | View metrics and quick actions                        |
| **Organization Users** | Invite members, manage roles, view member details     |
| **Bank Accounts**      | Add accounts, record transactions, reconcile balances |
| **Savings**            | Record deposits, view deposit history and analytics   |
| **Loans**              | Create loans, record payments, track portfolio        |
| **Expenses**           | Record operational expenses, categorize spending      |
| **Fixed Assets**       | Track assets, manage depreciation                     |
| **Reserves**           | Allocate reserves, manage withdrawals                 |
| **Dividends**          | Create dividend pools, distribute to members          |
| **Reports**            | Generate balance sheet, P\&L, member statements       |
| **General Ledger**     | View journal entries, trial balance, reconciliation   |
| **Advanced**           | Period closing, audit trail, system logs              |
| **Settings**           | Configure organization, manage permissions            |

<Note>
  **Navigation tip**: Use the sidebar menu to navigate between sections.
</Note>

## Daily Operations by Role

### For Treasurers

Your primary tasks involve recording member deposits and managing cash:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Record Deposits">
    **Savings → Deposits** → Click "Record Deposit"
    [Full guide →](/deposits/recording-deposits)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review Cash Position">
    Check **Bank Accounts** to see available funds
    [Full guide →](/bank-accounts/overview)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor Member Balances">
    **Organization Users** → Select member → View savings ledger account
    [Full guide →](/organization-users/viewing-member-details)
  </Step>
</Steps>

### For Loan Officers

Your primary tasks involve loan creation and payment tracking:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Loans">
    **Loans** → "Create Loan" → Complete 3-step wizard
    [Full guide →](/loans/creating-loans)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Record Payments">
    **Loans** → Select loan → "Record Payment"
    [Full guide →](/loans/recording-loan-payments)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Track Arrears">
    **Loans → Analytics** → Review delinquent loans and follow up
    [Full guide →](/loans/loan-analytics)
  </Step>
</Steps>

### For Accountants

Your primary tasks involve ledger management and financial reporting:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Review Journal Entries">
    **General Ledger → Journal Entries** → Verify automatic postings
    [Full guide →](/general-ledger/viewing-journal-entries)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate Financial Statements">
    **Reports** → Balance Sheet / Profit & Loss
    [Full guide →](/reports/overview)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close Periods">
    **Advanced → Period Closing** → Lock historical data
    [Full guide →](/advanced/period-closing)
  </Step>
</Steps>

### For Administrators

Your primary tasks involve user management and system configuration:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Invite New Members">
    **Organization Users** → "Invite Member" → Send invitation
    [Full guide →](/organization-users/inviting-members)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Manage Permissions">
    **Settings → Permissions** → Assign role-based access
    [Full guide →](/settings/permissions)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Organization">
    **Settings → Organization Settings** → Update currency, timezone, accounting periods
    [Full guide →](/settings/organization-settings)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Understanding Key Concepts

### What is an Organization User?

In Agatabo, an **organization user** is anyone invited to your organization. Organization users can have various roles:

* **Member**: Contributes savings and may take loans
* **Administrator**: Manages users and settings

Tontine organizations come with these two default roles. Administrators can create additional custom roles as needed, such as:

* **Treasurer**: Records deposits and manages cash
* **Accountant**: Maintains ledger and generates reports
* **Loan Officer**: Manages loan applications and repayments
* **Manager**: Oversees operations with specific access levels

<Note>
  **Configurable roles**: All roles and their permissions are fully configurable by administrators. You can create roles that match your organization's specific operational structure and assign granular permissions to each role.
</Note>

<Note>
  A person becomes a **member** by being assigned a member role, not by having a savings account. Members may have savings, loans, or both.
</Note>

### What is a Ledger Account?

Every financial entity in Agatabo has a **ledger account** that tracks its balance:

* **Member savings accounts**: Track individual member deposits
* **Loan receivable accounts**: Track amounts owed by borrowers
* **Bank accounts**: Track cash in specific bank accounts
* **Expense accounts**: Track spending by category
* **Revenue accounts**: Track interest income, fees, etc.

All ledger accounts appear in the **General Ledger** and feed into financial reports.

### What is Double-Entry Accounting?

Every transaction in Agatabo creates two sides:

* **Debit**: Increases assets or expenses, decreases liabilities or income
* **Credit**: Increases liabilities or income, decreases assets or expenses

**Example**: Recording a 5,000 RWF deposit

* **Debit** Cash +5,000 (asset increases)
* **Credit** Member Savings +5,000 (liability increases)

Debits always equal credits, ensuring mathematical accuracy.

[Learn more about double-entry accounting →](/general-ledger/understanding-double-entry)

## Common First Steps

### 1. Invite Your First Member

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Organization Users">
    Click **Organization Users** in the sidebar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Invite Member'">
    Opens the invitation dialog
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Details">
    Provide name, email, phone, and assign member role
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send Invitation">
    Member receives email with login instructions
  </Step>
</Steps>

[Full guide →](/organization-users/inviting-members)

### 2. Record Your First Deposit

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Savings → Deposits">
    Click **Savings** → **Deposits** in the sidebar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Record Deposit'">
    Opens the deposit recording dialog
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Member and Enter Amount">
    Choose member from dropdown, enter deposit amount
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Agatabo creates journal entry automatically
  </Step>
</Steps>

[Full guide →](/deposits/recording-deposits)

### 3. Create Your First Loan

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Loans">
    Click **Loans** in the sidebar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Create Loan'">
    Opens the 3-step loan creation wizard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete Steps">
    1. Basic Info (borrower, amount, term)
    2. Loan Rules (interest, installment type)
    3. Securities (optional guarantors/collateral)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and Create">
    Agatabo calculates installment schedule and disburses funds
  </Step>
</Steps>

[Full guide →](/loans/creating-loans)

## Understanding Permissions

Agatabo uses **role-based access control** with granular permissions to protect sensitive operations:

* **SELF scope**: User can only access their own data
* **ANY scope**: User can access all organization data

**Example permissions**:

* View own account information (granted to all members)
* Record deposits for any member (typically treasurers)
* Create and manage loans (typically loan officers)
* Close accounting periods (typically accountants)
* Manage users and roles (administrators only)

Your assigned permissions determine which menu items and actions are visible to you.

[Full permissions reference →](/reference/permissions-matrix)

## Data Entry Best Practices

<Note>
  **Before entering any transaction:**

  * Verify the member/account is correct
  * Double-check amounts (especially loan principals)
  * Ensure the transaction date is accurate
  * Review calculated values (interest, installments)
</Note>

<Warning>
  **Transaction corrections**:

  * You can edit or delete transactions in open accounting periods
  * Edits and deletions automatically create reversals and reposts where applicable
  * After period closing, transactions become immutable - corrections must be made via adjusting entries in the current period
</Warning>

## Getting Help

### Search Documentation

Use the search bar (top of page) to find specific topics quickly.

### Contextual Help

Look for the **(?)** icon next to complex features - it links directly to relevant documentation.

### Glossary

When you encounter unfamiliar terms, check the [Glossary](/reference/glossary) for definitions.

### Support Team

Email **[support@agatabo.com](mailto:support@agatabo.com)** with:

* Your organization name
* Screenshot of the issue
* Steps to reproduce (if applicable)

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Understanding Navigation" icon="compass" href="/getting-started/understanding-navigation">
    Master the interface and keyboard shortcuts
  </Card>

  <Card title="What is a Tontine?" icon="book-open" href="/concepts/what-is-a-tontine">
    Learn the financial model Agatabo supports
  </Card>

  <Card title="Glossary" icon="spell-check" href="/reference/glossary">
    Reference for all terms used in Agatabo
  </Card>
</CardGroup>