Autodots can run a workshop end-to-end — but you don't need to set up everything on day one. This is the minimum to be useful before lunch.
1. Confirm your account & shop type
Open admin.autodots.io and finish the onboarding wizard if you haven't already. The three quick choices it asks for matter:
- Shop type — pick the closest match. This drives the default service templates we suggest later (a tyre shop sees tyre swaps; a body shop sees panel work). You can always add your own.
- Vehicle types you serve — used to filter inspection checklists. Tick everything you actually take in.
- Service groups — the broad menu (mechanical, electrical, body-paint, EV-hybrid, etc). Drives reporting later.
2. Fill in your shop profile
Settings → General. The fields customers and emails pull from:
- Garage name, phone, address — appears on every invoice and estimate.
- Working hours — controls which time slots appointments offer.
- Currency — picked once per garage; used for all amounts. Don't change after invoices exist.
3. Invite your team
Staff → Add staff. Send an email invite, choose a role (owner, manager, mechanic, receptionist, admin), and tick the per-module permissions. The most common mistake: giving every mechanic Settings → manage. Don't — keep them on Workboard + Estimates only.
Plan limits are visible at the top: Auto Basic 2 staff, Auto Grow 5, Auto Advance 15, Auto Plus unlimited.
4. Add 5 service templates you'll use today
Settings → Service Templates. Don't try to enter your full menu — pick the 5 jobs you sell most this week (oil change, brake pads, AC service, tyre rotation, periodic service) and create a template for each. Each template stores labour, parts and price together so an estimate becomes one click.
5. Write your first estimate
Estimates → Create estimate. Pick or create a customer, attach a vehicle, drop in one of the templates you just made, and hit Send. The customer gets an email with a link they can e-sign — no login needed.
What's next
- Add your top-selling parts to inventory so estimates pre-fill stock.
- Set up taxes and custom fields once and forget about them.
- Speed shortcuts — the patterns mature shops use.