> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hub.equipme.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hub.equipme.io/pro/customers/create-and-invite-customers.md).

# Create and invite customers

Create Hosted customers in Equipme Pro (wizard with branding, location, portal settings), customer self-registration via the portal address, Standalone customers via invitation ID.

**Path:** Sidebar → **"Sales"** → **"Customers"** → **"Add new customer"** or **"Enter invitation ID"**

New customers come to you in three ways:

| Way                                                         | Result                                                                      | Section                                                                     |
| ----------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| You create the customer in Equipme Pro                      | Direct customer with customer portal                                        | [Creating Hosted customers](#creating-hosted-customers)                     |
| The customer registers themselves via your portal address   | Direct customer with customer portal, initially without order authorization | [Registration via the portal address](#registration-via-the-portal-address) |
| A customer with their own equipme license connects with you | End customer                                                                | [Connecting Standalone customers](#connecting-standalone-customers)         |

## Creating Hosted customers

**Who may do this?** Users who may create customers, e.g. "Administrator", "Account Manager", "Sales" and "Reseller". Without the permission "Manage customer settings", the switches in the "Portal settings" step are locked and the customer is created with your default settings.

1. In the customer list, click **"Add new customer"**, or in the header click **"Add"** → **"New customer"**.
2. The **"New customer"** wizard ("Create a new customer in simple steps!") guides you through four steps. Use the step list on the right to jump back to steps you have already reached.

### Step 1: "Customize your customer portal"

Your customer's brand colors and logo for the perfect look.

* Under **"Company domain"**, enter the customer's web domain and click **"Find branding"**.
* equipme shows the brand assets it found ("Company logo", "Favicon"), the "Brand colors" and a "Preview of your workspace". Choose a color.
* Click **"Next"**, or **"Skip"** if the customer should get your provider theme.

If you apply a branding, the customer gets their own **customer theme**. Later changes to your provider theme then no longer affect this customer. See [Customer portal: Theme](/pro/customers/customer-portal.md#theme).

### Step 2: "Create the 1st location"

Locations serve as the delivery address and for locating inventory.

* **"Company name"**\* and **"Country"**\*
* Address (street, "No.", postal code, city; further fields depending on the country). Which fields are required depends on the country.

From this information, the customer's company address, billing address and first location are created.

### Step 3: "Portal settings"

Define which features are available to your customer. The switches are prefilled with your [default settings for new customers](/pro/customers/customer-portal.md#default-module-settings).

| Setting                                 | Meaning                                                                                                                                                               |
| --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **"Client primary currency"**           | The customer's currency (default: euro)                                                                                                                               |
| **"Grant order authorization"**         | The customer may place orders via the portal.                                                                                                                         |
| **"Automatically confirm orders"**      | Orders are confirmed automatically and handed over to production.                                                                                                     |
| **"Inherit global portfolio"**          | Access to all cross-customer service offers.                                                                                                                          |
| **"Allow pre-orders"**                  | The customer can pre-order designated products from you (enables the supplier warehouse).                                                                             |
| **"Supplier warehouse active"**         | You provide your warehouse to the customer for orders, returns and call-offs.                                                                                         |
| **"Enable ticket system"**              | Does **not** activate the Equipme Operate ticket system, see [Ticket system (Equipme Operate)](/pro/operations/tickets.md#activating-equipme-operate-for-a-customer). |
| *"Premium features (license required)"* |                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **"Enable HR sync"**                    | Automatic synchronization of the organizational structure from the customer's HR or identity system.                                                                  |
| **"Enable internal inventory module"**  | The customer can inventory their own assets and offer internally provided services in the marketplace.                                                                |
| **"Enable supplier management"**        | The customer can create additional suppliers. Requires the internal inventory.                                                                                        |
| **"Enable billing module"**             | Automatic monthly billing run.                                                                                                                                        |
| **"Enable automation module"**          | Low-code integrations with third-party systems, custom workflows and approval processes. Only visible if your company itself uses the automation module.              |
| *"Report configuration"*                | "Invoice" and "Investment request" as available reports                                                                                                               |
| *Attributes*                            | Values for your customer attributes, if set up (observe the maximum length)                                                                                           |

Dependencies:

* "Allow pre-orders" automatically turns on "Supplier warehouse active" and locks it.
* Without "Enable internal inventory module", "Enable supplier management" is off and locked.

You can change all settings later in the [customer details](/pro/customers/customer-details.md#portal-settings).

### Step 4: "Add your first employee"

Create the first customer user and invite them to the platform.

* "First name", "Last name", "Email". The step is optional; as soon as you fill in one field, all three are required.
* **"Send invitation to users via email"**: the employee immediately receives an invitation with sign-in details.

The first employee automatically becomes **administrator** of the customer portal and can invite their colleagues themselves.

### Finish

Click **"Done"**. Equipme Pro creates the customer and runs the setup steps.

* **Success:** "Customer created – … has been successfully created." The **new customer's portal opens in a new tab** so you can continue there, e.g. create employees or additional locations.
* **Partial success:** "Customer partially created" with the list of failed steps ("Location", "Settings", "Report configuration", "Theme", "First employee"). The customer exists anyway. Check them in the customer details and add the missing data.
* **Error:** If creating the customer itself fails, the dialog stays open with your entries and you can try again.

{% hint style="info" %}
While creation is running, the dialog is locked. Don't close the browser window during this time.
{% endhint %}

**What your customer sees:** The invited employee receives an email and signs in to the customer portal, in your branding. If you granted order authorization, they can order right away.

## Registration via the portal address

If equipme has set up **your own portal address** with registration for you, new customers can register themselves there. Every registration via your address automatically creates a **direct customer** of your company.

This is how it works:

1. The customer opens your portal address and creates an account (business email address only).
2. They go through the registration wizard (branding, location). This is described in the customer guide under "Sign-in and registration".
3. equipme creates the customer with these settings:
   * **not authorized to order** (status "Not authorized to order"),
   * no automatic order confirmation, no HR sync, no supplier warehouse, no pre-orders,
   * "Inherit global portfolio", billing module and internal inventory according to your [default settings](/pro/customers/customer-portal.md#default-module-settings).
4. You receive the email notification **"New lead"**, if enabled (see [Email notifications](/pro/administration/email-notifications.md)).
5. If the customer wants to order, they request order approval. You grant it in the customer details. → [Order approval](/pro/customers/customer-details.md#order-approval)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Without your own portal address**, self-registration of Hosted customers isn't possible. In that case, create your customers as described above. For your own address, contact [support](/pro/help/support.md).
{% endhint %}

## Connecting Standalone customers

Standalone customers have their own equipme license. There are two ways you can come together:

### The customer finds you in the partner directory

If your partner profile is visible in the partner directory (see [Supplier profile](/pro/administration/supplier-profile.md)), the customer can find you there and request a partnership. The connection is active immediately; you receive the "New partnership" notification, if enabled. The customer appears in your customer list as **"End customer"**.

### The customer sends you their invitation ID

1. In the customer list, click **"Enter invitation ID"**.
2. In the dialog, enter the **"Invitation ID"**: "Please enter the ID that your customer sent you."
3. Click **"Connect"**.
4. If successful, "Customer has been successfully connected." appears and the customer is listed as "End customer". If the ID is unknown, "Customer not found!" appears.

If you open a link that already contains the invitation ID, the dialog opens automatically with the ID filled in.

**What you do next:** Release offers to the customer (see [Offers and prices](/pro/portfolio/offers-and-pricing.md)) and decide in the [customer details](/pro/customers/customer-details.md#portal-settings) whether their orders are confirmed automatically. The customer makes all other settings themselves.

**What your customer sees:** You appear to them as a connected platform supplier. They add your offers to their portfolio; their orders reach you automatically in the [Order Inbox](/pro/sales/order-reception.md). Details are in the customer guide under "Suppliers".

{% hint style="info" %}
If your company doesn't use equipme yet and a customer invites you by email, you register via the link in the invitation. Your company then gets Lite access. See [Registration and sign-in](/pro/getting-started/sign-in-and-registration.md#registering-via-a-customer-invitation).
{% endhint %}

## Frequently asked questions

**The switches in the "Portal settings" step are locked.**

"You do not have the 'Manage customer settings' permission. The customer will be created with the default settings." Ask an administrator to adjust the settings afterwards in the customer details.

**The "Enable automation module" switch is missing.**

It only appears if your own company uses the automation module.

**I created the first employee without an invitation. How do I invite them afterwards?**

Open the customer's portal and invite the employee there. This is described in the customer guide under "Employees".

**I created a customer twice.**

Delete the surplus customer in their customer details in the "Danger Zone" section. See [Deleting customers](/pro/customers/customer-details.md#deleting-customers).

**Can I create a customer without their portal opening?**

No. After creation, Equipme Pro always opens the customer portal in a new tab. You can simply close the tab.


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