Quick-start checklist

Use this checklist to quickly get Light set up and operational. Most organizations complete these steps in a few hours.

Account setup

[ ] Log in to Light using the link in your welcome email (accounts are created for you by Light or your company admin)
[ ] Set up your profile (name, time zone)

Organization configuration

[ ] Review your company details and base currency (set up for you by Light during onboarding)
[ ] Add legal entities (subsidiaries, regional offices, etc.)
[ ] Configure all currencies you'll use
[ ] Upload your company logo
[ ] Set up invoice and receipt email addresses

Chart of accounts

[ ] Review the default chart of accounts
[ ] Add custom GL accounts for your business
[ ] Organize accounts into logical hierarchies
[ ] Map expense categories to GL accounts

Team setup

[ ] Identify team members who need Light access
[ ] Add users with the Company admin role (your Light administrators) — users are created by an admin and receive a welcome email
[ ] Add accounting staff with the Controller role
[ ] Add specialist users (AR clerk, AP clerk, Invoice approver roles)
[ ] Add employees for expense submission (Reimbursement and Cardholder roles)
[ ] Set approval limits and authority levels
[ ] Configure approval workflows

Integrations

[ ] Connect Slack for notifications and approvals
[ ] Connect Salesforce (if you use it) to sync customer data
[ ] Connect HubSpot (if you use it) for revenue visibility
[ ] Set up SSO/Auth0 if your company uses it
[ ] Connect Stripe (if you process payments)
[ ] Connect Airwallex (if you use for payments)

Bank connectivity

[ ] Connect your primary operating bank account via Plaid (US only), GoCardless, or Stripe — or import transactions manually via CSV (requires the Company admin role)
[ ] Connect any secondary bank accounts
[ ] Verify all accounts show correct balances
[ ] Map bank accounts to GL accounts for reconciliation
[ ] Confirm transaction feeds are active

Financial operations setup

[ ] Create expense categories matching your business
[ ] Set up reimbursement categories for employee expenses
[ ] Configure approval workflows for expenses, invoices, and bills
[ ] Set up virtual cards (if using Light Cards)
[ ] Configure spending limits and policies

Data migration (if transitioning from another system)

[ ] Export chart of accounts from legacy system
[ ] Import customer list (if AR-heavy)
[ ] Import vendor list (if AP-heavy)
[ ] Export outstanding invoices and bills
[ ] Plan migration date for accounts and transactions

Testing

[ ] Create a test invoice and send to a test customer
[ ] Create a test bill and process approval workflow
[ ] Submit a test expense report with receipt
[ ] Test bank reconciliation with a recent transaction
[ ] Verify approvals route correctly to team members
[ ] Test Slack notifications for approvals

Go-live preparation

[ ] Schedule go-live date with your team
[ ] Create internal documentation on Light workflows
[ ] Plan training sessions for end users
[ ] Set up handover process from legacy system
[ ] Prepare FAQ for common questions
[ ] Designate a Light admin for ongoing support

Post-go-live (first week)

[ ] Monitor that transactions are flowing correctly
[ ] Address any user questions or issues
[ ] Review initial reconciliation discrepancies
[ ] Gather feedback from team members
[ ] Make any workflow adjustments based on actual usage

Optimization (first month)

[ ] Review AI categorization accuracy for expenses
[ ] Refine approval workflows based on volume
[ ] Set up custom dashboards for your role
[ ] Create financial reports for stakeholders
[ ] Identify automation opportunities (e.g., recurring invoices)

Tips for success

Start with core functionality first. Get invoicing, AP, and bank reconciliation working before adding advanced features like revenue recognition or multi-entity consolidation.

Involve your team early. Have each team member complete onboarding in their role so they understand their responsibilities in Light workflows.

Use defaults intelligently. Light comes with sensible defaults for most configurations. Don't customize everything—focus on what's unique to your business.

Test thoroughly. Spend time in a test environment (or with test data) before going live. Test approval workflows, notifications, and edge cases.

Get admin training. Ensure your Company admin understands settings, user management, and troubleshooting. They'll be your primary internal resource.

Start small, expand gradually. You don't need every feature on day one. Implement core AR, AP, and expense workflows first, then add bank reconciliation and advanced features.

Estimated timeline

For a typical mid-market organization:

Weeks 1-2: Account setup, organization configuration, team onboarding
Weeks 2-3: Bank and integration connectivity, workflow configuration
Week 3-4: Testing and refinement
Week 4: Go-live

For larger organizations with complex requirements:

Add 2-4 weeks for data migration and legacy system integration
Add 1-2 weeks for custom role and workflow configuration

For simple organizations or startups:

Reduce to 1-2 weeks total with focused setup

Get help

If you're stuck on any step:

Check the detailed help articles for that feature
Contact Light support with your company ID
Schedule an onboarding call with your Light implementation specialist

Next steps

Once you've completed this checklist, move on to:

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# Account setup

# Organization configuration

# Chart of accounts

# Team setup

# Integrations

# Bank connectivity

# Financial operations setup

# Data migration (if transitioning from another system)

# Testing

# Go-live preparation

# Post-go-live (first week)

# Optimization (first month)

# Tips for success

# Estimated timeline

# Get help

# Next steps

# Related articles