Creating Companies
This guide walks you through the complete process of onboarding a new company using Shyfts's 6-step Company Creation Wizard.
Before You Begin
Ensure you have the following information from the company's onboarding form:
Required Information
- Company name - Official business name
- Subdomain - URL identifier (e.g.,
acme-dentalforacme-dental.cflow.app) - Industry type - GP Practice, Dental, Restaurant, or Office
- Primary contact details - Company Manager's name, email, phone
Optional Information
- Company address, city, postal code
- Company email and phone number
- Specific room/facility requirements
- Business opening hours
The 6-Step Creation Wizard
Navigate to Admin → Companies → Create New Company to start the wizard.
Step 1: Select Industry Template
Choose the template that best matches the company's business type.
| Template | Best For | Pre-configured Rooms |
|---|---|---|
| GP Practice | Medical clinics, health centres | Consultation, Treatment, Waiting |
| Dental Practice | Dental surgeries | Surgery, X-Ray, Sterilisation |
| Restaurant | Hospitality, cafes, bars | Dining, Kitchen, Bar |
| Office | Corporate, co-working spaces | Meeting, Hot Desk, Private Office |
The template determines:
- Available room types
- Default terminology (e.g., "patients" vs "customers")
- Pre-configured staff roles
- Recommended opening hours
You can customise everything later, but starting with the right template saves time.
Action: Click on the template card to select it, then click Continue.
Step 2: Company Details
Enter the core company information.
Required Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Official business name (min. 2 characters) | Acme Dental Surgery |
| Subdomain | URL identifier (lowercase, numbers, hyphens only) | acme-dental |
Optional Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Company contact email | info@acmedental.co.uk | |
| Phone | Company phone number | +44 20 7123 4567 |
| Address | Street address | 123 High Street |
| City | City/town | London |
| Postal Code | UK postcode | SW1A 1AA |
Subdomain Rules
The subdomain must be:
- At least 3 characters long
- Maximum 50 characters
- Lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only
- Unique across all Shyfts companies
The wizard automatically checks availability as you type.
Once created, the subdomain cannot be modified. Choose carefully as this will be the company's permanent URL: subdomain.cflow.app
Action: Fill in the required fields and click Continue.
Step 3: Opening Hours
Configure the company's standard business hours.
For each day of the week:
- Toggle Open/Closed - Check the "Open" checkbox if the business operates that day
- Set Opening Time - When the business opens (24-hour format)
- Set Closing Time - When the business closes (24-hour format)
Default Hours
The wizard pre-fills typical business hours:
- Monday-Friday: 09:00 - 17:00 (Open)
- Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Example: Dental Surgery Hours
| Day | Status | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | Open | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | Open | 08:00 - 20:00 |
| Thursday | Open | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | Open | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | Open | 09:00 - 13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed | - |
All times in Shyfts use 24-hour format (e.g., 14:30 not 2:30 PM) to avoid ambiguity.
Action: Adjust the opening hours as needed and click Continue.
Step 4: Room Configuration
Set up the company's rooms and facilities based on the selected industry template.
For each room type available in the template:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Number of Rooms | How many of this room type the company has (0-50) |
| Capacity per Room | Maximum people per room (uses template default if not changed) |
Example: GP Practice Configuration
| Room Type | Quantity | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation Room | 4 | 2 |
| Treatment Room | 2 | 3 |
| Waiting Area | 1 | 20 |
Example: Restaurant Configuration
| Room Type | Quantity | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Main Dining | 1 | 60 |
| Private Dining | 2 | 12 |
| Bar Area | 1 | 25 |
| Kitchen | 1 | 8 |
Rooms are automatically named sequentially (e.g., "Consultation Room 1", "Consultation Room 2"). The Company Manager can rename them later.
Action: Configure the room quantities and capacities, then click Continue.
Step 5: Company Manager Account
Create the initial administrator account for this company.
Required Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Manager's first name | Sarah |
| Last Name | Manager's surname | Johnson |
| Email Address | Login email (must be unique) | sarah.johnson@acmedental.co.uk |
Optional Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Number | Manager's contact number | +44 7700 900123 |
Temporary Password
The system automatically generates a secure temporary password. You can:
- View the password - Click the eye icon to show/hide
- Copy to clipboard - Click the copy icon
- Generate new - Click "Generate New" for a different password
You must provide these credentials to the Company Manager securely. Options include:
- Encrypted email
- Secure messaging platform
- Phone call (for password only)
- In-person handover
Never send login credentials in plain text email.
The Company Manager must change their password on first login. The temporary password cannot be used beyond the initial login.
Action: Enter the manager details, note the temporary password, and click Continue.
Step 6: Review & Create
Review all information before creating the company.
The summary shows:
Company Details
- Company name and subdomain
- Selected industry template
- Contact information (if provided)
- Address (if provided)
Manager Details
- Full name and email
- Phone number (if provided)
- Role: Company Manager
- Password status: "Will be required to change on first login"
What Happens Next
When you click Create Company & Manager:
- Company record is created in the database
- Company Manager user account is created
- Default rooms are generated based on your configuration
- Opening hours are saved
- The company becomes immediately accessible
Double-check the subdomain and manager email as these are critical for access. The subdomain cannot be changed after creation.
Action: Review all details and click Create Company & Manager.
After Creation
Immediate Steps
- Note the company ID - Shown in the success message
- Copy the credentials - If you haven't already, copy the temporary password
- Verify creation - The company should appear in your company list
Handover to Company Manager
Provide the Company Manager with:
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Login URL | https://app.shyfts.app |
sarah.johnson@acmedental.co.uk | |
| Temporary Password | [the generated password] |
| Company Subdomain | acme-dental.cflow.app |
Include instructions to:
- Log in with the temporary password
- Change password immediately (required on first login)
- Review and customise company settings
- Start adding staff members
Company Manager's First Steps
After receiving credentials, the Company Manager will:
- Log in and change password
- Update company profile and branding
- Add staff members
- Configure rooms and facilities
- Set up shift schedules
- Invite staff to the platform
Troubleshooting
"Subdomain is already taken"
The subdomain must be unique. Try:
- Adding a location suffix:
acme-dental-london - Using a different variation:
acme-dentistry - Adding numbers:
acme-dental-1
"Email already exists"
Each user email must be unique across all companies. Check if:
- The manager already has an account in another company
- There's a typo in the email address
- Use a different email address
Creation Fails
If the wizard fails to create the company:
- Check your internet connection
- Verify all required fields are filled
- Try refreshing and starting again
- Contact support if the issue persists
Related Guides
- Editing Companies - Modify company details after creation
- Company Status - Monitor and manage company lifecycle
- Industry Templates - Understanding template options