Introduction

Now that we have covered the installation process for WHMCS - both through Softaculous and Manually via the web browser, it's time to explore the configuration steps you need to take after you log in. These first steps aim to prep your installation and enable it to start accepting orders immediately! 

Of course, as vast as WHMCS is in terms of configuration, you can fine-tune all aspects of the automation, billing, and support settings to fit your needs. 

Before we get into the vast configuration options of WHMCS, let's cover the initial setup and set you off on the road to your first web hosting order!

Getting Started

This tutorial assumes that you have already completed the WHMCS installation process. The first thing you will see when you log inside the admin area will be the "Getting Started Wizard" pop-up window.

You have probably noticed a few tabs with actions you need to take, each adding essential data to the application. Let's review each step individually so you can understand them as plainly as possible.

Please click on the "Next" button in the bottom right corner to begin the configuration process.

General

The first configuration step will request basic information about your business, such as email, logo, and company name.

• Company Name - Please type in your Company Name in this text field. This information will be auto-filled if you configured it during the installation process.
• Logo - Inside this field, you will find the "Choose file" button, allowing you to upload your company logo.
• Email Address - Inside this text field, enter your company email address. This information would be auto-filled if you configured it during the installation process. WHMCS will use the email address as the default sender for all messages.
• Address - Here, you will need to enter your company address. 
• Country - Here, you will be able to select your country.
• Language - Here, you can pick the default language of WHMCS.  This setting will also determine which language your users will see by default.

Once you configure all the settings in this section, please click on the "Next" button located at the bottom right of the pop-up window.

Please click on the "Skip Step" link in the bottom left corner if you wish to skip this step.

Payments

The second configuration step will allow you to choose a payment gateway for your WHMCS installation and start accepting payments. 

You can add more payment gateways later, as WHMCS is compatible with most of them. Usually, these integrations happen via modules you can purchase from the WHMCS marketplace.

• PayPal - PayPal is the world's most profound online payment gateway. Buyers widely regard it as being safe and convenient. We recommend enabling PayPal and using it for your web hosting business. You need to register on PayPal and provide your email address. Be sure to use the same address you used for the WHMCS company email, so people see your brand when paying with PayPal.
• Credit Card - Credit Card payments are perhaps the most used method for online purchases. This simple integration will allow you to easily accept credit card payments and give you access to the best possible rates. If you select this method, you must create a merchant account at the next step. If you do not want to do at this point, you can skip this step by pressing the "Skip Step" link on the bottom left corner.
• Mail-in Payment - The "Mail In Payment" gateway option will integrate a text area where clients can enter their details on the printable invoice. You can use this to show your company's address to customers and enable them to send money or checks to you directly via the mail. We do not recommend enabling this option, as it complicates the entire process. Online payments are the best sign that a client will purchase your service, and you will receive the money immediately. Online payments also guarantee that the customer will receive a service he paid for upon doing so.

Once you enable all the desired settings on this step, please click the "Next" button on the bottom right. 

Please click on the "Skip Step" link in the bottom left corner if you wish to skip this step.

Domains

Selling domains is an optional feature that WHMCS allows you to enable during the initial setup. 

You can skip this step if you don't want to resell domains or if you would like to do so later. Please click on the "Skip Step" link in the bottom left corner if you wish to skip this step.

• Enable Domains - This checkbox will allow you to enable domain selling in WHMCS.
• Popular TLDs - There will be multiple checkboxes here which you can tick, depending on the TLDs you want to sell. If you plan on selling domains, we recommend enabling all of these extensions.
• Price - This text field here will allow you to select a price for your domains. Be reasonable here and select a competitive price that will encourage the customer to purchase a domain name from you.
• Enom - The last checkbox will allow you to integrate WHMCS with the #1 Reseller Registrar directly. Of course, if you wish to use a different one, you can deselect this option and configure another registrar later. Unless you are 100% sure about using Enom, please do not enable this option by default and do some research beforehand.

Once you enable all the desired settings on this step, please click the "Next" button on the bottom right. 

Web Hosting

The fourth step will allow you to add a cPanel server to your WHMCS installation and immediately start selling web hosting! 

Note that you can add different control panels later on. If you want to use another web hosting control panel, skip this step by clicking on the "Skip Step" button in the bottom left corner.

• Control Panel - On the Setup Wizard, this option defaults to cPanel. As mentioned above, if you want to use a different panel, you can skip this step altogether.
• Hostname/IP - Please enter your cPanel server's IP address or hostname in this text field.
• Username - Enter your cPanel Reseller username in this text field. If you have root access, you may also enter the root username.
• Password - Enter your cPanel Reseller password in this text field. If you have root access, you may also enter the root password.
• Name - In this text field, you may enter a recognizable name for your server. For example, if this is your first server, you can name it "server1", or if this server has a location in Europe, you can call it "euserver1".
• Primary IP - Enter the server's primary IP address in this text field. 
• Primary Nameserver - Enter the server's primary nameserver in this text field.
• Secondary Nameserver - Enter the server's secondary nameserver in this text field.

Once you fill in all the details, you can use the "Verify Connection" button beneath the password field. If the credentials are correct, you will receive a message stating that WHMCS established a successful connection to the cPanel server. Please click on the "Next" button in the bottom right corner if that's the case.

Add-ons and Extras

The last step of the WHMCS setup wizard will show you some of the third-party services you can resell alongside your web hosting services or domain service. 

The most famous of which are:

• Weebly - Weebly is a drag-and-drop website builder allowing customers to customize and create beautiful, responsive websites.
• SiteLock - Sitelock is a security service vendor providing malware detection and removal. In addition to that, they offer a CDN service and a Web Application Firewall (WAF).
• CodeGuard - CodeGuard is an automated website service allowing one-click restores. In addition to that, they have a WordPress management dashboard and malware detection/removal.
• Digicert - Digicert is a leading SSL certificate vendor. You can resell their certificates via the convenience of your WHMCS and give your customers peace of mind when they use them for their online stores.
• SpamExperts - SpamExperts is among the leaders in spam prevention for outgoing and incoming emails. On top of that, they offer Virus protection and Email Archiving, which are essential to some customers' businesses.

Of course, there are many more that you can check in the official WHMCS marketplace. When you are ready to finalize the setup wizard, please click on the "Next" button in the bottom right corner. Please click on the "Skip Step" link in the bottom left corner if you want to skip this step. If you wish to explore other third-party applications in the WHMCS marketplace, please click on the "Learn More" button underneath the featured third-party vendor icons.

At the end of the setup wizard, WHMCS will provide you with affirmation that the setup is complete and that you are now able to start using it!

To close the setup wizard, please click on the “Finish” button on the bottom right side of the pop-up window.

When you finish the setup, you will no longer receive a prompt for the configuration wizard when you log in.

Conclusion

As you may have figured out for yourself by now - the Setup Wizard is a straightforward process that takes a few minutes to finalize. It immediately enables your WHMCS to accept orders, sell web hosting services, resell domains, and resell other third-party apps! Hopefully, this was useful, and we urge you to also check the other tutorials in our WHMCS section!