---
key: find-your-way-around-the-portal
title: Find your way around the portal
audience: customer
section: portal/getting-in
routes: ["/portal", "/portal/:orgSlug/a/:accountId"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Learn what each part of the customer portal does, from the Overview cards (what you owe, what needs you, recent payments) to the sidebar, the menu under your name and Help.
keywords: [portal overview, home page, menu, where is, dashboard, dark mode, sign out, what do I owe, balance]
related: [sign-in-to-the-portal, switch-between-your-accounts, pay-an-invoice-online, read-the-companys-policies-and-terms]
---

After you sign in, the portal opens on **Overview**, your account's home page. The sidebar on the left, or the menu button at the top left on a phone, lists every section the company has turned on for you.

## Steps

1. Sign in with the link the company emailed you, or with your username. See [[sign-in-to-the-portal]].
2. Read **Overview** for anything that needs you, then open a section from the sidebar.
3. Select your name at the top right for your own settings and to sign out.

## What you see

**Overview** shows, from the top:

- **You owe**: the total due on your invoices and deposit requests, a line saying how many make it up, and a button to pay that amount, which opens **Invoices & payments**. When nothing is due, the card says **You’re all paid up** instead.
- **Needs you**: how many quotes are waiting for your yes or no, with **Review it** or **Review them**. It only appears when a quote is waiting.
- A row of four figures: **Open invoices**, **Quotes to review**, **Credit on file** (deposits and credit you can use on an invoice) and **Saved cards**.
- **Recent payments**: your last four payments, each with its payment and invoice numbers, how and when it was paid, the amount and any tip.
- Tiles that open each section: **Requests**, **Quotes**, **Invoices & payments**, **Saved cards** and **Agreements**, each with a count or a short note.

The sidebar:

- **Overview**: this page.
- **Requests**: ask the company for work or help, and follow replies. See [[send-a-request-in-the-portal]].
- **Quotes**: read and answer quotes. See [[see-your-quotes-in-the-portal]].
- **Billing**: opens **Invoices & payments**, **Statements** and **Saved cards**. See [[pay-an-invoice-online]] and [[read-your-statement]].
- **Agreements**: read, sign and download agreements. See [[see-your-agreements]].
- **Help**: opens these help articles in a new window.

The company's website, phone and email sit at the bottom of the sidebar, with its policies under **Policies & terms**. See [[read-the-companys-policies-and-terms]].

The top bar names the account you are looking at and, when your account has more than one location, has a **Location** control. Select your name at the top right for:

- **Your accounts**: switch accounts. See [[switch-between-your-accounts]].
- **Appearance**: **Match my device**, **Light** or **Dark**.
- **Account information**, **Change your password** and **How you sign in**: your own settings.
- **Sign out**.

## If something looks different

- A section, card or tile is missing: the company has not turned that part on for your account. Contact them if you expected it.
- **You're viewing one shared document**, and the menu shows **Exit** instead of **Sign out**: you opened the portal from a link to one document. Select **See everything for this account**; the portal emails a **6-digit code** to the address the company has on file. Type it and select **Unlock account**. Or select **Sign in** to use your username.
- **This link is for a different account**: you are signed in to another account. Select **Open this account** to switch, or the button to go back to the account you are on.
- **Sign in or open your secure link to continue.**: you are not signed in, or your link has run out. Select **Sign in**, or ask the company for a fresh link.
- **This page isn't part of what's shared with you.**: your access does not include that page. Select **Portal home**, or sign in with your username.