Create a project and send the intake link

A project is the container for one client engagement, from the first intake questions through the brief, proposal, invoice, and call sheets. Everything you build for a job lives under its project, and everything on that job's public links (the intake form, brief, proposal, invoice) is scoped to that one project.

Where to find it

Dashboard → Projects → New project. The same button appears on the dashboard home page.

Create the project

Click New project to open the modal:

1. Client: pick an Existing client from your roster, or switch to New client and enter their company name (required), contact name, email, and phone right there. If your roster is empty, FirstSlate prompts you to add the first client.
2. Project name: a short internal title, for example "Acme Brand Film" or "Summer Campaign." This is how you'll find the project throughout the dashboard; your client never sees it.
3. Intake form template: pick the template that matches the project type (Standard Brand Video, Live Event Coverage, Wedding Video, and so on). Each card shows what the template asks about. If none fit, click Build a template to jump into the template builder before finishing the project. See customize intake forms with templates for how templates work.

Click Create project and you land on the project's page, sometimes called the Project Hub. See track everything from the Project Hub for what that page does.

Send the intake link

Every project gets a unique, no-login public link at /intake/[project-id]. On the project page you choose how to collect the project scope:

• Send intake form: your client fills out a short form at their own pace. Best for new clients.
• Fill it in myself: you enter the scope directly, skipping the client-facing form. Best for repeat clients you already know well.

Choosing Send intake form opens a screen where you enter the client's email and an optional personal message, or copy the raw link to send however you prefer (text, a different email thread, and so on). Click Preview & Send to see exactly what your client will receive, then Approve & Send. FirstSlate emails the link and the project's status updates to show it's been sent, with a Resend option if you need to send it again.

Tip: You can change the intake template right from this screen, as long as the project hasn't been submitted yet.

What happens when your client submits

Your client's answers save straight to the project, and you get a notification (an in-app alert and, unless you've turned it off, an email) letting you know a brief is ready to review. If the shoot date is close or the turnaround is tight, FirstSlate flags the project as a rush so it doesn't get lost. From there you review and approve the brief, described in review and send the project brief.

Plan availability

The Free plan allows up to 5 active projects and 3 clients; archiving a finished project frees up an active slot. Pro and Studio remove both caps. See plans and limits for the full breakdown, and pricing for current rates.

Common questions

Can I create a project without a client yet?

Not quite, but it takes seconds either way: switch to New client in the modal and add them inline while creating the project.

What if I don't want to use any of the default templates?

Click Build a template inside the New project modal, or manage templates any time from Settings → Templates.

Can my client see the internal project name?

No. The project name is for your dashboard only. Your client only sees what's on the intake form, brief, proposal, and invoice pages, all of which use their own labeling.