The SETTINGS area is where you configure the foundational elements your firm needs before using Factor day-to-day. Access to SETTINGS requires Firm Owner or Office Manager permissions by default.
Overview
Before your team can start logging time, managing projects, and preparing invoices, a few key areas need to be set up. While there is no strictly required order, a practical approach is:
Add your team - So people can access the system
Configure lists - So classification options are available throughout Factor
Set up companies - So clients and vendors are ready to associate with projects
Configure team capacity and costs - So scheduling and profitability calculations work correctly
Key Setup Areas
Your Team - Add team members, send invitations, and configure their permissions. Each user needs a unique email address and is assigned a permission role that determines what they can see and do in Factor. Roles are: Firm Owner, Office Manager, Project Manager, and Employee.
Team Capacity - Set each team member's weekly hours and target billable hours. These values drive the utilization indicators on the Resource Scheduler and the Firm Dashboard.
Team Costs - Enter hourly cost and overhead cost for each team member. These values are used to calculate labor costs on the Profit dashboard in PULSE and in profitability reports.
Lists - Configure the dropdown options used throughout Factor for classifying projects, contacts, opportunities, expenses, and more. These lists affect filtering, reporting, and optionally QBO integration.
Companies - Set up the organizations your firm works with, categorized as clients (associated with projects), vendors (for expense budgets), or other companies (linked to contacts).
Your Firm - Configure firm-wide defaults like pay period settings and time entry rules.
Goals - Set performance targets displayed on the Firm Dashboard.
Troubleshooting
Can't Log In
Confirm you're using the correct email address associated with your Factor account
If you're a new user, check for an activation link in your invitation email - check spam if you don't see it
Use Forgot Password on the login page to reset your password
Try clearing your browser cache and cookies, or use a different browser
Factor works best in current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge - make sure your browser is up to date
If none of these work, contact Factor support with any error messages you're seeing.
Invitation Email Not Received
Have the user check their spam or junk folder
Verify the email address was entered correctly when the user was created
Go to SETTINGS > Your Team, click the user, and resend the invitation
Can't Add Users
By default, only Firm Owners and Office Managers can add users - verify your permission level or ask an administrator to grant you access
The email address may already be associated with an existing Factor account - contact Factor support if this is the case
Your firm may have reached its licensed user limit - contact Factor support to add more seats
Can't Modify User Permissions
By default, only Firm Owners and Office Managers can modify user permissions - ask an administrator to grant you access if needed
You cannot change your own permissions - contact a Firm Owner or Office Manager
Account Disabled or Locked
Your account may have been deactivated by an administrator, or your firm's subscription may have lapsed. Contact Factor support or your firm administrator for assistance.