Creating Your Account and Connecting Your Data
Getting started with Clockwork takes just a few minutes. This article walks you through creating your account and bringing your financial data in — whether you're connecting an accounting system or importing from a spreadsheet.
Step 1: Create your account
Go to clockwork.ai and click Get Started.
Enter your name, email address, and a password. Your password should be at least 8 characters and include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
Tell us a bit about how you'll be using Clockwork — whether you're a business owner managing your own finances, or an accounting/bookkeeping professional advising clients.
Agree to the terms and conditions and click Create Account.
You'll receive a confirmation email — click the link inside to verify your address and access your new account.
Step 2: Add your first company
Once you're in, you'll be prompted to add a company. Enter the company name and then choose how you'd like to bring in your financial data.
Step 3: Connect your data
Clockwork supports several ways to get your financial data in:
QuickBooks Online
Select QuickBooks Online from the integration options.
You'll be redirected to QuickBooks to log in. Use admin-level credentials to authorize the connection.
Select the company file you want to connect and confirm.
Clockwork will begin importing and analyzing your data — this typically takes a few minutes for the initial sync.
Xero
Select Xero from the integration options.
You'll be redirected to Xero to log in and authorize the connection using admin credentials.
Select the organization you'd like to connect and confirm.
Clockwork will begin importing your data.
Excel or CSV File Import
Don't use QuickBooks or Xero? No problem. You can import financial data directly from an Excel or CSV file to get your Clockwork model up and running.
Select Import from Excel/CSV from the connection options.
Download Clockwork's import template and fill in your financial data, or map your existing spreadsheet to the required format.
Upload your file and Clockwork will build your Financial Model from the imported data.
Note: Excel import is a great option for getting started quickly. You can always connect an accounting system later.
QuickBooks Desktop
Connecting QuickBooks Desktop requires installing a small data extractor on the computer where your .QBW file lives. See the full QuickBooks Desktop Integration Guide for step-by-step instructions.
What happens after you connect?
Once your data is in, Clockwork gets to work. It analyzes up to 3 years of your financial history to build your Financial Model, generate a baseline cash flow forecast, and surface your key business metrics — all automatically. This usually takes just a few minutes.
After that, Clockwork syncs with your accounting system automatically (typically once per hour) so your models always stay up to date.
Next steps
Need help? Reach out to our support chat in the bottom right of your screen any time.