> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hiveinspect.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started and the Free Trial: Hive Inspect FAQ

> Answers for new Hive Inspect users: where to start setup, onboarding calls, how free trial reports count, Hive AI on the trial, feature requests and support.

Real questions inspectors asked our support team, with the answers. Tap a question to open it; each one has its own link you can share.

## Setting up your account

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Where do I start setting up my Hive account?" id="where-to-start-setup">
    Start with the onboarding guide and its videos, and work through them in order. They take you from a new account to your first published report.

    1. Connect Google Calendar. You can skip this step if you don't use Google Calendar.
    2. Add your company details, logo and business hours.
    3. Set working hours and service areas for each inspector.
    4. Import a template from the Template Hub or bring in your own.
    5. Create your agreements, then your services and fees, and connect Stripe.
    6. Import your contacts and set up your automations.
    7. Schedule a mock inspection and take it all the way to a published report.

    Do this one-time setup on a computer. The template editor in particular is hard to use on a phone. Once setup is done, you can run inspections from the mobile app. While you are on the free trial, the banner at the top of your dashboard shows a **Finish setting up your account** checklist so you can see what is left.

    See [Getting started](/onboarding/onboarding-overview#setup-checklist) and [Video tutorials](/video-tutorials#onboarding-67-minutes).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can you clear my test data or set my starting order number before I go live?" id="clear-test-data-before-launch">
    Yes. Ask in the chat bubble in your dashboard when you are ready to go live. Our team can delete your test inspections and their financials, and set the number your order IDs start from, for example to continue the numbering from your old software. Your templates and settings stay as they are.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I book a one-on-one onboarding call?" id="book-onboarding-call">
    Yes. Book a free onboarding call of about 30 minutes with our team at [dashboard.hiveinspect.com/book-a-call](https://dashboard.hiveinspect.com/book-a-call).

    The call works best once you have watched the onboarding videos. The basics are covered there, so bring your list of questions and use the call for the parts specific to your business. Calendars can fill up, so for quick questions just ask in the chat bubble in your dashboard.

    See [Video tutorials](/video-tutorials#onboarding-67-minutes).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a Hive user community?" id="hive-user-community">
    Yes. Hive has a Facebook group where inspectors share tips and templates and we post product updates. Join it at [the Hive inspector community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1202950231646461).

    For help with your own account or a bug, use the chat bubble in your dashboard instead. Our team answers there. Every release is also listed in [What's new](/whats-new/overview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I do a test inspection before my first real job?" id="do-a-mock-inspection">
    Yes. Do one or two mock inspections first, for example a few rooms of your own home. Take each one all the way through: schedule it, write the report in the mobile app, publish it, and check the automations and the client portal. Then nothing surprises you on your first real job.

    Delete the test inspections when you are done. On the free trial, a deleted test inspection gives its free report back as long as you never published it.

    See [Schedule inspections](/inspections-and-reports/schedule-inspections) and [Write reports in the mobile app](/inspections-and-reports/mobile-reports#guide-to-writing-reports-in-the-mobile-app).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## The free trial

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How does the free trial work?" id="free-trial-terms">
    You get 5 free reports. You don't need a credit card to sign up, and the trial has no time limit. It ends only when your 5 free reports are used.

    The trial is the full software, including email and text automations and every Hive AI tool. The one thing it doesn't include is a second inspector.

    Nothing is charged when your free reports run out, but you can't create new inspections until you pick a plan. You choose it yourself under **Business Tools → Subscriptions** when you're ready: **Monthly**, **Annual**, **New Inspector Tiered: Monthly** or the **10 Reports Package**. Prices are on the [pricing page](https://www.hiveinspect.com/pricing).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does the free trial include every feature, including the AI tools?" id="free-trial-includes-ai">
    Yes. The free trial includes the full platform: templates, agreements, payments, the online scheduler, email and text automations, and the Hive AI tools.

    Every Hive AI tool is on by default for every company, on the trial too. **Business Tools → Hive AI** lists them all. If one shows **Not Available**, refresh the page, then ask in the chat bubble in your dashboard.

    Adding a second inspector is the one thing you can't do on the trial. It needs a paid monthly or annual plan. See [Seats and billing](/business-tools/team-permissions#seats-and-billing).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How many free reports do I get on the trial, and when does one count?" id="free-trial-report-count">
    The free trial includes 5 free reports. One is used each time an inspection is created, not when the report is published. That includes test inspections and bookings clients start through your online scheduler.

    If you cancel or delete an inspection whose report was never published, the free report comes back to your balance. Refresh the page to see it. **Business Tools → Subscriptions** shows how many free reports you have left under **Report Usage**.

    See [Video tutorials](/video-tutorials#onboarding-67-minutes).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I used up my free trial reports. Can I get more?" id="more-free-trial-reports">
    Sometimes. If you used your free reports while learning, ask in the chat bubble in your dashboard once your balance reaches 0. Our team can add a few more at its discretion.

    If you are ready to keep going, start a plan under **Business Tools → Subscriptions**. Low-volume inspectors can buy the **10 Reports Package** instead of a monthly plan. See [Plans and pricing](https://www.hiveinspect.com/pricing).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will I be charged automatically when the free trial ends?" id="charged-after-free-trial">
    No. You don't need a credit card to sign up, and you are never charged unless you choose a plan yourself under **Business Tools → Subscriptions**.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Hive AI

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What AI features does Hive have, and how do I turn them on?" id="hive-ai-features-overview">
    Hive AI includes these tools, and all of them are on by default for every company. You can see them under **Business Tools → Hive AI**.

    * **Comment Assist** writes a comment name and description from a few words, in your company's voice. See [Comment Assist](/how-tos/comment-assist#how-to-write-a-comment-with-comment-assist).
    * **Comment Merge** combines up to three related defect comments into one. See [Comment Merge](/how-tos/comment-merge#how-to-merge-comments).
    * **Smart Add** in the mobile app finds the right comment from a sentence, or drafts a new one. See [Smart Add](/how-tos/smart-add#how-to-add-a-comment-with-smart-add).
    * **Context Layer** adds a box to each defect showing how common it is and how easy it is to repair. Pick the templates that use it under **Templates → Template Tools → Context Layer**. See [Hive Context Layer](/whats-new/aug-16-2026#hive-context-layer).
    * **Repair Estimator** sends a separate PDF with projected repair costs. Turn it on per template under **Template Tools**. See [Repair Estimator](/how-tos/repair-estimator#turn-it-on-for-a-template).

    Set how your AI comments read once, in the **Comment Copilot Prompt** box on the **Hive AI** page. If a tool shows **Not Available**, ask in the chat bubble in your dashboard.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do the AI features cost extra?" id="ai-features-cost-and-plans">
    No. Comment Assist and Comment Merge have no per-use fees, and every Hive AI tool is on by default for every company, whatever your plan.

    One exception: a report translated into Spanish or French carries a translation fee, shown before you confirm. See [Comment Merge](/how-tos/comment-merge#faq) and [Repair Estimator](/how-tos/repair-estimator).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Feature requests and support

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I request a new feature?" id="submit-feature-request">
    Use **Business Tools → Feature Requests** in the web dashboard, or go straight to [Feature Requests](https://dashboard.hiveinspect.com/dashboard/business-tools/feature-requests).

    1. Click **New Request**.
    2. Describe one feature per request. Say which screen it is for, web or mobile, and what you are trying to do. Attach screenshots, including from your old software if it had the feature.
    3. Submit it. Requests go straight to our engineering team.

    Star up to 3 requests as priorities to show which matter most to your business. The 3 priority slots are shared across your whole company. Report bugs in the chat bubble instead, not as a feature request, because bugs are handled first.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I know if my feature request is being worked on?" id="feature-request-status">
    Each request on the **Feature Requests** page shows a status: **Submitted**, **Reviewing**, **Planned**, **In progress**, **Needs your input** or **Completed**. Open a request to see its thread. When the status is **Needs your input**, reply in the thread to keep it moving.

    We receive many requests a day and ship new features every week, so some requests take weeks or months. Shipped features are listed in [What's new](/whats-new/overview). You can delete a request you created from the same page.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there phone support? How do I reach you or report a bug?" id="contact-support-phone-hours">
    Support runs through the chat bubble, seven days a week. There is no phone support line. Open the chat bubble at the bottom right of your [dashboard](https://dashboard.hiveinspect.com), or in the mobile app tap **Need Help?** on the **My Profile** tab. Report bugs the same way, with a screenshot if you can.

    If a problem is easier to show than describe, our team can set up a screen share from the chat. See [Fix a problem](/faq/fix-a-problem).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Still stuck?

<div className="hive-rows hive-rows-sm">
  <a className="hive-row" href="https://dashboard.hiveinspect.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
    <span className="hive-row-main">
      <span className="hive-row-title">Ask in the chat bubble</span>
      <span className="hive-row-line">Open your dashboard and use the chat bubble. Our team answers seven days a week</span>
    </span>
  </a>

  <a className="hive-row" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1202950231646461" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
    <span className="hive-row-main">
      <span className="hive-row-title">Ask the inspector community</span>
      <span className="hive-row-line">Other inspectors answer in the Facebook group</span>
    </span>
  </a>
</div>


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