Overview
Getting started with Tinylawn takes just a few minutes. This guide walks you through the onboarding process from sign-up to your first call.
Step 1: Set up your business
Sign up at Tinylawn and choose how you want to set up your business:
- Website import — Enter your website and Tinylawn can pull business details, services, and FAQs to get you started faster.
- Manual setup — Enter your business name, industry, and details yourself.
Your industry (for example, Landscape Maintenance, Tree Care, or Pest Control) helps Tinylawn pre-load default services and pricing.
Step 2: Choose your phone number
Next, you'll pick a local phone number for your AI receptionist:
1. Enter a 3-digit area code (e.g., 312 for Chicago).
2. Browse the available numbers in that area.
3. Select the one you want — you'll see the full number, city, and state for each option.
This is the number customers will call to reach your AI receptionist. It's yours for as long as your account is active.
Step 3: Preview your receptionist
During onboarding you can preview how your receptionist sounds before you finish setup. You can change the name and voice later under Settings > Receptionist > Profile.
What happens behind the scenes
Once you confirm your phone number and create your account, Tinylawn automatically sets up:
- Phone line activated — Your number is provisioned and ready to take calls.
- Free trial started — You get 10 free calls over 14 days, no credit card required.
- Services pre-loaded — Services with realistic pricing are added based on your industry. You can edit these anytime.
- Business hours set — Defaults to Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM in your local timezone. Adjust these under Settings > Scheduling.
- Default booking form created — A Quote Request form is ready to share with customers (and used for call recovery).
- Welcome email sent — Check your inbox for a confirmation and quick-start tips.
Step 4: Connect your calls in Getting Started
After creating your account, open Getting Started to finish your phone setup:
Try your receptionist. Call your assigned Tinylawn number and ask for a quote. Share a service address so you can see what Tinylawn captures.
Choose how calls reach Tinylawn. Forward missed calls, send every call, or use your Tinylawn number as a separate line. For forwarding, follow the instructions for your exact carrier or phone system. Selecting an option in Tinylawn does not switch on forwarding at your carrier.
Check the connection. From a different phone, call your existing business number. If you chose missed calls, let it ring without answering. Confirm that you hear your Tinylawn receptionist. If you chose a separate number, test that Tinylawn number directly instead.
A call received directly on your Tinylawn number shows that your receptionist can answer. It does not confirm that your existing business number is forwarding. Finish the business-number test before relying on forwarding.
Keep carrier PINs and verification codes in your provider's own setup flow. Tinylawn does not need your carrier PIN.
Before taking customer calls
Review your services, hours, FAQs, greeting, and notification contacts. Then check your test call and any request it created. Your team reviews appointment requests and confirms the final schedule with the customer.
For examples of what to say and what to check, see Making Your First Test Call.