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

# Get started with cfo.ai

> Ask Ari a business question, build the model behind the answer, and inspect or change its assumptions.

Ari is your AI finance coworker. Start with a decision, such as whether you can hire, when cash gets tight, or why expenses changed. Ari can build the Model behind the answer using connected data, an uploaded file, or clearly stated assumptions.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your workspace">
    Sign in at [app.cfo.ai](https://app.cfo.ai). Your workspace holds your Model, Pages, Scenarios, data connections, and team settings.

    During onboarding, Ari may share what it knows about your company and ask you to confirm or correct it. That context helps Ari choose a sensible starting point.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask a business question">
    Describe the decision that matters. You do not need to know which financial model or report to request.

    > Can we hire three engineers in September? Show me what happens to payroll, cash, and cash runway.

    Ari can use the current company context to determine which information and calculations the answer needs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose how to begin">
    You can connect existing business data, share a file, or start from assumptions.

    * **Connect your data** when accounting, HR, CRM, spreadsheet, or database history should inform the answer.
    * **Start from scratch** when you want to work from a business description and explicit assumptions first.
    * **Import an existing model** when a workbook or report already contains the financial structure you want to rebuild.

    Connecting data is optional. You can start with assumptions and add the supporting systems later.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the first result">
    Review Ari's answer and check the sources, assumptions, date range, and business categories. If Ari creates a Page or Table Block, open it. Ask Ari to explain a number or adjust an assumption, or change the Model directly.

    > Show me the hiring assumptions, then move the start dates to October and compare the cash forecast.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Decide what comes next">
    Add another source, create a Scenario, prepare a report, or save a recurring workflow. You and Ari keep working from the same Model, so the answer remains visible and useful after the first conversation.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Recommended next steps

* [Understand your workspace](/getting-started/understand-your-workspace)
* [Build a financial model](/getting-started/build-your-financial-model)
* [Import an existing spreadsheet model](/getting-started/import-a-spreadsheet-model)
* [Meet Ari](/ari/meet-ari)
* [Connect and sync your data](/integrations/connect-and-sync-data)