> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dollarlabs.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dollarlabs.io/dollarback-store-credit/getting-started/quick-start-launch-your-first-cashback-program.md).

# Quick start: launch your first cashback program

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/1a6c9939688f49d954f9>" %}

*This article's section starts at 0:00 in the video.*

In about ten minutes you'll have a live "5% back on everything" program: a cashback rule, visible widgets, and a test order that lands real credit on a customer account.

## Prerequisites

* DollarBack installed and a plan or trial active ([Choose a plan and start your trial](/dollarback-store-credit/getting-started/choose-a-plan-and-start-your-trial.md))
* Access to your store's theme editor

## Step 1: Create the cashback rule

1. Open **DollarBack admin → Cashback**. You land on the cashback editor with a type list on the left: **Purchase reward**, **Signup bonus**, **Newsletter signup**, **Birthday gift**, **Social follow**, and **Custom (API)**.
2. With **Purchase reward** selected, click **Add purchase reward**.
3. Give it a **Title**, something like "5% back on everything". The title is internal, but it also appears in your credit logs.
4. Under **Applies to**, keep **All products**.
5. Keep **Reward kind** set to **Store credit**, choose the percentage option, and enter `5`.
6. Leave **Set an end date** off so the program runs indefinitely, and skip the frequency limit for now.
7. Save. You'll see a **Configuration Saved Successfully** toast, and the rule appears in the list as active.

That's the whole earning rule. By default credit is issued when the order is created and is spendable immediately. You can change the trigger, holding period, and calculation base later in **DollarBack admin → Settings** (see [Settings](/dollarback-store-credit/settings.md)).

## Step 2: Turn on the storefront widgets

Customers can earn without widgets, but they won't *see* anything. The fastest path is the **Storefront Visibility** card on the dashboard:

1. Open **DollarBack admin → Dashboard** and find the **Storefront Visibility** card. It lists your **App Blocks** (Product page cashback, Cart page cashback) and **App Embeds** (Cashback widget, Window variable), each with an **Enabled** or **Disabled** badge.
2. Next to **Cashback widget**, click **Enable**. This deep-links into the Shopify theme editor with the embed ready to activate. Click **Save** in the theme editor.
3. Back on the dashboard, click **Enable** next to **Product page cashback**. The theme editor opens on a product template with the block added. Position it near the price and **Save**.
4. Return to the dashboard and confirm both rows now show **Enabled**.

For every other surface (cart, checkout, thank-you page, customer accounts), see [Activate widgets in your theme](/dollarback-store-credit/getting-started/activate-widgets-in-your-theme.md).

## Step 3: Place a test order

1. Open your storefront in a separate browser profile (or an incognito window) so you're a customer, not an admin.
2. Open any product page. You should see the cashback message ("Earn $X in cashback…") under the price.
3. Create a customer account and sign in.
4. Buy an inexpensive product and complete checkout as normal.

## Step 4: Watch the credit land

* On the storefront, open the floating cashback widget. The balance shows the new credit (5% of what the order actually cost).
* In **DollarBack admin → Analytics**, the credit log shows a new *credited* row linking the customer, the order, and your "5% back on everything" config.

## Verify it works

All three of these should be true within a minute or two of the order:

1. The credit log in **DollarBack admin → Analytics** has a row for the test order.
2. The floating widget shows the balance when the test customer is signed in.
3. On a second checkout with the same customer, store credit appears as a payment option.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you changed the trigger to *paid* or *fulfilled*, or set a holding period, the credit won't appear until that event happens or the hold elapses. Check the scheduled rewards tab in Analytics instead.
{% endhint %}

## Common issues

* **The product page message or widget doesn't appear** → [A widget isn't showing on my store](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/widget-isnt-showing.md)
* **The order went through but no credit was issued** → [A customer didn't receive cashback](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/customer-didnt-receive-cashback.md)
* **Credit exists but isn't offered at checkout** → [Store credit isn't available at checkout](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/store-credit-isnt-available-at-checkout.md)

## Related articles

* [Activate widgets in your theme](/dollarback-store-credit/getting-started/activate-widgets-in-your-theme.md)
* [Set up purchase cashback](/dollarback-store-credit/earning-cashback-programs/set-up-purchase-cashback.md)
* [Settings](/dollarback-store-credit/settings.md)
* [How customers spend their credit](/dollarback-store-credit/spending-store-credit-and-rewards/how-customers-spend-their-credit.md)