How to setup the Blesta cron job for automated tasks

How to setup the Blesta cron job for automated tasks

Once installation is complete, a cron job must be created to automate tasks within Blesta.

If you are setting up the cron job for the first time, you can click the Configure link in the System Status section of the home page.

Otherwise, simply click the Settings link at the top of the page.

Click the System tab.

Then click Automation.

Click to copy the cron command to your clipboard.

Next, open your hosting control panel. In this demo we’re using cPanel.

Click the Cron Jobs icon.

In the Add a New Cron Job section, select for the cron to run Every 5 minutes.

Then paste the cron command you copied.

Note: You can delete the prefix that defines that the cron is to run every 5 minutes… since you’ve already entered that in the common settings.

Then click Add New Cron Job.

That’s it! Now return to the Blesta System Settings page.

After no more than 5 minutes, we can verify that the cron has indeed run.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to setup your cron job for automated tasks in Blesta.

How to login to Blesta as admin

How to login to Blesta as admin

After installing Blesta, your first login will occur automatically.

To login subsequently, use your browser to navigate to:

http://www.yourdomain.com/[installation_directory]/admin/login

If you’ve forgotten your password, click the Reset My Password link

You’ll be given the option to enter your username and reset your password.

Back on the login page, enter your username and password, then click Login.

That’s it! You’ve successfully logged in to Blesta and can begin managing your business.

To logout, click the Log Out link in the upper right corner of the page.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to login to Blesta as an admin.

How to install modules in Blesta

How to install modules in Blesta

Blesta ships with several modules that can be used for the provisioning and management of services.

To see all the modules available to you, click the Settings link in the upper right corner…

… then with the Company tab selected, click Modules.

Currently there are no modules installed. Click the Available tab.

You can see a complete list of available modules here, covering all the major hosting control panels, and other hosting related products like domain names, virtual servers and SSL certificates.

To install a module, simply click the Install button next to the one you want.

That’s it! The module was successfully installed. For this module, click the Add Account button.

Next you would enter your login details for the module to complete the setup.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to install modules in Blesta.

How to add staff in Blesta

How to add staff in Blesta

During installation, the first staff member is created.

Now let’s learn how to add additional staff in Blesta.

Click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Click the System tab.

Then click Staff.

Click the + icon in the upper right corner of the Manage Staff section…

Then fill out the form for the new staff member.

You must assign at least one Group to the new staff member. Select the groups to assign, and click to move them to the left column.

When finished, click Create Staff.

That’s it! The new staff member has been created.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to add additional staff in Blesta.

You can always Edit or Deactivate staff members in the future if you wish.

How to install plugins in Blesta

How to install plugins in Blesta

Blesta ships with several plugins that can be used to extend and customize the core functionality of Blesta.

To see all the plugins available to you, click the Settings link in the upper right corner…

… then with the Company tab selected, click Plugins.

Blesta comes with several plugins already installed. To see the additional plugins available to you, click the Available tab.

There are lots of additional plugins you could install, as shown on this page. Simply choose the one you want, then click Install.

That’s it! The plugin has been successfully installed.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to install plugins in Blesta.

How to create a new company in Blesta

How to create a new company in Blesta

Blesta allows you to setup additional companies, as a good alternative to purchasing additional licenses and maintaining separate installations.

Let’s learn how to create a new company.

Click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Then click the System tab.

Then click Companies.

Here you can see a list of your existing companies. By default there will be one company that cannot be deleted… which is your initial, included company.

To add a new company, click the + icon in the upper right of the Companies section.

Enter the information for your new company.

It is important to enter the company’s hostname correctly, if you plan to use a unique URL for each company.

When finished, click Create Company.

That’s it! The new company has been created, and we can now manage our different companies from here.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to add additional companies in Blesta.

How to update your localization settings in Blesta

How to update your localization settings in Blesta

After installing Blesta, you should update your company localization settings.

To do this, first click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Then with the Company tab selected, click General.

This is where you setup your localization settings.

You can set your default language here, and check to allow your clients to change their language.

You can also set whether Sunday or Monday is to be the start day in your calendar.

Set your timezone so the times in your Blesta installation match the actual times at your location.

You can set how you wish the dates and date/time formats to display.

You should also set your default country by selecting it here.

When finished, click

Update Settings.

That’s it! The localization settings have been updated.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to update your localization settings in Blesta.

How to configure backups in Blesta

How to configure backups in Blesta

Blesta can be configured to automatically produce database backups.

Backups can also be downloaded manually, at any time.

To configure or manually download a backup, click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Click the System tab…

… then click Backup.

From here you can force a backup by clicking Force Offsite Backup.

Or you can download a backup immediately by clicking Download Backup.

That’s it! Our backup has been downloaded to our computer.

To setup automated backups using Secure FTP, click the Secure FTP link.

Complete the form and click Update Settings to set up automated Secure FTP backups.

To setup your backups with Amazon S3, click the Amazon S3 link under Backup.

Complete this form to setup automated Amazon S3 backups.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to setup automated backups of your Blesta database, and force immediate backups.

How to set your invoicing options in Blesta

How to set your invoicing options in Blesta

Blesta allows you to set your own invoice and charge options.

To do this, first click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Then with the Company tab selected, click Billing/Payment.

Please note that any change here only applies to Client Groups that inherit their settings from the Company.

There are many invoice options you can configure from here.

You can set the number of days before renewal to create invoices…

… and the number of days before due date that Auto Debit occurs.

There are many other invoicing-related settings you can set, and what you choose will depend on exactly how you want to run your business.

When finished, click the Update Settings button.

That’s it! The invoicing options have been updated.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to update your invoicing settings in Blesta.

How to configure tax settings in Blesta

How to configure tax settings in Blesta

Tax rules can be setup in Blesta to automatically collect tax from clients when invoices are created.

To begin setting up your tax settings, click Settings…

Then with the Company tab selected, click Taxes.

Select Enable Tax to enable the tax system.

Select Cascade Tax if you want level 2 taxes to be applied to the subtotal plus any tax calculated from the level 1 tax. In other words, tax on tax.

Select Tax Setup Fees if you want setup fees taxed.

Select Tax Cancellation Fees if you want any cancellation fees to be taxed.

Finally, enter your Tax ID here if applicable.

Click Update Settings.

Next we have to setup our Tax Rules.

Click Tax Rules under Taxes in the left margin.

Now setup your tax rules, as per the local rules and regulations in your region.

When finished, click Create Rule.

That’s it! The tax rule has been successfully setup. Repeat this process for any additional regions you need to setup tax rules for.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to configure tax settings in Blesta.

How to configure payment gateways in Blesta

How to configure payment gateways in Blesta

Typically, merchant gateways require a merchant account and payment is all handled seamlessly through Blesta.

Non-merchant gateways usually do not require a merchant account, and payment is processed offsite on the gateway’s website.

Let’s learn how to install and configure a payment gateway. Click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Then with the Company tab selected, click Payment Gateways.

To use a gateway, it first must be installed. Click Available to see which ones are available for installing.

Here you can see a list of all available gateways, both merchant and non-merchant.

Let’s go ahead and install the Stripe gateway. Click Install.

Next, we need to configure the gateway. Enter your Stripe API key… you’ll need to refer to your Stripe account to get it.

Check this box if you wish to store your clients’ credit card information offsite.

Select the currencies you wish to accept, then click Update Settings.

That’s it! We’ve successfully installed and configured our Stripe payment gateway.

Repeat this process for any additional gateways you wish to setup.

Payment gateways are separated into two categories: Merchat and Non-Merchant.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to configure payment gateways in Blesta.

How to customize your invoices in Blesta

How to customize your invoices in Blesta

That’s it! The invoice template has been customized.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to customize the look and feel of your invoices in Blesta.

Blesta allows you to customize the look and feel of your invoices. Let’s learn how to do that now.

Click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Then with the Company tab selected, click Billing/Payment.

Click the Invoice Customization link.

The Basic Options section is where you can set the invoice format, start value, and increment value.

The Look and Feel section is where you can add your logo and background, as well as set the terms of the invoices.

When finished, click the

Update Settings button.

Finally at the bottom, you can choose which elements get displayed on your invoices… things like your logo, company name, a PAID watermark, etc.

How to configure your Payment Due Notices in Blesta

How to configure your Payment Due Notices in Blesta

That’s it! The Payment Due Notices have been configured.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to set and customize Payment Due Notices in Blesta.

Blesta allows you to setup automated invoice notices to be emailed to your clients before and after the invoice due dates.

Click the Settings link in the upper right corner.

Then with the Company tab selected, click Billing/Payment.

Click the Payment Due Notices link.

To enable the Payment Notices system, make sure the Allow Payment Notices to be Sent is checked.

Next, set the number of days before or after the due date, for each of up to 3 notices to be sent.

Then, edit the email template for each payment notice to suit your needs.

When finished editing, click Update Template.

You can also set the date for Auto-Debit notices to go out, and edit it’s email template as well.

When finished, click Update Settings.

How to add clients in Blesta

How to add clients in Blesta

Although clients will be created automatically when they order a service from you, there are times where you may want to manually setup a client in Blesta.

To do this, click Clients in the main menu.

Then click the + icon in the Clients section to add a new client.

Enter the contact information of the new client including name, address and email address.

Enter a phone number for the new client.

When finished, click the Create Client button.

Then enter a password so the client can login.

That’s it! The new client has been created.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to set up new clients in Blesta.

How to create packages in Blesta

How to create packages in Blesta

Packages are basically products or plans. Packages can appear on order forms and be ordered by clients, or added manually by staff.

An ordered package becomes a service, which may or may not recur, depending on the pricing option selected.

A recurring service results in recurring invoices being generated for the renewal period.

Click Packages in the main menu.

Then click Browse Packages.

To create a new package, click the + icon.

Enter a Package Name.

Enter a Description for the package.

If there were options to configure, you’d do that here.

Choose the module associated with this package. If unsure, choose Universal Module.

Choose the Module Options associated with this package.

Next you have to set the pricing, including the term and period the price is for.

Type the welcome email that you want your clients to receive when they purchase this package.

Select the Group you want this package to be part of.

When finished, click Create Package.

That’s it! The new package has been created.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to create new packages in Blesta.

How to create a service in Blesta

How to create a service in Blesta

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to add services to clients in Blesta.

That’s it! The service has been added to the client…

… and an invoice for the service has also been added.

Services are created from packages, and are billed at regular intervals. Some services collect and store information (username, etc.), and may integrate with remote services to perform various actions.

Services can be added directly to a client. Click Clients in the main menu.

Then select the client you wish to add a service to.

Click the Add Service link in the left margin.

Choose the service you wish to add, then click Continue.

In Basic Options you can choose whether or not to invoice for the service, set the term, and send a confirmation email.

Depending on the module you’ve configured for this package, you’ll see your own unique options here.

When finished entering your options, click Continue.

Review the service you’re adding, and the invoice amount, and then click Add Service.

How to create invoices in Blesta

How to create invoices in Blesta

Blesta creates invoices automatically for recurring services, but invoices and recurring invoices can also be created manually.

To do this, first click Clients in the main menu.

Then select the client you wish to add an invoice for.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to create invoices for clients.

Click the Create Invoice link in the left margin.

Now go ahead and enter line items for the invoice, and include descriptions, quantities and costs for each.

You can modify the billing date, due date, currency…

You can add as many line items as you wish… click the Add link to add another.

… and you can set the invoice up to recur automatically if you wish.

When finished, click Create.

That’s it! The invoice has been successfully created.

How to setup payment accounts in Blesta

How to setup payment accounts in Blesta

Clients can have their payment methods saved in their account. These are called Payment Accounts.

Payment Accounts can be saved when clients pay invoices, or you can manually enter a payment account for them.

Let’s learn how to do that. Click Clients in the main menu.

Then select the client you wish to add a payment account for.

Click Payment Accounts in the left margin.

You can create either an ACH account or a Credit Card account.

Simply fill in all the details for the ACH payment method, including bank account information… and when finished, click Create Account.

The same goes for adding a credit card payment account. Enter the credit card details, then click Create Account.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to setup payment accounts for your clients, in Blesta.

How to edit the email templates in Blesta

How to edit the email templates in Blesta

There are dozens of emails that Blesta can send out automatically, each having it’s own purpose.

These emails are organized into email templates, and each one is customizable so you can alter them to suit your business needs.

To access them, click Settings in the upper right corner…

Then with the Company tab selected, click Emails.

You’ll find all the email templates listed on this page, and each one is available to be edited.

Choose the email template you want to edit by clicking it.

You can edit the From Name, From Email and Subject…

… and you can edit the body of the email as well.

When finished with your edits, click the Update Template button.

That’s it! The email template has been successfully edited.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to edit the email templates in Blesta.

How to install Blesta via the web

How to install Blesta via the web

This demo assumes you have a Blesta license, and starts from their home page.

Now let’s learn how to download and install Blesta, using the Web Installation method.

Click the Download button to download the latest version of Blesta.

Next, you’ll want to upload the contents of the Blesta directory to your server.

In Windows, right click the downloaded Blesta zip file…

Then click Extract All and extract the contents.

Once the files are extracted, navigate to the extracted folder.

It is the contents of the blesta folder that you need to upload to your server, where you will be accessing Blesta.

Open your favourite File Transfer program… like FileZilla.

Now upload the contents of the blesta folder to your server.

In this case, we’ll install it in a folder called blestatest within public_html. Create the blestatest folder.

Then upload the contents of the blesta folder to the folder we just created.

Next we have to create a database that Blesta can be installed into.

From our control panel, click MySQL Databases.

Then create your new database, making sure to write down the database name.

Create a user for this database.

Then add the user you just created to the database you created.

Be sure to check All Privileges, then click Make Changes.

That’s it! The database is all setup, and we are now ready to continue with the installation.

For the Web Installation method, use your browser and navigate to the URL where you uploaded Blesta.

In our case, that’s:

http://www.demodemo.com/blestatest/

Click Continue with Installation.

Then click to agree to the terms and conditions.

Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements. If so, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your database information.

If you have a license key, enter it now… otherwise, click to start a free trial.

Then create your Staff account.

When ready, click Finish.

That’s it! Blesta has been successfully installed, and we’ve been logged in for the first time automatically.

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to install Blesta using the Web Installation method.