Crank help center / product guides
Find the exact step that keeps the request moving.
Learn how to set up your workspace, manage clients, create document requests, review uploads, reply to questions, and deliver approved files.
Getting Started
4 guidesStart here: how CrankHQ works
A plain-language overview of the main CrankHQ workflow.
Set up your workspace
Complete the initial workspace setup before sending your first client request.
Read the month-end close dashboard
Understand the dashboard cards and follow-up sections.
Choose a storage preference during workspace setup
Understand the storage choice shown during initial workspace setup.
Clients
4 guidesAdd a client
Create a client record before sending document requests or accepting secure drop-off uploads.
Import clients from CSV
Use the built-in CSV template to create clients and primary contacts in bulk.
Add and manage client contacts
Add people who can receive and respond to document requests for a client.
Review secure drop-off uploads
Accept, download, delete, or sync files uploaded through secure document drop-off.
Templates
1 guideRequests
19 guidesCreate a document request
Create a checklist for the documents, answers, and confirmations you need from a client.
Send or resend a request
Email the client a secure request link and activate the client portal.
Track and filter requests
Use the Requests page to find requests, monitor progress, and open the right client follow-up.
Review client submissions
Download, approve, or reject files and notes submitted through a request.
Edit, complete, cancel, or delete a request
Update a request while it is active, then complete or cancel it when appropriate.
Automate recurring client requests
Create recurring requests from a template for multiple clients on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly schedule.
Manage, pause, or run a request automation
Edit an automation, run it immediately, pause future requests, or resolve a client schedule that needs attention.
Customize automated request titles and messages
Personalize recurring requests with client and reporting-period placeholders.
How request links work
Understand the secure request link clients use to upload documents.
How reminders work
Learn when CrankHQ sends reminder emails for open requests.
What each request status means
Understand Draft, Sent, In Progress, Completed, and Cancelled requests.
What each item status means
Understand Missing, Submitted, Approved, and Rejected checklist items.
Required and optional requested items
Know how required and optional checklist items appear to your team.
Approve or reject a request item
Review individual request items after a client submits files or notes.
Download files from a request
Download files uploaded to requested items.
Mark a request complete
Close a request when your firm has what it needs.
Cancel a request
Stop an open request from being treated as active.
Delete a request
Remove a draft or cancelled request from the workspace.
Use Portal preview before sending a request
Review the client-facing request page before or after sending.
Client portal
5 guidesUse the client portal
Understand what clients see when they open a secure request link.
Use secure document drop-off
Let clients upload general files securely without attaching them to a specific request first.
Supported upload file types and limits
See which files clients can upload through request links and secure drop-off.
Leave a note instead of uploading a file
Clients can respond to a request item with a note when they do not have the file yet.
Replace or update a client upload on a request
Explain how the portal upload button behaves after a client has already submitted a file.
Inbox
1 guideIntegrations
2 guidesWorkspace
8 guidesManage workspace members
Invite teammates, change roles, and cancel pending invitations.
Rename your workspace
How workspace owners or admins change the workspace name.
Change a workspace member role
Update a member’s role from the Workspace settings page.
Cancel a pending workspace invitation
Cancel an invitation that has not been accepted yet.
Remove a workspace member
Remove a non-owner member from the workspace.
Invite expiration and pending invitations
Know how long invitations last and what pending invitations mean.
Workspace roles and permissions
Understand what Owner, Administrator, Manager, Bookkeeper, and Viewer mean in CrankHQ.
Accept or decline a workspace invitation
Help invited users choose the correct path after sign-in.
Client Portal
4 guidesWhat your client sees on a request page
A client-facing overview of the secure document request page.
When clients can no longer upload to a request
Understand when upload and note actions are hidden from clients.
Client guide: upload a requested file
Instructions clients can follow to upload a file on a request.
Client guide: leave a note on a requested item
Instructions clients can follow when they do not have a requested file.
Client Uploads
3 guidesClient guide: request a secure drop-off link
How clients request access to the secure document drop-off page.
Client guide: upload files through secure document drop-off
How clients upload general documents outside a specific request.
Review new secure drop-off uploads
What your team sees when clients upload through secure drop-off.
Messages
2 guidesAccount
6 guidesManage passkeys for passwordless sign-in
Add or remove passkeys from Security settings when passkeys are enabled.
Enable or disable two-factor authentication
Manage 2FA from the Security settings page.
Delete your account
Delete your user account from Profile settings.
Update your profile
Change your name or email address from Profile settings.
Update your password and sign-in security
Change your password and manage security options.
Change the app appearance
Adjust the visual theme from Appearance settings.
Storage
8 guidesUnderstand storage provider statuses
What Not connected, Needs folder, Ready, Default, and Coming soon mean.
Choose or change a storage export location
Set the root location CrankHQ uses for exported request packets.
Understand request export statuses
What the export box on a request is telling you.
Use Google Drive when it is available
How Google Drive appears in storage settings when configured.
Configure Zoho WorkDrive storage
Connect Zoho WorkDrive and choose where completed request packets should export.
Configure Dropbox storage
Connect Dropbox and choose the folder CrankHQ should use for exports.
Configure S3 storage
Add S3-compatible storage credentials for request exports.
Make a storage provider the default
Choose which configured storage provider receives exports.
Troubleshooting
2 guidesBilling
4 guidesWhat Stripe manages for billing
Understand what happens when you open the Stripe billing portal.
Understand seats and included storage
How the Billing page explains workspace seats and storage.
Manage billing
Understand the billing page, plans, seats, and Stripe portal.
Trial and billing access
Understand what happens when a workspace is on trial or no longer has billing access.
Client uploads
3 guidesAccept secure drop-off uploads
Review files uploaded through secure document drop-off and mark them accepted.
Sync accepted secure drop-off uploads
Send accepted drop-off files to the default storage provider.
Delete a secure drop-off upload
Remove a client drop-off upload and its stored files.