Quick Start Guide for Agencies
Written By Carrott Support
Last updated 21 days ago
Welcome to Carrott! This guide will walk you through setting up your agency, creating sellable tiers, building loyalty cards, and onboarding your first subaccount to start generating revenue.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Step 1: Create Your Pricing Tiers
Step 2: Build Your First Card Template
Step 3: Set Up Geo Locations
Step 4: Master Broadcast Messaging
Step 5: Onboard Your First Subaccount
Step 6: Monitor Revenue & Profit
Pro Tips & Best Practice
Getting Started
Your 14-Day Free Trial
When you sign up, you get full access to all features for 14 days with no credit card required. This gives you time to:
Set up your agency profile
Create card templates
Configure pricing tiers
Onboard subaccounts
After your trial, you will need to subscribe to a platform plan to continue using Carrott.
Connect Your Stripe Account (Recommended)
To collect payments from subaccounts automatically:
Go to Settings β Billing
Click Connect Stripe Account
Complete the Stripe Connect onboarding
Once connected, all subaccount payments will flow directly to your Stripe account (minus platform fees)
Pro Tip: Even without Stripe, you can use Manual billing and invoice subaccounts yourself. There is a manually-billing charge applied per active subaccount. Ask support for details.
Step 1: Create Your Pricing Tiers
Pricing tiers are subscription packages you will sell to subaccounts. Each tier defines what features and limits subaccounts get.
Navigate to Manage Plans
From your agency dashboard, click Manage Plans in the sidebar
You will see your current platform tier (what you are paying us)
Click Create Tier to build a package for your subaccounts
Configure Your Tier
Basic Settings
Tier Name: Give it a memorable name (e.g., Starter, Professional, Enterprise)
Description: Explain what is included (helps subaccounts choose)
Billing Type:
Stripe: Automatic billing (requires Stripe Connect)
Manual: You invoice subaccounts manually
Pricing
Monthly Price: What subaccounts pay per month
Yearly Price: Optional discount for annual commitment
Compare-At Price: Show a was price for promotional effect
Currency: Set the billing currency
Feature Limits
Configure what subaccounts can do:
Max Card Templates: How many different loyalty cards they can create
Max Team Members: Staff accounts per subaccount
Max Customers: Total customers they can have
Max Active Cards: Total active loyalty cards across all templates
Save Your Tier
Once saved, your tier appears in the subaccount creation flow. Subaccounts can subscribe to it immediately.
Example Tiers:
Starter ($29/month): 2 card templates, 1,000 customers
Professional ($79/month): 10 card templates, 10,000 customers
Enterprise ($199/month): Unlimited cards, unlimited customers
Step 2: Build Your First Card Template
Card templates define how loyalty cards look and work. You will create these for subaccounts, or they can create their own (depending on your tier limits).
Navigate to Cards
Select a subaccount from your account selector (top left)
Click Cards in the sidebar
Click Create New Card
Tab 1: Card Identity
Template Name: Internal name (subaccounts see this)
Customer-Facing Name: What customers see on their phone
Description: Optional details about the card
Tab 2: Design
Customize the visual appearance:
Background Color: Card background (hex color)
Foreground Color: Text color
Label Color: Accent color for labels
Logo: Your client's logo (displayed on the card)
Icon: Small icon for the pass
Strip Image: Banner image at top of card
Stamp Images: Custom graphics for stamp cards (if using stamps)
Tip: Use your client's brand colors for a professional look.
Tab 3: Reward Mechanics
Choose how customers earn rewards:
Stamp Cards (most popular):
Manual: Staff manually award stamps
Coupon Cards:
Percentage Discount: e.g., 20% off your purchase
Fixed Amount: e.g., $10 off orders over $50
Configure:
Number of stamps needed for reward
Reward description (what they get)
Expiration rules (optional)
Tab 4: Signup Form
Customize what information customers provide when joining:
Name (required)
Email (required)
Phone number
Birthdate (great for birthday promotions)
Custom fields (e.g., Favorite product)
Drag fields to reorder them. Toggle required/optional for each.
Tab 5: Display Fields
Choose what appears on Apple/Google Wallet passes:
Card name
Customer name
Points/stamps balance
Expiration date
Barcode/QR code
Tab 6: Advanced
Expiration: Set card expiration date
Relevant Dates: Show specific dates on the pass
Publish Your Card
Click Save & Publish to make the card live. Customers can now add it to their Apple/Google Wallet!
Step 3: Set Up Geo Locations
Geo locations enable location-based notifications when customers are near your client's business.
Navigate to Locations
Within a subaccount, click Locations in the sidebar
Click Add Location
Add a Location
Search Address: Start typing the business address
Select from autocomplete: Choose the correct address
Set Radius: Choose geofence radius (1-100 meters)
Smaller radius = more precise, but harder to trigger
Default 100m works well for most businesses
Save Location
Assign to Card Templates
Go to Cards and edit a template
In the Locations section, click Assign Location
Select the location you just added
Add Relevant Text: Custom message shown on the lock screen (e.g., You are near Joe's Coffee! Get your 10th coffee free)
Save the card template
How It Works
When customers with your card in their Apple Wallet come within the radius:
They get a lock screen notification
The card appears on their lock screen
No app required!
Best Practice: Add all business locations for maximum engagement.
Step 4: Master Broadcast Messaging
Broadcasts let you send push notifications to all customers with your loyalty card. Perfect for promotions, updates, or reminders.
Navigate to Broadcasts
Within a subaccount, click Broadcast in the sidebar
Create a Broadcast
Select Card Template: Choose which card's customers to reach
Compose Message:
Title: Short, attention-grabbing (max 30 chars)
Body: Main message (max 200 chars)
Preview: See how it looks on Apple/Google Wallet
Estimated Reach: See how many customers will receive it
Delivery Options
Send Now:
Immediate delivery
Great for time-sensitive promotions
Schedule:
Choose future date/time
Perfect for planning campaigns
Can cancel before send time
Safety Checks
Before sending, the system checks:
You have admin permissions
Card template is published
Customers have added cards to their wallets
Rate limits not exceeded (prevents spam)
View Results
After sending, track:
Delivery status (sent, failed, scheduled)
Number of customers reached
Send date/time
Cancel scheduled broadcasts if needed
Pro Tip: Use broadcasts sparingly (1-2x per week max) to avoid customer fatigue. Best for: flash sales, new product announcements, we miss you win-back campaigns.
Step 5: Onboard Your First Subaccount
Now that you have tiers and card templates, it is time to onboard paying customers (subaccounts).
Create a Subaccount
Go to Subaccounts in your agency sidebar
Click Create Subaccount
Fill in business details:
Business name
Email address
Phone number
Currency
Create Admin User
Every subaccount needs an admin who can log in and manage their cards:
Name: Admin's full name
Email: Login email
Password: Secure password (they can change later)
This person will receive the login credentials and can add additional team members.
Assign a Tier
Required: Select one of the tiers you created in Step 1.
The subaccount will be subscribed to this tier
Billing begins based on your tier's settings
They get all the features/limits defined in the tier
Set Custom Pricing (Optional)
Override the tier's default pricing for this specific subaccount:
Useful for negotiated deals
Set unique monthly/yearly amounts
Great for enterprise clients with custom needs
Assign to Franchise (Optional)
If your tier supports franchise mode:
Assign to an existing franchise group
Or leave blank for independent subaccount
Complete Onboarding
Click Create and:
Subaccount is created
Admin user gets an account
Subscription is activated (Stripe billing starts immediately)
They can log in and start creating cards
Success Tip: Send the admin user a welcome email with their login credentials and a link to your support documentation.
Step 6: Monitor Revenue & Profit
Track your agency's financial performance in real-time.
Agency Dashboard
Go to your agency dashboard to see:
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
Total monthly revenue from all subaccounts
Real-time updates as subscriptions change
Tier Breakdown
Revenue per tier (Starter, Professional, etc.)
See which tiers are most popular
Identify upsell opportunities
Subscription Status
Active subscriptions
Trialing subaccounts (still in their trial)
Past due (payment issues - follow up!)
Churned (canceled subscriptions)
Resource Usage
Total cards created across all subaccounts
Total customers enrolled
Active loyalty cards in circulation
Revenue Calculation
Your Profit = Subaccount Revenue - Platform Fees
If your Stripe Connect is set up:
Subaccount pays: $79/month
Platform fee: 3% ($2.37)
You receive: $76.63/month
Growing Your Revenue
Upsell Existing Subaccounts: Move them to higher tiers with more features
Add More Subaccounts: The more clients, the more recurring revenue
Create Premium Tiers: Higher-priced tiers with exclusive features
Reduce Churn: Keep subaccounts engaged with great support and features
Pro Tips & Best Practices
Card Design
Keep it simple: Do not overcrowd the card
Use brand colors: Match your client's branding
Test on real devices: Preview on iPhone and Android
Clear reward description: Customers should instantly understand what they get
Pricing Strategy
Start competitive: Attract early adopters with lower prices
Value-based pricing: Charge based on value delivered (customers acquired, retention rates)
Annual discounts: Offer 2 months free for yearly prepay to improve cash flow
Custom enterprise deals: Negotiate high-value contracts individually
Location Strategy
Add all locations: More locations = more opportunities for engagement
Relevant text matters: Make lock screen messages compelling
Do not spam: Keep geofence radius reasonable (100m default)
Broadcast Best Practices
Segment when possible: Target specific card types or locations
Clear call-to-action: Tell customers exactly what to do
Perfect timing: Send during business hours for best engagement
Track results: Monitor which broadcasts drive redemptions
Subaccount Success
Provide training: Help subaccounts get the most from the platform
Share templates: Create proven card templates they can customize
Regular check-ins: Monthly calls to review performance
Success metrics: Track stamps issued, rewards redeemed, customer growth
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Do not set limits too low: Subaccounts will hit caps and get frustrated
Keep tier differences clear: Make upgrading attractive
Monitor past-due accounts: Follow up quickly on payment issues
Test card flows: Before launching, test the full customer journey
Support & Resources
Documentation: Access help articles from the sidebar
Support: Contact us for technical issues or questions
Feature requests: We love hearing what you need
Quick Reference Checklist
Week 1: Setup
Sign up and complete agency profile
Connect Stripe account (optional but recommended)
Create 2-3 pricing tiers
Build 1-2 card template examples
Week 2: Templates & Locations
Create card templates for different industries (coffee, retail, salon)
Add location examples
Test broadcast messaging
Document your offerings
Week 3: Sales & Onboarding
Create pricing sheet for prospects
Onboard first subaccount
Train subaccount admin
Set up support process
Week 4: Growth
Review dashboard metrics
Optimize pricing if needed
Plan marketing campaign
Onboard 2-3 more subaccounts
Need Help?
We are here to support your success:
In-app chat: Click the help icon in the bottom right
Documentation: Visit our help center from the sidebar
Ready to build your loyalty card empire? Let us get started!
Last updated: January 2026