> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.pivotal.app/llms.txt.
> For full documentation content, see https://docs.pivotal.app/llms-full.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.pivotal.app/_mcp/server.

# Add a customer

You add a Customer record before you start an onboarding, run reports against them, or invite their contacts to the portal. Pivotal gives you three entry points: the in-app form, the REST API, and a one-way sync from HubSpot or Stripe. Pick whichever fits your team's workflow.

## Add one from the UI

1. Open **Customers** in the left nav and click **+ Customer** in the top bar. A right-side drawer opens.
2. Fill the four primary fields:
   * **Name** (required). The display name everywhere in the app.
   * **Domain**. The customer's primary domain, no `https://`. Pivotal uses this to auto-link new contacts when their email matches.
   * **Owner**. The CSM who runs this account. Defaults to you. Drives the Workbench "My customers" filter.
   * **Plan**. Free-form string today. Reports group on this.
3. Expand **More** to set custom fields and tags. Skip what you don't have yet, since every field stays editable later.
4. Click **Create**. The drawer closes and the new customer opens at `/customers/<display_id>`.

## Add one via API

```bash
POST /v1/customers
{
  "name": "Acme Co",
  "domain": "acme.com",
  "owner_id": "usr_8f3...",
  "plan": "Growth"
}
```

The response includes both the opaque `id` (use this in subsequent API calls) and the numeric `display_id` (use this when sharing URLs with teammates). See the [first customer guide](/api/guides/first-customer).

## CRM-created customers

When [HubSpot](/product/integrations/connect-hubspot) or [Stripe](/product/integrations/connect-stripe) is connected, Pivotal creates a Customer the first time a deal closes or a subscription starts. Owner, plan, and domain come from the source system through the rules you set in [field mapping](/product/integrations/field-mapping). The first sync runs within a minute of connecting, so you'll see the backfill of existing accounts in the Customers list shortly after. If you want to control which accounts come over, set up the source-side filter before connecting since the backfill obeys whatever filter is in place at sync time.

## Watch for duplicate domains

Pivotal does not enforce a unique domain. If your CRM sync creates `acme.com` and someone also types `Acme Co` manually, you end up with two records that look the same. The Customers list shows a small `2` badge next to the domain when this happens. Open both, decide which has the cleaner history, then archive the loser. Archived customers keep their history and stop appearing in lists and reports.

## Related

* [Edit customer details](/product/customers/edit-customer-details)
* [Add contacts](/product/customers/add-contacts)
* [Connect HubSpot](/product/integrations/connect-hubspot)

Email **[help@pivotal.app](mailto:help@pivotal.app)** with a screenshot of where you got stuck and the customer or onboarding id from the URL.