> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create and share a custom form

> Build a signup or survey page your team can share by link, QR code, or website embed—without asking customers to call the front desk.

## What you will accomplish

You will create a **custom form**: a simple web page where customers answer questions you choose (event interest, service waitlist, feedback, and more). When you are done, you will have a **shareable link** and a **Published** form ready for your website, email, or front desk.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Forms are not the same as campaigns or registration**
>
> A **campaign** sends a message **out** to customers. **Customer registration** is the built-in storage signup flow on your public website.
>
> Use **Forms** when you need a **custom question list** that is separate from your main storage registration page. For example, use a form for a car-show interest survey or a detail-service waitlist.

## When to use a custom form

* You want to collect answers from people who visit your website or open house, not only existing customers.
* You need a short survey (event interest, service waitlist, feedback after a visit).
* You want a link or QR code the front desk can hand out without building a full campaign email first.
* Your standard storage registration form does not ask the questions you need.

> [!NOTE]
>
> | If you need… | Use this guide | Use something else |
> | - | - | - |
> | Email or text many customers at once | — | [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign.md) |
> | Customers RSVP to an in-person event | — | [Create a social event](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-social-event.md) |
> | Ongoing posts inside the customer portal | — | [Manage community channels](/docs/marketing-events/manage-community-channels.md) |
> | See answers and download a spreadsheet | [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export.md) | — |

## Before you start

* You can open [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) from the dashboard sidebar.
* You know the questions you want to ask (keep the list short: five questions or fewer works best for most customers).
* You decided who may fill out the form: anyone with the link, signed-in customers only, or invite-only.

## Step 1: Open the Forms tab

**1. Open Marketing & Events**

From the dashboard sidebar, click **Marketing & Events**. You can also open [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) directly.

**Why this matters:** Forms live in the same Marketing & Events section as campaigns and community tools so your team can plan outreach in one place.

**2. Click Forms**

Near the top of the page, click the **Forms** tab. You can also open [Marketing & Events > Forms](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/forms) directly.

**Expected result:** You see the **Forms** heading, a **New form** button, and a list of forms your team has already created (or an empty state if this is your first form).

![Marketing and Events Forms tab showing a list of published custom forms with status badges](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/droZyI7iE1pSf0hh/images/marketing-events/marketing-forms-tab-fresh.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=droZyI7iE1pSf0hh\&q=85\&s=1bfcc89f4142c288cc078a8c956cbc0e)

*Click **Forms** at the top of Marketing & Events. Published forms show a status badge; drafts stay private until you turn on **Published**.*

## Step 2: Create a new form

**1. Click New form**

Click **New form** in the top-right area of the page.

**Expected result:** A window titled **New form** opens.

**2. Enter a form name**

In **Form name**, type a name your team will recognize later. Customers may see this title on the public page.

Good examples:

* **Cars & Coffee Interest Survey**
* **Detail Service Waitlist**
* **Open House Feedback**

**Why this matters:** A clear name helps you find the form again when responses start coming in.

**3. Click Create form**

Click **Create form** at the bottom of the window.

**Expected result:** The window closes and you land on the form editor for the form you just created.

![New form dialog with Form name field filled in and Create form button](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/droZyI7iE1pSf0hh/images/marketing-events/forms-new-form-dialog.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=droZyI7iE1pSf0hh\&q=85\&s=edb70121bd5f1ded096d8a13280ac8d8)

*Give the form a clear name before you add questions. You can change the name later on the Settings tab.*

## Step 3: Add your questions

The editor opens on the **Questions** tab. Everything saves automatically as you type. You do not need a separate **Save** button.

**1. Review the Questions tab**

Make sure **Questions** is selected near the top of the editor.

**Expected result:** You see a list of question cards (or one empty card ready for your first question).

**2. Add a question**

Click **Add question** to add a new short-text question. Open the question card and use **Answer type** to choose the type you need:

* **Short text** — one-line answers (name, car model).
* **Long text** — paragraphs (comments, special requests).
* **Number** — counts (how many vehicles you store).
* **Single choice** — pick one option from a list.
* **Multiple choice** — pick more than one option.
* **Vehicle** — collect make, model, year, VIN, insurance, and related details. When the submission is linked to a customer, a car is created automatically.
* **Contacts** — collect additional contacts (spouse, bookkeeper, etc.) and add them to the customer record.
* **Documents** — upload files such as registration, insurance, or license; they are saved to the customer (and linked to the new car when the form also includes a Vehicle block).

**Why this matters:** Matching the question type to the answer keeps responses easy to read later. Use Vehicle + Documents when you want to replace a paper vehicle information sheet.

**3. Write the question label**

Click a question card to expand it. Type the **Question**: the words customers see above the answer box.

Example: **Which events interest you most?**

**4. Mark required questions**

Turn on **Required** for questions customers must answer before they can submit.

**Expected result:** Required questions show a marker on the public form.

**5. Reorder if needed**

Drag the handle on the left side of a question card to move it up or down.

**Why this matters:** Put the easiest questions first so customers are more likely to finish the form.

![Form editor Questions tab showing multiple question cards with Published toggle on](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/droZyI7iE1pSf0hh/images/marketing-events/forms-builder-questions.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=droZyI7iE1pSf0hh\&q=85\&s=6ef26822b124f65a53bfd755018eb287)

*Add questions on the Questions tab. Drag to reorder. Turn on Published in the top-right when the form is ready to share.*

> [!TIP]
>
> **Preview before you publish**
>
> Click the **Preview** tab at any time to see the form exactly as customers will see it, without leaving the editor.

## Step 4: Set who can fill out the form

**1. Open the Settings tab**

Click **Settings** near the top of the form editor.

**2. Add a short description (optional)**

In **Description**, explain what the form is for. Example: *Tell us which events you would like to attend this season.*

**Expected result:** The description appears under the form title on the public page.

**3. Choose who can fill out this form**

In **Who can fill out this form**, pick one option:

* **Anyone with the link** — best for website visitors and open-house guests.
* **Signed-in customers only** — only people logged into your customer portal.
* **Invite link only** — only people who have your special invite link (shown in **Advanced** settings).

**Why this matters:** Public forms are great for lead capture. Customer-only forms are better for surveys that should not be filled out by strangers.

![Form editor Settings tab showing name, description, and who can fill out this form dropdown](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/droZyI7iE1pSf0hh/images/marketing-events/forms-builder-settings.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=droZyI7iE1pSf0hh\&q=85\&s=20fd32d85fc1a879457773f02edc4da4)

*On Settings, choose who may submit the form. Most event-interest and waitlist forms use Anyone with the link.*

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Contact details and Advanced options**
>
> On the **Questions** tab, turn on **Name**, **Email**, and **Phone number** under Contact details when you want anonymous visitors to leave contact info. Signed-in customers are filled in automatically.
>
> Open **Advanced** on the Settings tab when you need a custom success message, a close date, a response limit, logo display, or related options.
>
> **When to use Advanced:**
>
> * **Close date** — stop accepting answers after your event signup period ends.
> * **Response limit** — cap how many people can submit (useful for waitlists with a fixed number of spots).
> * **Success message** — show a custom thank-you line after someone submits (for example, "Thanks! We will email you before the next Cars & Coffee.").
> * **Show logo** — display your team logo at the top of the public form, with size and alignment controls.

## Step 5: Publish and share the link

**1. Turn on Published**

Near the top-right of the form editor, flip the **Published** switch to **on**.

**Expected result:** The badge changes from **Draft** to **Published**. Only published forms accept new responses.

**2. Open the share menu**

Click **Share** (or the share icon) next to the Published switch.

From the menu you can:

* **Copy link** — paste into email, text, or your website.
* **Open link** — see the live public page in a new tab.
* **QR code** — download a QR image for posters or the front desk.

**Why this matters:** Customers need the public link, not the dashboard editor URL.

**3. Add a website embed (optional)**

From the **Share** menu, look for an **embed** or **website** option when your team wants the form on your facility website.

**Why this matters:** Visitors can answer questions without leaving your site. You still review answers on the **Results** page in the dashboard.

**Expected result:** You copy a small code snippet for your web person, or follow your facility's website guide at [Add a website embed](/docs/facility-web-pages/add-a-website-embed.md).

**4. Test the form yourself**

Open the public link in a new browser tab. Answer every required question and submit once.

**Expected result:** You see your **success message** (or a thank-you screen). When you return to the Forms list or open Results, the test response appears there.

![Public custom form page showing form title, description, question fields, and Submit button](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/droZyI7iE1pSf0hh/images/marketing-events/forms-public-page.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=droZyI7iE1pSf0hh\&q=85\&s=f3d768dbe7afaf054c90ac74ae3d4d42)

*This is what customers see at your public form link. Test it on a phone before you share it widely.*

![Form editor Preview tab showing the customer-facing form layout inside the dashboard](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/droZyI7iE1pSf0hh/images/marketing-events/forms-builder-preview.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=droZyI7iE1pSf0hh\&q=85\&s=2b1ada39bd92567e273b30495e0f91a0)

*Use Preview in the editor for a quick check. Always test the real public link once before sharing it with customers.*

## What success looks like

* The form shows **Published** on the [Forms](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/forms) list.
* You can open the public link without signing in (when visibility is **Anyone with the link**).
* A test submission appears on the **Results** page.
* Your team knows where to find answers: [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export.md).

## Remove a form you no longer need

**1. Open the Forms list**

Go to [Marketing & Events > Forms](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/forms).

**2. Open the row menu**

Find the form row. Click the three-dot menu (**⋯**) on the right side of the row.

**3. Choose Delete**

Click **Delete** and confirm when the app asks.

**Why this matters:** Deleting removes the form from your list. Export responses first with [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export.md) if you still need the answers.

**Expected result:** The form no longer appears on the Forms tab. The public link stops accepting new responses.

## Recipe: replace a paper vehicle information sheet

Use this when a signed-in customer should add another car (plus insurance details and docs) without filling a PDF.

**1. Create a customers-only form**

Set **Who can fill out this form** to **Signed-in customers only** so the submitter is already a contact in your CRM.

**2. Add a Vehicle block**

Add a question with answer type **Vehicle**. Click **Use vehicle sheet preset** to turn on license plate, registration, insurance, mileage, fair market value, intake date, and special instructions, matching a typical paper sheet.

**3. Add Documents (optional)**

Add a **Documents** block and select types such as registration, insurance, and license. Uploaded files are saved on the customer and linked to the new car.

**4. Add additional contacts (optional)**

Add a **Contacts** block if the sheet also collects a spouse or other related contact.

**5. Publish and share**

Publish the form and share the link or QR from the customer portal or front desk. On submit, the car (and contacts/documents) are created on that customer automatically.

## Common mistakes to avoid

* Do not share the dashboard editor link. Customers cannot use it. Copy the **public** link from **Share**.
* Do not leave the form in **Draft** and wonder why no one can submit answers.
* Do not add twenty questions. Shorter forms get more completed responses.
* Do not forget to tell the front desk which form link to use for each event or promotion.

## Troubleshooting

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Customers say the form will not submit**
>
> Check that the form is still **Published** and not **Closed**. Open **Settings > Advanced** and confirm the close date has not passed and the response limit is not full.

> [!WARNING]
>
> **I do not see the Forms tab**
>
> Your account may need marketing access. Ask a facility owner to review your role in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team).

> [!TIP]
>
> **Signed-in customers only, but a visitor cannot open the form**
>
> That is expected. Change **Who can fill out this form** to **Anyone with the link** on the **Settings** tab, or send the customer a portal invite from [Contacts](/docs/contacts/invite-a-customer-to-the-portal.md).

## What to do next

1. [Review form responses and export](/docs/marketing-events/review-form-responses-and-export.md) — read answers, view charts, and download a CSV.
2. [Embed a custom form on your website](/docs/marketing-events/embed-a-custom-form-on-your-website.md) — show the same form on your public facility page.
3. [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign.md) — email customers who should fill out the form.
4. [Marketing & Events overview](/docs/marketing-events/overview.md) — see how forms fit with campaigns, events, and community.


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