---
title: "Laying the Groundwork: Project Creation in OneSuite"
description: Creating a project sets up the space where your team plans tasks, shares files and tracks time for a piece of work. A clear setup at the start decides who can see the project, which client it belongs to and…
url: "https://help.onesuite.io/docs/project-creation/"
updated: "2026-10-01"
category: OneSuite Project Management
---

# Laying the Groundwork: Project Creation in OneSuite

Creating a project sets up the space where your team plans tasks, shares files and tracks time for a piece of work. A clear setup at the start decides who can see the project, which client it belongs to and which views your team works in.

**In this guide you'll learn how to:**

- Create a new project from the Projects page
- Link the project to a client
- Choose who can see the project
- Pick the views your project uses
- Start a project from a template

## Before you start

- You need permission to create projects. Without it, the **Create** button does not show.
- If you don't see **Projects** in the sidebar, an admin can switch it on in **Settings**, **Customize Navigation**. Open **Settings** from the account menu: click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then **Settings**.
- To link a client, the client can already exist in **Clients**, or you can add one from the drawer. See [Adding Clients](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/adding-clients/).

## How to create a project

You create a project by clicking **Create** on the Projects page and filling in the **Create Project** drawer.

1. Click **Projects** in the sidebar, under **Organize**.
2. Click **Create** in the page header.
3. Enter the **Project Name**.
4. Optional: pick a client under **Client (optional)**.
5. Choose **Private** or **Public** under **Privacy**.
6. Set the **Status**.
7. Under **Choose view for your project**, untick any view your team won't use.
8. Optional: pick a template under **Use a project template for quick start**.
9. Click **Create Project**.

![Create Project drawer with Project Name filled in, a client selected, Public chosen and all seven views ticked](https://help.onesuite.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/project-creation-1.webp)

## Create Project fields

| Field | Required | Options and notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Project Name** | Yes | Placeholder **Enter project name**. |
| **Client (optional)** | No | Search your clients or choose **No client**. Click **Add Client** to create a client without leaving the drawer. |
| **Privacy** | Yes | **Public** (the default) or **Private**. |
| **Status** | Yes | **Working** (the default), **Completed**, **Archived** or **Paused**. |
| **Choose view for your project** | At least one | **Overview**, **Board**, **List**, **Calendar**, **Files**, **Timesheet**, **Billing**. All start ticked. |
| **Use a project template for quick start** | No | Pre-fills sections and tasks. Leave it empty for a blank project. |
| **Project timeline** | Only with some templates | **Start date** and **Due date**. Appears once you pick a template. |

## Who can see a private or public project?

A **Public** project is open to every team member in your business, and a **Private** project is open only to you and the project's collaborators.

The drawer explains each option in a tooltip:

- **Private:** "Only you & collaborators can access"
- **Public:** "All the team members of your business can access"

## Which views should your project have?

Each view becomes a tab on the project, so tick only the ones your team will use.

| View | What it is for |
| --- | --- |
| **Overview** | Project summary and status |
| **Board** | Drag-and-drop task flow |
| **List** | Detailed task breakdown |
| **Calendar** | Calendar view |
| **Files** | All project documents |
| **Timesheet** | Log and manage work hours |
| **Billing** | Rates, budget and fees |

You must keep at least one view. If you untick them all, OneSuite shows **Please select at least one view** and does not create the project.

Rates, budgets, fees and invoice settings live on the **Billing** view. See [How to Set Up Project Billing and Budgets](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/how-to-set-up-project-billing-and-budgets/).

## How to start a project from a template

You start from a template by picking one under **Use a project template for quick start**, which pre-fills the project's sections and tasks.

1. In the **Create Project** drawer, open the template picker under **Use a project template for quick start**.
2. Pick a template. Once it is selected, a template you saved yourself shows a **Custom** badge.
3. If a **Project timeline** section appears, set the **Start date** and **Due date**. They set when the template's tasks are scheduled.
4. Click **Create Project**.

Some templates schedule tasks relative to the project start or due date. For those, the dates are required, and OneSuite stops with one of these messages if something is missing:

- **Please set a project start date for this template**
- **Please set a project due date for this template**
- **Due date cannot be earlier than start date**

To browse every template first, click **See all templates**. To build a new one, open the picker and choose **Create Project Template**. See [Project Templates](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/project-templates/).

## How to change a project after you create it

You change a project's name, client, privacy or views by choosing **Edit** from the project's row menu, which opens the same drawer titled **Update Project**.

1. Click **Projects** in the sidebar.
2. Open the menu on the project's row and click **Edit**.
3. Change the fields you need.
4. Click **Update Project**.

If you remove the linked client, the drawer warns you that the client's people are also removed from the project, along with their project rates and task assignments.

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## FAQs

### How do I create a new project in OneSuite?

Click **Projects** in the sidebar, click **Create**, enter a **Project Name** and click **Create Project**. Every other field is optional or has a default.

### Do I have to link a project to a client?

No. **Client (optional)** can stay empty for internal work. You can link a client later by editing the project.

### Why does OneSuite ask for a start date and due date when I pick a template?

The template schedules some tasks relative to the project start or due date, so OneSuite needs those dates to place them. A blank project, or a template without date-based tasks, does not need them.

### Where do I set the project budget and rates?

On the project's **Billing** view, not in the create drawer. Keep **Billing** ticked under **Choose view for your project**, then follow [How to Set Up Project Billing and Budgets](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/how-to-set-up-project-billing-and-budgets/).

### Can I just use a shared to-do list instead of a project?

A shared list works for a handful of tasks. A project also ties the work to a client, keeps its files in one place, and records the time and costs you later bill on an invoice.

## What to do next

**Set up billing:** Choose rates, a budget and alerts in [How to Set Up Project Billing and Budgets](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/how-to-set-up-project-billing-and-budgets/).

**Save time on the next one:** Reuse your project structure with [Project Templates](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/project-templates/).

**Plan the work:** Add sections and tasks with [Managing Project Boards in OneSuite](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/managing-project-boards/).