# Starting a form (/docs/features/starting-a-form)



You can start a form from **New form**, **Templates**, **Overview**, or a public form landing page.

## Start points [#start-points]

| Start point      | Best for                                                                                                                                 |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **New form**     | Quick start from recommended or recent templates                                                                                         |
| **Templates**    | Search, filter by state, trade, category, or visibility, and browse public forms plus any private forms enabled for the active workspace |
| **Overview**     | Resume recent work or start recommended forms                                                                                            |
| Public form page | Start a template from the marketing site                                                                                                 |

Use **Search** in the sidebar when you know the form or app page you need. It can find templates, app pages, actions, and PDF tools.

## What happens by plan [#what-happens-by-plan]

| Situation                | Save behaviour                               |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- |
| Guest on public template | Local draft in this browser only             |
| Free signed-in user      | Local draft in this browser only             |
| Solo personal workspace  | Cloud draft in your account                  |
| Team workspace selected  | Cloud draft in the business workspace        |
| Private template         | Requires sign-in and access to that template |

Local drafts can be found on the same device for up to 24 hours per form. Cloud drafts appear under [**Drafts**](https://tradieforms.com.au/app/drafts) and sync while cloud autosave is enabled.

## Recommended templates [#recommended-templates]

Tradie Forms uses your state, trade, and recent templates to put likely forms first. If your profile has no matching template yet, the app shows popular forms and a **Request a template** prompt.

You can update your state and trade in [**Settings**](https://tradieforms.com.au/app/settings).

## Start fresh [#start-fresh]

If the app finds an old local draft for the same template, choose **Start fresh** to begin a new form. Choose resume when you want to keep the existing browser draft.

## Private and custom forms [#private-and-custom-forms]

Private forms are visible only after Tradie Forms enables them for your personal account or team. They require Solo or Team because they use cloud drafts.

Private templates do not appear in the public library or public docs. If one is enabled for you, it appears in **Templates** while the correct personal or team workspace is active.

There are currently no private templates listed in the public docs. Private form access is handled inside the app for the account or team that requested the form.

<Card title="Custom forms" icon="hugeicons:file-plus" href="/docs/features/custom-forms">
  Request a shared form or a private form for your business.
</Card>