## Quick start
URL: https://hub.jkdevstudio.com/knowledge-base/quick-start/quick-start
Updated: 2026-09-15
Summary: Go from purchase to a working site in seven steps, and see how the theme, Pro plugin, JKD Toolkit, integrations and Hub account fit together.
This is the shortest route from buying a jkdevstudio theme to a working site, plus a short map of how the pieces fit together. Work through the steps in order. If one goes wrong, open the article linked from it, where the same step is covered in full.
## From purchase to a running site
:::steps
### Buy the theme and sign in to Hub
Buy directly from [jkdevstudio.com](https://jkdevstudio.com/themes/), and your license, downloads and support live in your [Hub account](https://hub.jkdevstudio.com/login). New to Hub? [Register](https://hub.jkdevstudio.com/register) with the email address you buy with, and the purchase attaches to that account. Bought on ThemeForest? Connect that purchase to Hub the same way, see [Where to buy and download a jkdevstudio theme](/knowledge-base/getting-started/where-to-get-the-theme).
### Check your server
Confirm the PHP version, the memory limit and that WP-Cron runs. Most later problems, especially during a demo import, start here. See [server requirements](/knowledge-base/installation/server-requirements).
### Download and install the theme
Download the theme from [your licenses and downloads in Hub](/knowledge-base/customer-hub/licenses-versions-downloads). Then go to [[Appearance > Themes]], click **Add Theme**, then **Upload Theme**, choose the zip and click **Activate** once it installs. Upload the theme zip itself, not a whole package archive. See [Installing a WordPress theme from a zip file](/knowledge-base/installation/install-theme-from-zip).
### Activate your license
In the theme dashboard, activate the license for this site. This is what unlocks everything paid: the Pro plugin, the premium settings, integrations, demos and automatic updates.
### Install the Pro plugin
The theme dashboard offers to install it in one click once the license is active. Activate it when the install finishes. See [Installing the Pro plugin](/knowledge-base/installation/install-pro-plugin).
### Import a demo
Pick a demo on the **Demo Import** screen and bring in the parts you want. You get a finished site to edit instead of an empty one. See [Importing a demo site](/knowledge-base/setup-guide/importing-a-demo-site).
### Make it yours
Replace the demo content, set your logo, colors and fonts, and turn on the integrations you need. See [What to do first after installing the theme](/knowledge-base/getting-started/what-to-do-after-installing).
:::
Activating your theme license
## How everything fits together
:::deflist
The theme
: The design of your site: templates, layouts and styles. It is installed like any WordPress theme.
The Pro plugin
: The premium layer on top of the theme: advanced layouts, blocks and widgets, Theme Options and the tools. It unlocks with an active license.
JKD Toolkit
: The framework every one of our themes is built on. It gives all of them the same theme dashboard, license screen, demo importer, font library and diagnostics, so once you know one of our themes you know them all.
Theme dashboard
: The admin screen, named after your theme, where the license, the Pro plugin, demo import, integrations and system information are managed. See [The theme dashboard](/knowledge-base/jkd-toolkit/theme-dashboard).
Customizer and Theme Options
: Where the site is styled and configured. The Customizer holds the core appearance settings; Theme Options holds the deeper settings the Pro plugin adds.
Integrations
: Optional first-party modules built for our themes, such as reviews, FAQ, modals or multilingual support. Install only the ones you use. See [Installing and managing plugin integrations](/knowledge-base/jkd-toolkit/installing-and-managing-plugin-integrations).
Hub
: Your account at hub.jkdevstudio.com: licenses and activations, downloads and past versions, documentation, support requests and the public roadmap. See [What Customer Hub is](/knowledge-base/customer-hub/what-customer-hub-is).
:::
**Keep WP-Cron working and take a backup before big changes.**
The license checks itself through WP-Cron, and demo imports and updates write to your database. Those two habits prevent most of the problems people write to support about.
## If your theme has a free edition
Some themes can also be installed as a free edition from the WordPress.org directory, together with a free companion plugin. It is the same theme with the premium layer left out, so you can try the design before buying. Moving to the full version later needs no reinstall: activate a license and install the Pro plugin on top, and your content and settings stay. See [Installing the free edition from the WordPress.org directory](/knowledge-base/installation/install-free-from-wordpress-org).
## Common questions
How long does this take?
About fifteen minutes when the server is in order, plus the demo import, which depends mostly on your hosting.
Can I skip the demo import?
Yes. It is a shortcut to a finished looking site, not a requirement, and a site built from empty works the same way.
I did all the steps and premium features are missing
Either the license is not active or the Pro plugin is installed but not activated. The license screen in the theme dashboard shows the first, and [[Plugins]] shows the second.
How many sites can I use one license on?
A Premium license covers one site, and more activations can be bought in Hub. An Agency license covers unlimited sites. A staging copy has its own free slot. See [What your license actually covers](/knowledge-base/licensing/what-your-license-actually-covers).
A step will not complete
Stop there rather than carrying on, because each step depends on the one before it. Open that step's article, and if you are still stuck, see [Getting help with your theme](/knowledge-base/support/getting-help-with-your-theme).