diff --git a/ui/app/page.tsx b/ui/app/page.tsx
index da8ffba3..bd01094c 100644
--- a/ui/app/page.tsx
+++ b/ui/app/page.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ import { TemporaryBalances } from '@/components/temporary-balances';
 import { ToggleGroup, ToggleGroupItem } from '@/components/ui/toggle-group';
 import type { DisplayUnit } from '@/lib/types/units';
 import { fetchBtcUsdPrice, btcToSatsRate } from '@/lib/exchange-rate';
+import { AdminService } from '@/lib/api/services/admin';
+import { InitialSetupOnboarding } from '@/components/initial-setup-onboarding';
+
+type AdminSettingsResponse = Record<string, unknown> & {
+  admin_password?: string | null;
+};
 
 export default function Page() {
   const [displayUnit, setDisplayUnit] = useState<DisplayUnit>('sat');
@@ -21,6 +27,38 @@ export default function Page() {
     staleTime: 60_000,
   });
 
+  const {
+    data: settingsData,
+    isLoading: settingsLoading,
+    isError: settingsError,
+  } = useQuery<AdminSettingsResponse>({
+    queryKey: ['admin-settings'],
+    queryFn: async () => (await AdminService.getSettings()) as AdminSettingsResponse,
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  });
+
+  const {
+    data: upstreamProviders,
+    isLoading: providersLoading,
+    isError: providersError,
+  } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['upstream-providers'],
+    queryFn: AdminService.getUpstreamProviders,
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  });
+
+  const adminPasswordValue =
+    typeof settingsData?.admin_password === 'string' ? settingsData.admin_password : '';
+  const hasAdminPassword = adminPasswordValue.trim().length > 0;
+  const hasUpstreamProviders = (upstreamProviders?.length ?? 0) > 0;
+  const shouldShowOnboarding =
+    !settingsLoading &&
+    !providersLoading &&
+    !settingsError &&
+    !providersError &&
+    !hasAdminPassword &&
+    !hasUpstreamProviders;
+
   const usdPerSat = btcUsdPrice ? btcToSatsRate(btcUsdPrice) : null;
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -37,12 +75,8 @@ export default function Page() {
         <div className='container max-w-6xl px-4 py-8 md:px-6 lg:px-8'>
           <div className='mb-8 flex flex-col gap-4 lg:flex-row lg:items-start lg:justify-between'>
             <div>
-              <h1 className='text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight'>
-                Admin Dashboard
-              </h1>
-              <p className='text-muted-foreground mt-2'>
-                Monitor and manage wallet balances
-              </p>
+              <h1 className='text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight'>Admin Dashboard</h1>
+              <p className='text-muted-foreground mt-2'>Monitor and manage wallet balances</p>
             </div>
             <div className='flex items-center'>
               <ToggleGroup
@@ -65,6 +99,15 @@ export default function Page() {
             </div>
           </div>
 
+          {shouldShowOnboarding && (
+            <div className='mb-8'>
+              <InitialSetupOnboarding
+                hasAdminPassword={hasAdminPassword}
+                hasUpstreamProviders={hasUpstreamProviders}
+              />
+            </div>
+          )}
+
           <div className='grid gap-6'>
             <div className='col-span-full'>
               <DetailedWalletBalance
diff --git a/ui/components/initial-setup-onboarding.tsx b/ui/components/initial-setup-onboarding.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17a75ffd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/components/initial-setup-onboarding.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+'use client';
+
+import Link from 'next/link';
+import { type LucideIcon, CheckCircle2, Circle, Lock, PlugZap, ServerCog, Settings2, Wallet } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Progress } from '@/components/ui/progress';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+interface InitialSetupOnboardingProps {
+  hasAdminPassword: boolean;
+  hasUpstreamProviders: boolean;
+}
+
+type CriticalStep = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  description: string;
+  helper: string;
+  href: string;
+  actionLabel: string;
+  completed: boolean;
+  icon: LucideIcon;
+};
+
+type FocusArea = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  description: string;
+  bullets: string[];
+  href: string;
+  actionLabel: string;
+  icon: LucideIcon;
+};
+
+export function InitialSetupOnboarding({
+  hasAdminPassword,
+  hasUpstreamProviders,
+}: InitialSetupOnboardingProps) {
+  const criticalSteps: CriticalStep[] = [
+    {
+      id: 'admin-password',
+      title: 'Secure the dashboard',
+      description:
+        'Create a unique admin password to mint login tokens and protect the control plane.',
+      helper:
+        'Navigate to Settings → Change Admin Password. The UI will prompt for the current value if one already exists.',
+      href: '/settings',
+      actionLabel: hasAdminPassword ? 'Review password policy' : 'Set password',
+      completed: hasAdminPassword,
+      icon: Lock,
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'providers',
+      title: 'Connect an upstream provider',
+      description:
+        'Add at least one upstream LLM provider so Routstr can relay requests on behalf of your users.',
+      helper:
+        'Open the Providers workspace to choose OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, or point to your own inference endpoint.',
+      href: '/providers',
+      actionLabel: hasUpstreamProviders ? 'Review providers' : 'Add provider',
+      completed: hasUpstreamProviders,
+      icon: PlugZap,
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const focusAreas: FocusArea[] = [
+    {
+      id: 'node-profile',
+      title: 'Node identity & endpoints',
+      description:
+        'Give your node a friendly name and publish both clearnet and Tor URLs so clients know where to connect.',
+      bullets: [
+        'Fill in Name, Description, HTTP URL, and optional Onion URL under Basic Information.',
+        'These fields populate the metadata served to wallets and the public API.',
+      ],
+      href: '/settings',
+      actionLabel: 'Edit profile',
+      icon: Settings2,
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'cashu',
+      title: 'Cashu mint configuration',
+      description:
+        'Your node escrows sats per request. Keep the wallet funded and list every mint you plan to settle with.',
+      bullets: [
+        'Add each mint URL and test a small deposit to verify proofs sync correctly.',
+        'Monitor the Detailed Wallet widget to ensure owner balance stays positive.',
+      ],
+      href: '/settings',
+      actionLabel: 'Manage mints',
+      icon: Wallet,
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'models',
+      title: 'Model catalog & pricing',
+      description:
+        'Once a provider is connected, import models or define custom SKUs so downstream clients have predictable IDs.',
+      bullets: [
+        'Use the Providers page to sync remote catalogs or create per-model pricing in sats.',
+        'Assign provider fees and availability so routing honors your margins.',
+      ],
+      href: '/providers',
+      actionLabel: 'Curate catalog',
+      icon: ServerCog,
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const completedSteps = criticalSteps.filter((step) => step.completed).length;
+  const progress = (completedSteps / criticalSteps.length) * 100;
+
+  return (
+    <Card className='border-primary/40 bg-primary/5 shadow-sm dark:bg-primary/10'>
+      <CardHeader>
+        <Badge variant='warning' className='w-fit text-xs uppercase tracking-wide'>
+          Initial setup
+        </Badge>
+        <CardTitle className='text-xl'>Finish onboarding your Routstr node</CardTitle>
+        <CardDescription>
+          Lock down the admin dashboard, add an upstream provider, and review the remaining
+          configuration so routing works end-to-end.
+        </CardDescription>
+      </CardHeader>
+      <CardContent className='space-y-8'>
+        <div>
+          <div className='flex items-center justify-between text-sm text-muted-foreground'>
+            <span>
+              {completedSteps} of {criticalSteps.length} critical steps complete
+            </span>
+            <span className='font-semibold text-primary'>{Math.round(progress)}%</span>
+          </div>
+          <Progress value={progress} className='mt-2 h-2' />
+        </div>
+
+        <ol className='space-y-4'>
+          {criticalSteps.map((step, index) => {
+            const Icon = step.icon;
+            const StatusIcon = step.completed ? CheckCircle2 : Circle;
+            return (
+              <li
+                key={step.id}
+                className='rounded-xl border bg-background/80 p-5 shadow-sm transition hover:border-primary/50'
+              >
+                <div className='flex flex-col gap-4 md:flex-row md:items-center'>
+                  <div className='flex flex-1 items-start gap-4'>
+                    <Badge
+                      variant='secondary'
+                      className='mt-0.5 flex size-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full text-base font-semibold'
+                    >
+                      {index + 1}
+                    </Badge>
+                    <div className='space-y-2'>
+                      <div className='flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2'>
+                        <Icon className='size-5 text-primary' />
+                        <p className='text-base font-semibold'>{step.title}</p>
+                      </div>
+                      <p className='text-sm text-muted-foreground'>{step.description}</p>
+                      <p className='text-xs text-muted-foreground'>{step.helper}</p>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                  <div className='flex w-full flex-col gap-2 sm:w-auto'>
+                    <div
+                      className={cn(
+                        'flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full px-3 py-1 text-xs font-medium',
+                        step.completed
+                          ? 'bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-700 dark:bg-emerald-500/10'
+                          : 'bg-muted text-muted-foreground'
+                      )}
+                    >
+                      <StatusIcon
+                        className={cn(
+                          'size-4',
+                          step.completed ? 'text-emerald-600' : 'text-muted-foreground'
+                        )}
+                      />
+                      {step.completed ? 'Completed' : 'Action required'}
+                    </div>
+                    <Button asChild size='sm' variant={step.completed ? 'outline' : 'default'}>
+                      <Link href={step.href}>{step.actionLabel}</Link>
+                    </Button>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              </li>
+            );
+          })}
+        </ol>
+
+        <div className='grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-3'>
+          {focusAreas.map((area) => {
+            const Icon = area.icon;
+            return (
+              <div key={area.id} className='rounded-xl border bg-card/70 p-4'>
+                <div className='flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-semibold'>
+                  <Icon className='size-4 text-primary' />
+                  {area.title}
+                </div>
+                <p className='mt-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground'>{area.description}</p>
+                <ul className='mt-3 space-y-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground'>
+                  {area.bullets.map((bullet) => (
+                    <li key={bullet} className='flex gap-2'>
+                      <span className='text-primary'>•</span>
+                      <span>{bullet}</span>
+                    </li>
+                  ))}
+                </ul>
+                <Button asChild size='sm' variant='secondary' className='mt-4 w-full'>
+                  <Link href={area.href}>{area.actionLabel}</Link>
+                </Button>
+              </div>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+
+        <div className='rounded-xl border bg-muted/40 p-4 text-sm leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground'>
+          <p className='font-semibold text-foreground'>How the flow works</p>
+          <p className='mt-2'>
+            Routstr reserves the maximum cost for each request up front, relays it to the selected
+            upstream provider, and then reconciles the actual token usage when the response returns.
+            Keeping an admin password, provider credentials, and Cashu balances in sync ensures every
+            client request can be authorized and settled automatically.
+          </p>
+          <p className='mt-2'>
+            As soon as you set the password and register a provider this onboarding guide disappears
+            automatically.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </CardContent>
+    </Card>
+  );
+}