diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index 3c0e59f..a6700ca 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   await recurringStore.fetchEntries()
   recurringStore.checkRecurrences()
   setInterval(() => recurringStore.checkRecurrences(), 60000)
+  setInterval(() => onboardingStore.detectCompletions(), 5 * 60000)
 
   // Background calendar sync
   async function syncCalendars() {
diff --git a/src/stores/onboarding.ts b/src/stores/onboarding.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f281dcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stores/onboarding.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
+import { ref, computed } from 'vue'
+import { invoke } from '@tauri-apps/api/core'
+import { useSettingsStore } from './settings'
+
+export type ChecklistItemKey =
+  | 'create_client'
+  | 'create_project'
+  | 'track_entry'
+  | 'review_entries'
+  | 'create_invoice'
+  | 'explore_reports'
+
+export interface ChecklistItem {
+  key: ChecklistItemKey
+  label: string
+  description: string
+  route: string
+  tourId: string
+  completed: boolean
+}
+
+interface ChecklistState {
+  dismissed: boolean
+  items: Record<ChecklistItemKey, { completed: boolean }>
+}
+
+const DEFAULT_STATE: ChecklistState = {
+  dismissed: false,
+  items: {
+    create_client: { completed: false },
+    create_project: { completed: false },
+    track_entry: { completed: false },
+    review_entries: { completed: false },
+    create_invoice: { completed: false },
+    explore_reports: { completed: false },
+  },
+}
+
+const ITEM_DEFINITIONS: Omit<ChecklistItem, 'completed'>[] = [
+  { key: 'create_client', label: 'Create your first client', description: 'Add a client to bill your work to', route: '/clients', tourId: 'clients' },
+  { key: 'create_project', label: 'Create a project', description: 'Organize your work under a project', route: '/projects', tourId: 'projects' },
+  { key: 'track_entry', label: 'Track your first time entry', description: 'Start the timer and log some work', route: '/timer', tourId: 'timer' },
+  { key: 'review_entries', label: 'Review your entries', description: 'See your tracked time in list or timeline view', route: '/entries', tourId: 'entries' },
+  { key: 'create_invoice', label: 'Create an invoice', description: 'Generate an invoice from tracked time', route: '/invoices', tourId: 'invoices' },
+  { key: 'explore_reports', label: 'Explore reports', description: 'View hours, profitability, and expense reports', route: '/reports', tourId: 'reports' },
+]
+
+export const useOnboardingStore = defineStore('onboarding', () => {
+  const state = ref<ChecklistState>({ ...DEFAULT_STATE })
+  const loaded = ref(false)
+
+  const items = computed<ChecklistItem[]>(() =>
+    ITEM_DEFINITIONS.map(def => ({
+      ...def,
+      completed: state.value.items[def.key]?.completed || false,
+    }))
+  )
+
+  const completedCount = computed(() => items.value.filter(i => i.completed).length)
+  const totalCount = computed(() => items.value.length)
+  const allComplete = computed(() => completedCount.value >= totalCount.value)
+  const isDismissed = computed(() => state.value.dismissed)
+  const isVisible = computed(() => loaded.value && !state.value.dismissed && !allComplete.value)
+
+  async function load() {
+    const settingsStore = useSettingsStore()
+    const raw = settingsStore.settings.onboarding_checklist
+    if (raw) {
+      try {
+        const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as ChecklistState
+        state.value = { ...DEFAULT_STATE, ...parsed, items: { ...DEFAULT_STATE.items, ...parsed.items } }
+      } catch {
+        state.value = { ...DEFAULT_STATE }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Auto-detect data-based completions
+    await detectCompletions()
+    loaded.value = true
+  }
+
+  async function detectCompletions() {
+    try {
+      const clients = await invoke<any[]>('get_clients')
+      if (clients.length > 0) markComplete('create_client')
+    } catch { /* individual failure - continue */ }
+
+    try {
+      const projects = await invoke<any[]>('get_projects')
+      if (projects.length > 0) markComplete('create_project')
+    } catch { /* individual failure - continue */ }
+
+    try {
+      const entries = await invoke<any[]>('get_time_entries', { startDate: null, endDate: null })
+      if (entries.length > 0) markComplete('track_entry')
+    } catch { /* individual failure - continue */ }
+
+    try {
+      const invoices = await invoke<any[]>('get_invoices')
+      if (invoices.length > 0) markComplete('create_invoice')
+    } catch { /* individual failure - continue */ }
+  }
+
+  function markComplete(key: ChecklistItemKey) {
+    if (!state.value.items[key].completed) {
+      state.value.items[key].completed = true
+      persist()
+    }
+  }
+
+  function dismiss() {
+    state.value.dismissed = true
+    persist()
+  }
+
+  function restore() {
+    state.value.dismissed = false
+    persist()
+  }
+
+  function reset() {
+    state.value = {
+      dismissed: false,
+      items: {
+        create_client: { completed: false },
+        create_project: { completed: false },
+        track_entry: { completed: false },
+        review_entries: { completed: false },
+        create_invoice: { completed: false },
+        explore_reports: { completed: false },
+      },
+    }
+    persist()
+  }
+
+  async function persist() {
+    const settingsStore = useSettingsStore()
+    await settingsStore.updateSetting('onboarding_checklist', JSON.stringify(state.value))
+  }
+
+  // Called from router guard when user visits specific pages
+  function onRouteVisit(path: string) {
+    if (path === '/entries') markComplete('review_entries')
+    if (path === '/reports') markComplete('explore_reports')
+  }
+
+  return {
+    state,
+    loaded,
+    items,
+    completedCount,
+    totalCount,
+    allComplete,
+    isDismissed,
+    isVisible,
+    load,
+    detectCompletions,
+    markComplete,
+    dismiss,
+    restore,
+    reset,
+    onRouteVisit,
+  }
+})