diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/components/onboarding/OnboardingWizardDialog.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/components/onboarding/OnboardingWizardDialog.tsx
index ab00965fa..849ba50c5 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/components/onboarding/OnboardingWizardDialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/components/onboarding/OnboardingWizardDialog.tsx
@@ -286,9 +286,13 @@ export default function OnboardingWizardDialog({
     });
   }, [roles, nationality, startMutation]);
 
-  // Note: no "back to role selection" — once the draft is created the role(s)
-  // are fixed; the form's first-step Back is a no-op so progress never resets.
-  const handleBackToRoles = useCallback(() => { }, []);
+  // Back from the form's first step returns to nationality/role selection.
+  // Safe to re-enter: startOnboarding is idempotent — it reuses the existing
+  // draft, refreshes the nationality and creates only roles that don't exist yet.
+  const handleBackToRoles = useCallback(() => {
+    setStartError(null);
+    setPhase("nationality-role");
+  }, []);
 
   // Save the current step's fields to the draft (PATCH /profile). Returns the
   // server error message on failure so the form can show it (e.g. duplicate TIN).
@@ -359,7 +363,6 @@ export default function OnboardingWizardDialog({
   // The active step across the whole journey, driving the header + progress pill.
   const activeStep: WizardStep = phase === "form" ? formStep : phase;
   const stepMeta = STEP_META[activeStep];
-  console.log({ stepMeta, activeStep, STEP_META });
   const activeIdx = WIZARD_STEPS.indexOf(activeStep);
 
   // Closing from the congratulations panel also clears the completed flag so a
@@ -403,7 +406,6 @@ export default function OnboardingWizardDialog({
     onSubmit: handleSubmit,
     isPending: finishMutation.isPending,
     onBack: handleBackToRoles,
-    hideFirstStepBack: true,
     initialStep: effectiveResumeStep,
     resyncOpen: opened,
     onStepChange: handleStepChange,
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/CompanyProfileForm.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/CompanyProfileForm.tsx
index cc9f81a29..abfb61551 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/CompanyProfileForm.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/CompanyProfileForm.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ export default function CompanyProfileForm({
   onBack,
   initialStep,
   resyncOpen,
-  hideFirstStepBack,
   onStepChange,
   onSaveStep,
   rehydrate,
@@ -73,8 +72,6 @@ export default function CompanyProfileForm({
   initialStep?: CompanyStep;
   /** When this flips true (dialog reopened), jump back to initialStep (furthest reached). */
   resyncOpen?: boolean;
-  /** Hide the Back button on the first step (onboarding can't go back to role pick). */
-  hideFirstStepBack?: boolean;
   /** Reports the active step so the parent can persist resume progress. */
   onStepChange?: (step: CompanyStep) => void;
   /** Persist the current step's data before advancing; returns an error to show. */
@@ -514,10 +511,6 @@ export default function CompanyProfileForm({
     else setStep(stepOrder[currentIdx - 1]);
   };
 
-  // Back is hidden on the first step during onboarding (can't return to role
-  // selection); otherwise always available.
-  const showBack = !(hideFirstStepBack && step === "company");
-
   return (
     <>
       <form onSubmit={(e) => e.preventDefault()}>
@@ -851,17 +844,13 @@ export default function CompanyProfileForm({
           )}
 
           <Group justify="space-between" pt="xs">
-            {showBack ? (
-              <Button
-                variant="default"
-                onClick={prevStep}
-                leftSection={<ArrowLeft size={16} />}
-              >
-                Back
-              </Button>
-            ) : (
-              <span />
-            )}
+            <Button
+              variant="default"
+              onClick={prevStep}
+              leftSection={<ArrowLeft size={16} />}
+            >
+              Back
+            </Button>
             <Button
               color="edr-green"
               onClick={nextStep}
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/contracts/ContractsList.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/contracts/ContractsList.tsx
index d2bd8b88f..b6ba870d6 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/contracts/ContractsList.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/contracts/ContractsList.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   Group,
   Loader,
   Paper,
+  Popover,
   Select,
   Stack,
   Table,
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   Title,
 } from "@mantine/core";
 import {
+  AlertTriangle,
   CheckCircle2,
   ChevronDown,
   ChevronLeft,
@@ -31,6 +33,8 @@ import {
   X,
 } from "lucide-react";
 
+import { PROFILE_TYPE_LABELS } from "@/constants/profileMode";
+import useAuth from "@/hooks/useAuth";
 import { api } from "@/services/api";
 import { ContractCustomerAction } from "@/components/customer-actions/ContractCustomerAction";
 import type { ContractListFilter } from "@/services/contracts.service";
@@ -58,14 +62,26 @@ function primaryRoute(contract: Freight.IContract) {
 
 export default function ContractsList() {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const { company } = useAuth();
   const { pagination, setPagination } = usePagination({ pageSize: 10 });
   const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
+  const [disclaimerOpen, setDisclaimerOpen] = useState(false);
   const [freightFilter, setFreightFilter] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [kindFilter, setKindFilter] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [createdFrom, setCreatedFrom] = useState<string>("");
   const [createdTo, setCreatedTo] = useState<string>("");
   const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
+  // A contract can only be created under an approved profile — NewContractPage
+  // blocks every operation whose profile isn't "active". With none approved the
+  // page is reachable but unusable, so warn before sending the user there.
+  const profiles = company?.company?.companyProfiles ?? [];
+  const noActiveProfile =
+    profiles.length > 0 && !profiles.some((p) => p.status === "active");
+
+  const openNewContract = () =>
+    navigate("/contracts/new", { state: { fresh: true } });
+
   const toggleExpanded = (id: string) =>
     setExpanded((prev) => {
       const nextSet = new Set(prev);
@@ -137,9 +153,11 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
   const stats = useMemo(() => {
     const items = data?.items ?? [];
     const active = items.filter((c) =>
-      ["CONTRACT_ACTIVE", "FULLY_EXECUTED", "ACTIVE_SHIPMENT_IN_PROGRESS"].includes(
-        c.status,
-      ),
+      [
+        "CONTRACT_ACTIVE",
+        "FULLY_EXECUTED",
+        "ACTIVE_SHIPMENT_IN_PROGRESS",
+      ].includes(c.status),
     ).length;
     const pending = items.filter((c) =>
       [
@@ -158,7 +176,7 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
     return { active, pending, total };
   }, [data]);
 
-  const total = data?.meta?.total ?? (data?.items?.length ?? 0);
+  const total = data?.meta?.total ?? data?.items?.length ?? 0;
   const pageCount = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(total / pagination.pageSize));
   const pageIndex = pagination.pageIndex;
   const start = total === 0 ? 0 : pageIndex * pagination.pageSize + 1;
@@ -175,19 +193,63 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
       <Stack gap="lg">
         {/* Header */}
         <Group justify="space-between" align="center" wrap="wrap" gap="md">
-          <Title order={1} fw={800} fz={26} style={{ letterSpacing: "-0.01em" }}>
+          <Title
+            order={1}
+            fw={800}
+            fz={26}
+            style={{ letterSpacing: "-0.01em" }}
+          >
             Contracts
           </Title>
-          <Button
-            color="edr-green"
+          <Popover
+            opened={disclaimerOpen}
+            onChange={setDisclaimerOpen}
+            position="bottom-end"
+            width={340}
             radius="md"
-            size="md"
-            leftSection={<Plus size={16} />}
-            onClick={() => navigate("/contracts/new", { state: { fresh: true } })}
-            styles={{ root: { fontWeight: 600, height: 42, paddingInline: 18 } }}
+            shadow="md"
+            withArrow
+            trapFocus
           >
-            New Contract
-          </Button>
+            <Popover.Target>
+              <Button
+                color="edr-green"
+                radius="md"
+                size="md"
+                leftSection={<Plus size={16} />}
+                onClick={() =>
+                  noActiveProfile
+                    ? setDisclaimerOpen((o) => !o)
+                    : openNewContract()
+                }
+                styles={{
+                  root: { fontWeight: 600, height: 42, paddingInline: 18 },
+                }}
+              >
+                New Contract
+              </Button>
+            </Popover.Target>
+            <Popover.Dropdown>
+              <Stack gap="sm">
+                <Group gap={8} wrap="nowrap" align="flex-start">
+                  <AlertTriangle
+                    size={18}
+                    color="var(--mantine-color-edr-accent-6)"
+                    style={{ flexShrink: 0, marginTop: 1 }}
+                  />
+                  <Text fz={14} fw={700} style={{ color: INK }}>
+                    None of your profiles are active yet
+                  </Text>
+                </Group>
+
+                <Text fz={13} c="dimmed">
+                  Contracts can only be created under a profile EDR has
+                  approved. You can continue, but every operation stays locked
+                  until at least one profile is approved.
+                </Text>
+              </Stack>
+            </Popover.Dropdown>
+          </Popover>
         </Group>
 
         {/* Summary strip */}
@@ -378,7 +440,11 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
                   <Table.Tr>
                     <Table.Td colSpan={11}>
                       <Stack align="center" gap={8} py={48}>
-                        <Inbox size={26} color={MUTED} style={{ opacity: 0.5 }} />
+                        <Inbox
+                          size={26}
+                          color={MUTED}
+                          style={{ opacity: 0.5 }}
+                        />
                         <Text fz={13} c="dimmed">
                           No contracts yet. Create one from New Contract.
                         </Text>
@@ -400,154 +466,159 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
                     const isOpen = expanded.has(c.id);
                     return (
                       <Fragment key={c.id}>
-                      <Table.Tr
-                        style={{
-                          cursor: "pointer",
-                          background: isOpen ? "#F4FBF8" : undefined,
-                        }}
-                        onClick={() => navigate(`/contracts/${c.id}`)}
-                      >
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Box
-                            component="button"
-                            aria-label={isOpen ? "Hide progress" : "Show progress"}
-                            aria-expanded={isOpen}
-                            onClick={(e) => {
-                              e.stopPropagation();
-                              toggleExpanded(c.id);
-                            }}
-                            style={{
-                              display: "flex",
-                              alignItems: "center",
-                              justifyContent: "center",
-                              width: 28,
-                              height: 28,
-                              borderRadius: 8,
-                              border: `1px solid ${BORDER}`,
-                              background: isOpen ? GREEN : "#FFFFFF",
-                              color: isOpen ? "#FFFFFF" : MUTED,
-                              cursor: "pointer",
-                              transition: "all 140ms ease",
-                            }}
-                          >
-                            <ChevronDown
-                              size={16}
-                              style={{
-                                transform: isOpen ? "rotate(180deg)" : "none",
-                                transition: "transform 160ms ease",
+                        <Table.Tr
+                          style={{
+                            cursor: "pointer",
+                            background: isOpen ? "#F4FBF8" : undefined,
+                          }}
+                          onClick={() => navigate(`/contracts/${c.id}`)}
+                        >
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Box
+                              component="button"
+                              aria-label={
+                                isOpen ? "Hide progress" : "Show progress"
+                              }
+                              aria-expanded={isOpen}
+                              onClick={(e) => {
+                                e.stopPropagation();
+                                toggleExpanded(c.id);
                               }}
-                            />
-                          </Box>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Text fz={14} fw={700} style={{ color: INK }}>
-                            {c.reference}
-                          </Text>
-                          <Text fz={12} c="dimmed">
-                            {isContainer ? "Containerised" : "Bulk"}
-                          </Text>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Badge
-                            variant="light"
-                            color={isGeneral ? "edr-green" : "gray"}
-                            radius="sm"
-                          >
-                            {isGeneral ? "General" : "One-Time"}
-                          </Badge>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Group gap={7} wrap="nowrap" align="center">
-                            {isContainer ? (
-                              <Package size={15} color={MUTED} />
-                            ) : (
-                              <Weight size={15} color={MUTED} />
-                            )}
-                            <Text fz={13} style={{ color: INK }}>
-                              {isContainer ? "Container" : "Bulk"}
+                              style={{
+                                display: "flex",
+                                alignItems: "center",
+                                justifyContent: "center",
+                                width: 28,
+                                height: 28,
+                                borderRadius: 8,
+                                border: `1px solid ${BORDER}`,
+                                background: isOpen ? GREEN : "#FFFFFF",
+                                color: isOpen ? "#FFFFFF" : MUTED,
+                                cursor: "pointer",
+                                transition: "all 140ms ease",
+                              }}
+                            >
+                              <ChevronDown
+                                size={16}
+                                style={{
+                                  transform: isOpen ? "rotate(180deg)" : "none",
+                                  transition: "transform 160ms ease",
+                                }}
+                              />
+                            </Box>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Text fz={14} fw={700} style={{ color: INK }}>
+                              {c.reference}
                             </Text>
-                          </Group>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Text fz={13} style={{ color: INK }}>
-                            {origin}{" "}
-                            <Text span c="dimmed">
-                              →
-                            </Text>{" "}
-                            {destination}
-                            {count > 1 && (
-                              <Text span c="dimmed" fz={12}>
-                                {" "}
-                                +{count - 1}
+                            <Text fz={12} c="dimmed">
+                              {isContainer ? "Containerised" : "Bulk"}
+                            </Text>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Badge
+                              variant="light"
+                              color={isGeneral ? "edr-green" : "gray"}
+                              radius="sm"
+                            >
+                              {isGeneral ? "General" : "One-Time"}
+                            </Badge>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Group gap={7} wrap="nowrap" align="center">
+                              {isContainer ? (
+                                <Package size={15} color={MUTED} />
+                              ) : (
+                                <Weight size={15} color={MUTED} />
+                              )}
+                              <Text fz={13} style={{ color: INK }}>
+                                {isContainer ? "Container" : "Bulk"}
                               </Text>
-                            )}
-                          </Text>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Text
-                            fz={13}
-                            c={dir ? undefined : "dimmed"}
-                            style={{ color: dir ? INK : undefined }}
-                          >
-                            {tradeLabel}
-                          </Text>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Text fz={13} style={{ color: INK }}>
-                            {c.paymentCurrency ?? "—"}
-                          </Text>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Text
-                            fz={13}
-                            c={c.createdAt ? undefined : "dimmed"}
-                            style={{ color: c.createdAt ? INK : undefined }}
-                          >
-                            {c.createdAt
-                              ? new Date(c.createdAt).toLocaleDateString()
-                              : "—"}
-                          </Text>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Text
-                            fz={13}
-                            c={c.contractValidUntil ? undefined : "dimmed"}
-                            style={{
-                              color: c.contractValidUntil ? INK : undefined,
-                            }}
-                          >
-                            {c.contractValidUntil
-                              ? new Date(
+                            </Group>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Text fz={13} style={{ color: INK }}>
+                              {origin}{" "}
+                              <Text span c="dimmed">
+                                →
+                              </Text>{" "}
+                              {destination}
+                              {count > 1 && (
+                                <Text span c="dimmed" fz={12}>
+                                  {" "}
+                                  +{count - 1}
+                                </Text>
+                              )}
+                            </Text>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Text
+                              fz={13}
+                              c={dir ? undefined : "dimmed"}
+                              style={{ color: dir ? INK : undefined }}
+                            >
+                              {tradeLabel}
+                            </Text>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Text fz={13} style={{ color: INK }}>
+                              {c.paymentCurrency ?? "—"}
+                            </Text>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Text
+                              fz={13}
+                              c={c.createdAt ? undefined : "dimmed"}
+                              style={{ color: c.createdAt ? INK : undefined }}
+                            >
+                              {c.createdAt
+                                ? new Date(c.createdAt).toLocaleDateString()
+                                : "—"}
+                            </Text>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Text
+                              fz={13}
+                              c={c.contractValidUntil ? undefined : "dimmed"}
+                              style={{
+                                color: c.contractValidUntil ? INK : undefined,
+                              }}
+                            >
+                              {c.contractValidUntil
+                                ? new Date(
                                   c.contractValidUntil,
                                 ).toLocaleDateString()
-                              : "—"}
-                          </Text>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <ContractStatusBadge status={c.status} />
-                        </Table.Td>
-                        <Table.Td>
-                          <Group justify="flex-end" gap={8} wrap="nowrap">
-                            <ContractDocButton
-                              contract={c}
-                              onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
-                            />
-                            <ContractCustomerAction
-                              contract={c}
-                              bookings={bookings}
-                              size="sm"
-                              listStyle
-                            />
-                          </Group>
-                        </Table.Td>
-                      </Table.Tr>
-                      {isOpen && (
-                        <Table.Tr style={{ background: "#F4FBF8" }}>
-                          <Table.Td colSpan={11} style={{ padding: "6px 20px 18px" }}>
-                            <ContractStepBanner contract={c} />
+                                : "—"}
+                            </Text>
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <ContractStatusBadge status={c.status} />
+                          </Table.Td>
+                          <Table.Td>
+                            <Group justify="flex-end" gap={8} wrap="nowrap">
+                              <ContractDocButton
+                                contract={c}
+                                onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+                              />
+                              <ContractCustomerAction
+                                contract={c}
+                                bookings={bookings}
+                                size="sm"
+                                listStyle
+                              />
+                            </Group>
                           </Table.Td>
                         </Table.Tr>
-                      )}
+                        {isOpen && (
+                          <Table.Tr style={{ background: "#F4FBF8" }}>
+                            <Table.Td
+                              colSpan={11}
+                              style={{ padding: "6px 20px 18px" }}
+                            >
+                              <ContractStepBanner contract={c} />
+                            </Table.Td>
+                          </Table.Tr>
+                        )}
                       </Fragment>
                     );
                   })}
@@ -564,7 +635,10 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
               gap="md"
               px={20}
               py={14}
-              style={{ borderTop: `1px solid ${BORDER}`, background: "#FCFDFE" }}
+              style={{
+                borderTop: `1px solid ${BORDER}`,
+                background: "#FCFDFE",
+              }}
             >
               <Group gap={10} align="center">
                 <Text fz={13} c="dimmed">
@@ -574,8 +648,7 @@ export default function ContractsList() {
                   data={["10", "25", "50"]}
                   value={String(pagination.pageSize)}
                   onChange={(v) =>
-                    v &&
-                    setPagination({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: Number(v) })
+                    v && setPagination({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: Number(v) })
                   }
                   radius="md"
                   size="xs"