Thread: at the beginning

Letter to a friend

"Hello mate,
At the beginning/Firstly I would like to express my gratitude for your support last night ..."

The correct translation is вначале или сначала?
Чем отличаются?

I feel no difference. Also can be "Сперва".
In official letters it may be better to use a little bit more "stylish" - "Прежде всего" ("express my gratitude" conforms to this style).

Прежде всего я хотел бы поблагодарить тебя за ....

Sounds nice!

Alex I don't feel confortable about the: "no difference".

For example a client asks me. How I could improve the serives of my company.
And I answer: At the beginning you should improve your marketing.
I think in this case сначала sound as: "from the beginning" and not "at the beginning".
I am wrong?

I think in this case сначала sound as: "from the beginning" and not "at the beginning".

Ehh... More like "Startingly" vs "Beginingly" (I know there is no such words in english). No difference. Both are ok.