404 error on dashboard and view site – new sites

I have setup Multisite on my fresh install and the main site is displaying and working correctly but any additional sites are landing on 404 pages when I try to visit the dashboard or the site.

I have updated the htaccess file (which is located in the root) to the following:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]

# uploaded files
RewriteRule ^files/(.+) wp-includes/ms-files.php?file=$1 [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]

And have not created any additional directories in my root or subdomains in my cpanel as I understand the directories are virtual.
blogs.dir and htaccess are set to 666 for permissions.

Prior to installing the network for multisite my permalinks were working so Mod rewrite is on and running. I have several other WordPress sites on this server (not this domain) that are using permalinks.

I have obviously missed a step somewhere read lots of other posts and tried a few things but not having much luck. Help would be SUPER appreciated.