# Start: account, brand and money

Sign up, put the account on self-serve billing, add your brand and pages, and choose how Linkio's fees are paid.

## 1. Make an account

Sign up at https://www.linkio.com/signup and confirm your email address.

An agent can make the account without a browser: [Sign up as an agent](/docs/agents/signup). An account made
that way is on self-serve billing at once.

## 2. Switch the account to self-serve

An account made in the browser starts on the managed plan. Switch it before you add money:

1. Open the menu under your name at the top right. Find **Your Mode**.
2. Select **Self-Serve**. In the **Switch Mode?** dialog, select **Switch**.

The menu does not show the mode choice when the account has a subscription, a paid order or credits. An agent
reads the mode with `account_billing_mode` and switches with `account_billing_mode` and `mode: self_serve`.
Moving back to the managed plan is done by Linkio's team.

## 3. Add your brand and its pages

A brand is the website that gets the links. Its target pages are the pages on your site that the links point to.

1. Open https://www.linkio.com/clients/new (**Add Your Brand**).
2. Type the website and the pages that you want links to.

With an agent: `client_create` adds the brand (name, website, and optionally the first target pages).
`target_pages_add` adds more pages. By default it also writes keywords and a description for each new page.
That step is paid: it holds the `target_page_ai` estimate for each page, and the answer says whether it
started. Pass `autoGenerate: false` to add the pages only.

## 4. Choose how Linkio's fees are paid

Linkio's fees are separate from what you pay the publisher. Use one or more of these:

- Your own provider keys at https://www.linkio.com/account/ai-keys. The provider bills you at cost and Linkio
  charges only its fee.
- Money on the account at https://www.linkio.com/shop.
- A card at https://www.linkio.com/billing.

With an agent: `usage_receipt` says whether paid work can start. The person adds the keys, the money or the card,
not the agent.

Details, the free start and the spending limits: [Who you pay, and for what](/docs/self-serve/money).

## 5. A key for your agent (optional)

Make a key at https://www.linkio.com/account/api-keys. Use the **Automation** level for an agent that orders,
sends and records payments. A Reporting or Read only key can only read. Then
[Connect an agent](/docs/agents).