# How to start a subscription

**For:** Admin
**You'll need:** Owner role. A credit card or other payment method Stripe accepts in your country.

You'll start a paid {{ app_name }} subscription by entering payment details on a Stripe-hosted Checkout page. One subscription covers **all** the companies you own, priced **per person**.

## Open the subscription panel

1. Open the account dropdown (top-right) and click **'Account'**.
2. Click **'Manage companies'**.

## Start the Checkout flow

1. In the **Subscription** panel, click **'Subscribe'**.

{{ app_name }} creates a Stripe Checkout Session for your account's seat count and redirects you to a Stripe-hosted page.

## Enter your payment details on Stripe

1. On the Stripe Checkout page, enter your billing email, country, and payment method.
2. Confirm the plan and click **'Subscribe'**.

You're returned to {{ app_name }}.

## Verify it worked

The Subscription panel status flips to **'Active'** and shows your seat count, and the button changes to **'Manage subscription'** (see {doc}`manage-billing`).

```{tip}
Your account starts on a free trial with no card required. Subscribing during the trial doesn't charge you immediately — billing starts when the trial ends. See {doc}`trials-and-grace`.
```

## Related

- {doc}`manage-billing`
- {doc}`trials-and-grace`