# How onboarding works

> What the EmailPal onboarding flow asks for and why billing, domains and mailboxes are in that order.

Source: https://emailpal.io/help/how-onboarding-works

## Why it is sequenced

Provisioning spends real registrar and mail-server work. Onboarding collects a plan and a card (or a licence) before it will buy domains or mint mailboxes, so a half-finished signup cannot leave unpaid infrastructure hanging.

You will typically:

1. Confirm the workspace
2. Choose a plan
3. Add payment (unless a licence already covers you)
4. Add the first domain
5. Create or claim mailboxes

You can leave and come back; unfinished steps stay on `/onboarding` until they are done.

## After onboarding

The dashboard, API keys and MCP config are available immediately. Warming still takes days unless you claimed pre-warmed inventory.

## FAQs

### Can I skip domain registration and only lease pre-warmed inboxes?

Yes, once billing is active. Pre-warmed inboxes do not use a plan domain slot.

### I am stuck on DNS.

[DNS verification failed](/help/dns-verification-failed). BYO domains fail most often because nameservers were not pointed yet.

## Need More Help?

[Getting started with EmailPal](/help/getting-started-with-emailpal).