# Quick start

> From sign-up to your first issue in about fifteen minutes.

The **Overview** page keeps a checklist of these steps until they're done.

## 1. Sign up

Go to [percymail.com](https://percymail.com) and choose **Start free**. Enter your email address. Percy sends you an email with a sign-in link and a 6-digit code; use either one. There's no password to remember. Signing in with a new address creates your account.

![Signing in](https://percymail.com/docs/screenshots/login.webp)

## 2. Describe your newsletter

In **Settings → Newsletter**, add:
- the name;
- a one-line description;
- **Audience**: who it's for;
- **Writing style**: how you write;
- your website;
- your time zone.

Schedules and reports use the time zone. The rest shows on your website, and AI assistants use it to write in your voice.

![Newsletter settings](https://percymail.com/docs/screenshots/settings-newsletter.webp)

## 3. Connect your sending domain

In **Settings → Sender & domain**, enter the domain you send from (for example `yourname.com`), your sender name and address, and a postal address. Then add the DNS records Percy shows you at your domain provider. Verification usually takes a few minutes. See [Sending domain](https://percymail.com/docs/sending-domain).

> **Percy:** This is the one technical step, and you only do it once. Copy each record exactly as shown; if one still says *Not found* after an hour, the [troubleshooting list](https://percymail.com/docs/sending-domain#if-a-record-says-not-found) usually finds it.

## 4. Create a signup form

In **Forms**, choose **New form**. Each form gets a page you can share, plus a snippet to embed on your site. See [Signup forms](https://percymail.com/docs/forms).

## 5. Pick a plan

In **Settings → Plan & billing**, pick how many emails you send a month and pay on Stripe's secure page. Until then your forms keep collecting subscribers, but nothing is sent. See [Plans and billing](https://percymail.com/docs/plans-and-billing).

## 6. Send your first issue

In **Emails**, choose **New campaign**, write your issue, and use **Send test** to see it in your inbox. When it looks right, **Send now** shows a final review before anything goes out. See [Campaigns](https://percymail.com/docs/campaigns).

## That's it

Once the checklist on **Overview** is done, Percy says so and gets out of the way. Coming from another tool? [Switching to Percy](https://percymail.com/docs/switching) covers bringing your list.