# 2. Sign up for a Verae / zappier account

You need an API key **before** you can connect Zapier.

1. Open the customer portal (`/portal` on the zappier host your operator gave you).
2. Choose **Create an account**.
3. Enter name, email, and a password of at least 8 characters.
4. You start on the **Free** plan and receive an **API key immediately**.
5. Copy the key. It is sent as `x-api-key` on every Zapier request.

If your company already created an account (you received a key by email), sign up with the **same email**. The existing plan and key are kept; your password is attached to that account.

## After signup

- **Dashboard** — usage this month, included credit, billable overage, prepaid balance.
- **API & pricing** — live rate card (free / fixed / variable per operation, including batch).
- **Invoices** — draft / issued / paid.
- **Billing** — reload $1–$10,000; prepaid is drawn down automatically.
- **Security** — optional 2FA.

Regenerating the API key **invalidates the old one immediately**. Update the Zapier authentication field or every Zap step will 401.

Simulator: action **Sign up (zappier portal)** then **Connect Zapier app**.