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title: Quickstart Guide
description: Get up and running with Alephant in 3 easy steps
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Getting started with Alephant takes just a few minutes. Follow these steps to set up your workspace and start managing your AI costs.

## 1. Add a Payment Method

Secure your workspace by adding a payment method. Depending on your plan (Free, Pro, Team, Enterprise), this ensures uninterrupted service when scaling your AI operations or purchasing additional Virtual Keys.

## 2. Connect Your AI Provider (Master Key)

Bring your own LLM API key (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Google).

1. Navigate to **Keys** in the dashboard.
2. Click **Add API Key**.
3. Select your provider and securely store your key. Your raw key is encrypted at rest and never exposed to end-users.

## 3. Configure Your First Budget

Set up financial guardrails to prevent unexpected bills.

1. Go to the **Finance** tab.
2. Set a **Workspace Budget** with an alert threshold (e.g., notify at 80% usage).
3. If on an Enterprise plan, you can also allocate budgets to specific departments.

## Next Steps

* **Create an Agent**: Generate a Virtual Key to use in your applications.
* **Invite your Team**: Add team members or departments to collaborate securely.