# Quickstart

> The shortest path from sign-up to an AI receptionist answering your business phone, in the order that avoids rework.

Source: https://docs.airhug.ai/getting-started/quickstart
Last updated: 2026-09-29

This page is the checklist. Each step links to the page with the detail. Plan on about 15 minutes of work, plus waiting time for anything a carrier has to approve.

> [!NOTE]
> Airhug is opening to new businesses gradually. If sign-up shows a waitlist instead of an account form, join it or email [hello@airhug.ai](mailto:hello@airhug.ai) and you will be let in.

## Before you start

Have these ready. None are required to begin, but each one unblocks a later step.

- Your website address, if you have one. Setup reads it so the AI can answer questions about your business.
- Your opening hours and the services you offer.
- Your legal business name, address and EIN. Carriers need these before a business number can send texts. You can skip them and finish the rest.
- Access to your domain's DNS settings, if you want email from your own domain.
- Your existing business phone number and the phone that number rings, if you want to keep it.

## Steps

1. **Sign up and answer the setup questions.** Sign-in is by emailed magic link or Google. Setup is one guided flow. See [the setup flow](https://docs.airhug.ai/setup/onboarding.md).
2. **Choose your business type.** This picks the words Airhug uses with your customers and decides whether HIPAA compliance applies. See [business type and HIPAA](https://docs.airhug.ai/setup/business-type-and-hipaa.md).
3. **Pick a plan and start the 14-day free trial.** The trial includes 1,000 AI tokens. See [plans](https://docs.airhug.ai/billing/plans.md).
4. **Get a phone number.** Choose one of three paths: a new Airhug number, forward your existing number, or move your number to Airhug. See [phone numbers](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/phone-numbers.md).
5. **Decide who answers first.** Airhug can pick up at once, or your own phones can ring first. See [call handling](https://docs.airhug.ai/setup/call-handling.md).
6. **Accept call recording and choose a voice.** The AI tells every caller the line is recorded. See [voice and greeting](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/voice-and-greeting.md).
7. **Teach the AI your business.** Confirm hours, services and the answers to common questions. See [teach your AI](https://docs.airhug.ai/setup/teach-your-ai.md).
8. **Test it.** Call your number from a different phone. Check that the call appears in the inbox with a summary.

## Then add the other channels

Do these after the phone works. They are independent of each other.

- **Website chat.** Paste one script tag on your site. See [website chat](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/website-chat.md).
- **Email.** Add DNS records for your domain and forward one mailbox. See [connect your email domain](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/email-domain.md).
- **Texting.** Register your business with US carriers so the AI can reply by text. See [texting](https://docs.airhug.ai/channels/texting.md).
- **Team.** Invite teammates and set what each can see. See [team and roles](https://docs.airhug.ai/setup/team-and-roles.md).

## Check that it worked

- A test call to your number is answered with your greeting, and a call record with a summary appears in **Inbox**.
- Website chat shows the launcher in the bottom-right corner of your site, and a test message appears under **Inbox → Website chat**.
- Email sent to your forwarding address gets a reply from `reception@yourdomain.com`.
- **Settings → Billing** shows your token allowance and usage.

If a check fails, go to [troubleshooting](https://docs.airhug.ai/help/troubleshooting.md).