## Before you start

You need a signed-in user account. The first time you sign in, the platform places you in a default organization so the console always has an active context. You can create additional organizations from the same account.

The first organization you create is on a free trial. Once that trial is consumed, creating another organization requires an actively-paid organization on your account; otherwise the create button surfaces a notice directing you to subscribe.

## Create the organization

1. Open **Settings**, then the **Organization** tab.
2. Enter a display **Name**. A URL-safe **Slug** is generated from the name; you can override it (lowercase letters, digits, hyphens, up to 63 characters).
3. Submit the form. The organization appears in your organization list and is available immediately in the sidebar switcher.

## Confirm the region

The region is set at creation time and matches the cell you sign in from. Today the platform runs in two regions:

- **Region: US** — sign in via the US console hostname.
- **Region: EU** — sign in via the EU console hostname.

Data created under an organization stays inside its region for the lifetime of the organization — there is no cross-region replication of tenant data. Pick the region that matches the location of the people you will verify.

## Initial configuration checklist

After the organization is created, complete these in any order:

- **Branding** — set the brand colors applicants see. See [Customize organization branding](/guides/organizations/branding).
- **Team** — invite teammates with the role they need. See [Manage access](/guides/organizations/manage-access).
- **Compliance review** — confirm the sub-processor list for your region. See [Compliance settings](/guides/organizations/compliance).
- **Workflow template**: author the verification workflow applicants will run.

## Next steps

- [Switch between organizations](/guides/organizations/switch-organizations)
- [Workflow branding](/guides/workflows/workflow-branding): the applicant-facing flow has its own branding layer
- [Data residency](/guides/faq/data-residency)