> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.afterquery.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Complete your onboarding

> The four onboarding steps on AfterQuery Experts: signing your legal documents, verifying your phone and identity, and connecting Stripe so you can be paid.

Onboarding has four steps. They unlock in order, and you need all four finished before you can be paid for your work.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign Legal" />

  <Step title="Verify Phone" />

  <Step title="Verify Identity" />

  <Step title="Set up Payments" />
</Steps>

Set aside about 10 minutes and have a government-issued ID and your bank details nearby.

## Step 1: Sign Legal

## Step 2: Verify Phone

This confirms the phone number on your account. It's handled by Persona, a third-party verification provider.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Start Verification">
    On the **Verify Your Phone Number** card, click **Start Verification**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Begin verifying">
    Persona opens in a window. Continuing means you accept Persona's privacy policy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your code">
    Persona texts a 4-digit code to the number on your account. Enter it and click **Continue**. If it doesn't arrive, click **Resend confirmation code**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 3: Verify Identity

Also handled by Persona. You'll need a government-issued ID and a device with a camera, since you'll be asked to take a selfie.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Start Verification">
    On the **Verify Your Identity** card, click **Start Verification**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Begin verifying">
    Persona opens in a window.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your document type">
    Options include a driver license, state ID, passport, passport card, permanent resident card, non-citizen travel document, visa, or work permit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Take a selfie">
    This confirms the person holding the document is you.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Blurry photos, screenshots, photos of a screen, and expired documents are flagged. Your account name also needs to match the name on your ID, including middle names.
</Warning>

<Note>
  Persona supports multiple languages. Use the language selector in the bottom-left corner of the Persona window.
</Note>

## Step 4: Set Up Payments

We use Stripe to process payouts. This step creates your Stripe account and connects it to AfterQuery.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose your type of business">
    Most AfterQuery contractors register as **Individual**. Only choose **Business** if you have a registered business with its own bank account.

    If you're not sure which applies to your situation, check with a tax professional before continuing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your country">
    Select the country where you live and where your primary bank account is located.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review your selections">
    You'll see a summary screen confirming your business type and country. Click **Reset** to change either one.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue to Stripe setup">
    This hands you off to Stripe to finish creating your account.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Check your country carefully before continuing. A Stripe account is tied to the country you choose and it generally can't be changed afterward, so a mistake here means creating a new account.
</Warning>

### What Stripe asks for

## After onboarding

Payouts run every Friday via Stripe. See [Payments](/articles/payments) for the payout schedule and how to track what you're owed.

## FAQ

**Why do I have to verify my identity twice?** Persona verifies your identity for AfterQuery. Stripe separately runs its own checks as part of opening your payout account, because it's regulated as a payments provider. They're two different requirements and both are needed.

**I'm outside the US. Can I still get set up?** Yes. Here are the countries we currently pay out to: [Payment Countries](/articles/payments-taxes/payment-countries).

**Do I need a registered business to work with AfterQuery?** No. Most contractors register as individuals.

**My legal name changed, or my account name doesn't match my ID.**

**Can I switch from a laptop to my phone partway through verification?**

## Need help

Contact support at [support@afterquery.com](mailto:support@afterquery.com) with the email you use to log in, which step you're stuck on, and what you're seeing. Don't attach photos of your ID.