# Create a server

> Get your business on Facia, with or without a referral code, and sign in for the first time.

# Create a server

A **server** is your business on Facia: your app, your team, your clients. There are two ways to get one.

## With a referral code (instant)

If someone already on Facia invited you, they can give you a referral code (`XXXX-XXXX-XXXX`) or a link with `?ref=` in it.

1. Open [facia.chat](https://facia.chat) and choose **Create a chat server**. Opening a referral link fills in the code for you.
2. Fill in:
   - **Server name**: what clients will see, e.g. "Acme Support". You can change it later.
   - **Your name** and **Email**.
   - **Your login username** and a password (8+ characters).
   - **Referral code**. Facia shows who referred you once the code checks out.
3. Press **Create my server**. You're signed in as the owner, and your server exists immediately.

Owners hand out codes from **HQ → Settings → Refer a server**. A code or link lasts 30 days. See [Growth and invites](https://docs.facia.chat/business/growth).

## Without a code (apply)

1. Open [facia.chat](https://facia.chat) and choose **Create a chat server**.
2. Tell Facia who you'll chat with and what about (at least a sentence). Add how big your team is, your website and how you heard about Facia if you like.
3. Pick your owner login.
4. Send it. The Facia team reviews it, usually quickly. Once you're approved you get an email with a one-time **setup link** (`/setup/…`) that finishes creating your server and signs you in.

> [!NOTE]
> A setup link works once. If yours expired, ask Facia support for a new one.

## What you get straight away

![Your business settings, with the setup checklist on top](https://docs.facia.chat/_assets/shots/settings-business.webp)

- **Your business**, with its own chat, Team chat and HQ.
- **A free address**: `yourhandle.facia.chat`. Your handle is 4 to 32 characters, starting with a letter (letters, numbers and `_`). Your page is also at `facia.chat/@yourhandle`.
- **Every feature**, ready to turn on in **HQ → Settings → Features**.
- **A setup checklist** at the top of your business settings.

## Signing in

- **Owners and staff** sign in with a username and password at your address, or at facia.chat.
- **Clients** don't need to sign in to start chatting. They start as guests and can save their account later with a password, or by [getting verified](https://docs.facia.chat/business/membership).

On facia.chat, someone who belongs to several businesses sees a switcher in the top-left that lists each business with its unread count. On your own address, Facia only ever shows your business.

## Next

Go through [Your first hour](https://docs.facia.chat/start/first-hour): logo, welcome message, links, team, features, and sharing your link.