Sign-up and your first order, step by step

This guide walks you through the whole path from an empty browser to a running service: creating an account, verifying your email, placing the order, paying and finding your service once it's paid. For each step we explain why you do it and what you'll see.

How it works#

An order has five steps. You do most of them only once; next time you start straight with choosing a service.

Creating an account#

1. Open the sign-up page.

2. In the E-mail field, enter an address you check regularly. It receives the verification link, invoices and important notices about your services. Disposable email addresses are rejected.

3. In the Password field, enter a password at least 10 characters long. You can create a strong one with our password generator and store it in a password manager.

4. In Billing details, choose either Private person or Company / business under Invoice to.

5. Fill in your billing details as described in the table below.

6. Tick the box to agree to the terms and conditions. You can't sign up without it.

7. If a bot check appears below the form, complete it.

8. Click Create account.

   You'll see the Check your inbox screen with the address we sent the message to.

The password has to meet these rules. If it doesn't, the form tells you exactly why:

Your billing details are printed on invoices, so fill them in truthfully. The form rejects obviously made-up values (such as “test” or “asdf”).

You can change your billing details later in Account settings. The change applies only to new invoices; invoices already issued stay as they are.

Verifying your email#

Until you verify your email, the account isn't active: you can't sign in, order anything or manage any services.

1. Open the email from StormHost and click the verification link. The link is valid for 24 hours.

   You'll see the Your e-mail is verified page.

2. Click Sign in and sign in with the email and password you used to sign up.

   The customer area opens on the Overview page.

If the email didn't arrive, follow the “Troubleshooting” section at the end of this guide.

Choosing a service#

You order services from the product pages on our website. What's on offer changes, so each service always shows whether it can be ordered.

On the order page, a service can also show these states:

• Launching soon – the service can't be ordered yet. Message us and we'll let you know when it launches.
• Sold out – there's no free capacity on our servers right now. Try again later or message us.
• This setup doesn't fit right now – make the VPS configuration smaller; the configurator shows what fits.

Order and proforma invoice#

1. On the service page, click the order button. The order page opens with the chosen configuration and price.

2. If you aren't signed in, click Log in and order. Your chosen configuration isn't lost when you sign in.

3. Tick the box to agree to the terms and conditions.

4. Decide whether you want Automatic renewal by card. It's optional; details are in Service renewal and upgrades.

5. Click Order and pay.

   The Order summary page opens. On the left you see the configuration, on the right Payment status with the proforma invoice number (starting with ZF-) and a Pay by row.

A proforma invoice is only a payment request, not proof of payment. We issue the actual invoice once the payment arrives. The difference is explained in detail in Invoices and proforma invoices.

Discount coupon#

If you have a coupon, apply it before you pay:

1. In the Discount coupon tile, enter the code in the Coupon code field.
2. Click Apply. The discount shows up in the total on the right straight away.

Once you've started the payment (gone to the payment gateway), you can no longer add or change a coupon. If you forgot it, message us before you pay.

Payment#

On the Order summary page you pay in one of two ways:

• With credit – if you have enough credit, you'll see Pay with credit at the top. You confirm the payment with a slider. More in Credit.
• Through the payment gateway – you choose a payment method and click Pay via GoPay.

Paying through the payment gateway:

1. In the Payment method list, choose a method. Each one shows no fee or the fee amount (for example + 13 CZK).
2. Check the Total to pay including the method fee row if it appears.
3. Click Pay via GoPay. Your browser takes you to the payment gateway's secure page.
4. Complete the payment as the gateway instructs (for a card, usually a confirmation in your banking app).
5. After payment, the gateway brings you back to the Order summary.

An overview of methods and fees is in Payment methods and fees.

What happens after payment#

We set up the service automatically as soon as the payment arrives; you don't need to wait or contact us.

1. The order page shows Payment received, provisioning your service. and a moment later Payment received, your service is active.
2. Click View services, or Go to the service for a VPS. The service is in My services with the status Active.
3. You'll find the invoice under Invoices. The PDF is usually ready within a few minutes of payment.

You'll usually also get an email confirming the payment and the service setup.

What to do next, by service type:

• VPS – the first boot takes a few minutes while the system installs updates and restarts once. The Installation line in the Console tab shows the progress. You'll find the IP address in the Network tab and the root password in the Console tab behind the Show button. Continue with First SSH connection and right after that Securing a new VPS.
• Minecraft server – accept the Minecraft EULA before the first start. Guide: First start and the EULA.
• FiveM server – start with FiveM license key.
• Discord bot – continue with Uploading and starting your bot.

Unpaid order#

You don't have to pay for an order right away. You have until the date shown in the order's Pay by row (and on the Overview page in the Awaiting payment tile).

• If you don't pay by that date, the system cancels the order automatically, together with the proforma invoice. You owe us nothing and nothing is collected.
• Still want the service? On the cancelled order's page, click Order again and the configuration is filled in for you.
• If you paid by bank transfer and the payment is still being processed, the order stays valid even after the deadline, and we set up the service once the money arrives.

Verification#

Sign-up and ordering went through correctly if:

• the Overview page shows the Active services tile with a count of at least 1,
• in My services, the service has the status Active,
• under Invoices, there's a document with the status Paid.

Troubleshooting#

The verification email didn't arrive#

1. Wait a few minutes and check your spam folder (and promotions or bulk mail).
2. Check that you entered the email without a typo. If not, click Fix the e-mail on the screen shown after sign-up and sign up again.
3. Try signing in with your email and password. Sign-in won't go through for an unverified account, but we'll send you a new verification link (at most once a minute).
4. Still nothing? Use Forgot your password?. Setting a new password verifies the account at the same time.

When I sign in, I see Invalid email or password. If you have just signed up, please confirm your e-mail first…#

Either the password is wrong or the account isn't verified yet. First click the link in the verification email. If the link has expired (This link has expired), follow the previous section.

The payment failed or I cancelled it#

The order page shows The payment was not completed (cancelled or expired). The order stays valid. Click Pay via GoPay again, with a different method if you like.

I paid by bank transfer and the service still isn't there#

A bank transfer can take up to 1–⁠2 business days to arrive. The order page shows The payment hasn't been confirmed yet. Don't start a new payment, or you'll pay twice. We set up the service ourselves as soon as the money arrives.

I paid after the order was cancelled#

You'll see a message that the payment arrived after the order was cancelled. The service isn't set up automatically, but you won't lose the money: we'll contact you and either set up the service by hand or refund you.

The order shows Sold out or Launching soon#

The service can't be ordered right now. Try a smaller package or message us and we'll let you know when there's capacity. Contact details are in Customer area.