API Setup Guide

OpenAI API Setup

Follow these steps to create an OpenAI account and set up payment with spending controls.

Step 1: Create an OpenAI Account

1. Visit platform.openai.com/signup
2. Sign up with your email address or Google/Microsoft account
3. Verify your email address if prompted
4. Complete any additional verification steps (may include phone verification)

Step 2: Set Up Billing

1. Once logged in, click on your profile icon in the top right
2. Navigate to Settings → Billing
3. Click Add payment method
4. Enter your credit/debit card details
5. Choose your billing preferences (automatic recharge or manual)

Step 3: Set Spending Limits (CRITICAL)

1. In the Billing section, look for Usage limits or Spending limits
2. Click Set up usage limits
3. Set a Hard limit – this is the maximum amount you can be charged per month
   • Start conservatively (e.g., $10-20/month)
   • Once API requests hit this limit, they will be rejected
4. Optionally set a Soft limit to receive email warnings before hitting your hard limit
5. Enable email notifications for usage alerts

Step 4: Generate an API Key

1. In your OpenAI dashboard, navigate to API Keys (left sidebar)
2. Click Create new secret key
3. Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "FreeITSM Production")
4. Copy the key immediately – you won't be able to see it again
5. Store the key securely (password manager recommended)
6. Never commit API keys to version control or share them publicly

Step 5: Monitor Your Usage

1. Regularly check your usage dashboard at platform.openai.com/usage
2. Review which models are consuming the most tokens
3. Adjust your spending limits as needed based on actual usage patterns

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Anthropic API Setup

Follow these steps to create an Anthropic account and configure billing with spending controls.

Step 1: Create an Anthropic Account

1. Visit console.anthropic.com
2. Click Sign Up or Get Started
3. Sign up with your email address or Google account
4. Verify your email address
5. Complete the onboarding questionnaire if presented

Step 2: Set Up Billing

1. In the Anthropic Console, navigate to Settings → Billing
2. Click Add payment method or Set up billing
3. Enter your credit/debit card information
4. Confirm your billing details

Step 3: Configure Spending Limits (CRITICAL)

1. In the Billing section, look for Budget or Spending limits
2. Set a Monthly budget cap
   • Start with a conservative amount (e.g., $10-20/month)
   • Once this limit is reached, API requests will be rejected
3. Configure Budget alerts to receive notifications at percentage thresholds (e.g., 50%, 75%, 90%)
4. Enable email notifications for all budget alerts

Step 4: Generate an API Key

1. In the Anthropic Console, navigate to API Keys (left sidebar or Settings)
2. Click Create Key or Generate API Key
3. Give your key a meaningful name (e.g., "FreeITSM Production")
4. Copy the API key immediately – it won't be shown again
5. Store the key securely in a password manager
6. Never expose API keys in code repositories or public spaces

Step 5: Monitor Your Usage

1. Check your usage dashboard regularly in the Anthropic Console
2. Review the Usage section to see API calls and token consumption
3. Track which Claude models are being used most frequently
4. Adjust budget limits based on your actual usage patterns

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Best Practices for API Cost Management

• Start Small: Begin with low spending limits ($10-20/month) and increase gradually
• Monitor Daily: Check your usage dashboards at least once per day during initial setup
• Set Multiple Alerts: Configure notifications at 50%, 75%, and 90% of your budget
• Test in Stages: Test with small workloads before deploying to production
• Rotate Keys: Periodically generate new API keys and revoke old ones
• Separate Keys: Use different API keys for development and production environments
• Review Regularly: Audit your API usage monthly to identify optimization opportunities
• Understand Token Costs: Learn how different models and operations consume tokens differently

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