# Getting started with AWS Cost Management
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This section provides information that you need to get started with using the AWS Cost Management console. As a first step, you need to sign up for an AWS account and set up IAM users.

## Sign up for an AWS account
<a name="sign-up-for-aws"></a>

If you do not have an AWS account, complete the following steps to create one.

**To sign up for an AWS account**

1. Open [https://portal.aws.amazon.com/billing/signup](https://portal.aws.amazon.com/billing/signup).

1. Follow the online instructions.

   Part of the sign-up procedure involves receiving a phone call or text message and entering a verification code on the phone keypad.

   When you sign up for an AWS account, an *AWS account root user* is created. The root user has access to all AWS services and resources in the account. As a security best practice, assign administrative access to a user, and use only the root user to perform [tasks that require root user access](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_root-user.html#root-user-tasks).

AWS sends you a confirmation email after the sign-up process is complete. At any time, you can view your current account activity and manage your account by going to [https://aws.amazon.com/](https://aws.amazon.com/) and choosing **My Account**.

## Create a user with administrative access
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After you sign up for an AWS account, secure your AWS account root user, enable AWS IAM Identity Center, and create an administrative user so that you don't use the root user for everyday tasks.

**Secure your AWS account root user**

1.  Sign in to the [AWS Management Console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/) as the account owner by choosing **Root user** and entering your AWS account email address. On the next page, enter your password.

   For help signing in by using root user, see [Signing in as the root user](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/signin/latest/userguide/console-sign-in-tutorials.html#introduction-to-root-user-sign-in-tutorial) in the *AWS Sign-In User Guide*.

1. Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your root user.

   For instructions, see [Enable a virtual MFA device for your AWS account root user (console)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/enable-virt-mfa-for-root.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.

**Create a user with administrative access**

1. Enable IAM Identity Center.

   For instructions, see [Enabling AWS IAM Identity Center](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//singlesignon/latest/userguide/get-set-up-for-idc.html) in the *AWS IAM Identity Center User Guide*.

1. In IAM Identity Center, grant administrative access to a user.

   For a tutorial about using the IAM Identity Center directory as your identity source, see [ Configure user access with the default IAM Identity Center directory](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//singlesignon/latest/userguide/quick-start-default-idc.html) in the *AWS IAM Identity Center User Guide*.

**Sign in as the user with administrative access**
+ To sign in with your IAM Identity Center user, use the sign-in URL that was sent to your email address when you created the IAM Identity Center user.

  For help signing in using an IAM Identity Center user, see [Signing in to the AWS access portal](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/signin/latest/userguide/iam-id-center-sign-in-tutorial.html) in the *AWS Sign-In User Guide*.

**Assign access to additional users**

1. In IAM Identity Center, create a permission set that follows the best practice of applying least-privilege permissions.

   For instructions, see [ Create a permission set](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//singlesignon/latest/userguide/get-started-create-a-permission-set.html) in the *AWS IAM Identity Center User Guide*.

1. Assign users to a group, and then assign single sign-on access to the group.

   For instructions, see [ Add groups](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//singlesignon/latest/userguide/addgroups.html) in the *AWS IAM Identity Center User Guide*.

## Attach the required IAM policy to an IAM identity
<a name="step-2"></a>

AWS account owners can provide permissions to specific users who need to view or manage the Billing and Cost Management data for an AWS account. To start activating access to the Billing and Cost Management console, see [IAM tutorial: Delegate access to the billing console](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/tutorial_billing.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.

For more information about IAM policies specific to Billing and Cost Management, see [Using identity-based policies (IAM policies) for Billing and Cost Management](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awsaccountbilling/latest/aboutv2/billing-permissions-ref.html).

For a list of Billing and Cost Management policy examples, see [Billing and Cost Management policy examples](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awsaccountbilling/latest/aboutv2/billing-example-policies.html).

# Reviewing your bills and usage
<a name="step-3"></a>

Use features in the Billing and Cost Management console to view your current AWS charges and AWS usage.

**To open the Billing and Cost Management console and view your usage and charges**

1. Sign into the AWS Management Console and open the Billing and Cost Management console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/costmanagement/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/costmanagement/).

1. Choose **Bills** to see the details for your current charges.

   Choose **Payments** to see your historical payment transactions.

   Choose **Data Exports** to create exports of your billing and cost management data, such as cost and usage or cost optimization recommendations.

For information about Billing console features, see the [AWS Billing User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awsaccountbilling/latest/aboutv2/billing-what-is.html).

For more information about setting up and using AWS Data Exports, see the [AWS Data Exports User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cur/latest/userguide/what-is-data-exports.html).

# Setting up your AWS Cost Management features
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Review the process that's needed to activate your AWS Cost Management features.
+ **AWS Cost Explorer**: [Enabling Cost Explorer](ce-enable.md)
+ **AWS Budgets**: [Best practices for AWS Budgets](budgets-best-practices.md)
+ **AWS Budgets reports**: [Reporting your metrics with AWS Budgets Reports](reporting-cost-budget.md)
+ **AWS Cost Anomaly Detection**: [Setting up your anomaly detection](settingup-ad.md)
+ **Cost Optimization Hub**: [Getting started with Cost Optimization Hub](coh-getting-started.md)
+ **Savings Plans**: [Getting started with Savings Plans](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/savingsplans/latest/userguide/get-started.html) in the *Savings Plans User Guide*
+ **AWS Pricing Calculator**: [Generating estimates with Pricing Calculator](pricing-calculator.md)

# What do I do next?
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Now that you have AWS Cost Management set up, you're ready to use the features available to you. The rest of this guide helps you navigate your journey using the console.

## Using the Billing and Cost Management API
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Use the [AWS Billing and Cost Management API Reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-cost-management/latest/APIReference/Welcome.html) to programmatically use some AWS Cost Management features.

## Learn more
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You can find more information about AWS Cost Management features including presentations, virtual workshops, and blog posts on the [Cloud Financial Management with AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/aws-cost-management/) page.

You can find virtual workshops by choosing the **Services** drop-down and selecting your feature.

## Getting help
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There are several resources that you can use if you want to learn more about or need help with any of the AWS Cost Management features.

### AWS Knowledge Center
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All AWS account owners have access to account and billing support free of charge. You can find answers to your questions quickly by visiting the AWS Knowledge Center.

**To find your question or request**

1. Open [AWS Knowledge Center](http://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/knowledge-center/).

1. Choose **Billing Management**. 

1. Scan the list of topics to locate a question that is similar to yours.

### Contacting Support
<a name="cmg-support"></a>

Contacting Support is the fastest and most direct method for communicating with an AWS associate about your questions. Support doesn't publish a direct phone number for reaching a support representative. You can use the following process to have an associate reach out to you by email or phone instead.

Only personalized technical support requires a support plan. For more information, visit [Support](https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/).

To open an Support case where you specify *Regarding: Account and Billing Support*, you must either be signed into AWS as the root account owner, or have IAM permissions to open a support case. For more information, see [Accessing Support](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awssupport/latest/user/getting-started.html#accessing-support) in the *Support User Guide*.

If you closed your AWS account, you can still sign in to Support and view past bills.

**To contact Support**

1. Sign in and navigate to the [Support Center](http://aws.amazon.com/support).

1. Choose **Create case**. 

1. On the **Create case** page, choose **Account and billing** and fill in the required fields on the form.

1. After you complete the form, under **Contact options**, choose either **Web** for an email response or **Phone** to request a telephone call from an Support representative. Instant messaging support isn't available for billing inquiries.

**To contact Support when you can't sign in to AWS**

1. Recover your password or submit a form at [AWS account support](https://support.aws.amazon.com/#/contacts/aws-account-support ).

1. Choose an inquiry type in the **Request information** section.

1. Fill out the **How can we help you?** section.

1. Choose **Submit**.

**Note**  
When you use billing transfer, contact the bill transfer account owner first because they control your cost data and receive your AWS invoices. To find the bill transfer account information, go to the **Bill transfer** page, **Outbound billing **tab.