Create or access your Zoom account - Sign up for a free Basic account at zoom.us or through the mobile/desktop application to begin hosting meetings.

Understand the basic time limitations - Free Zoom accounts provide unlimited one-on-one meeting duration, but limit group meetings (3+ participants) to 40 minutes per session.

Check meeting participant capacity - Free accounts can host up to 100 participants per meeting, allowing for substantial group collaboration within the time constraints.

Plan effective meeting strategies - Structure your agenda to fit within the 40-minute timeframe, prioritizing key discussion points at the beginning of your session.

Learn continuation techniques - When your 40-minute limit approaches, you can immediately start a new meeting using the same meeting link, inviting participants to rejoin.

Explore meeting extension options - During certain promotional periods, Zoom occasionally removes time restrictions on free accounts (such as during holidays or global events).

Consider alternative solutions - For regular longer meetings, evaluate Zoom Pro plans ($15.99/month) which remove the time limit, or explore other platforms like Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.