Can you pay the monthly fee, and is there a startup amount?

There are multiple signup Fees but they frequently offer specials and waive them

Not sure what you meant about the monthly fee. But yes there is a monthly fee and also a sign up fee. I used a coupon I got in the mail from a friend to waive it or sometimes they do specials for no sign up fee some months. Dont forget about the $40 maintenance fee every year as well.