/* ==================== Hero ==================== */
	.start-hero {
		background:
			radial-gradient(circle at 12% 20%, rgba(99,102,241,.10) 0%, transparent 38%),
			radial-gradient(circle at 88% 80%, rgba(67,56,202,.08) 0%, transparent 42%),
			linear-gradient(180deg, #fafbfc 0%, #f1f3f5 100%);
		padding: 70px 0 50px;
		border-bottom: 1px solid #e9ecef;
	}
	.start-hero .eyebrow {
		display: inline-block;
		font-size: .78rem;
		font-weight: 700;
		letter-spacing: .14em;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		color: #4338ca;
		background: #fff;
		border: 1px solid #e0e2ff;
		padding: .35rem .9rem;
		border-radius: 999px;
		margin-bottom: 1.1rem;
	}
	.start-hero h1 {
		font-size: clamp(2rem, 4.5vw, 3.4rem);
		font-weight: 800;
		letter-spacing: -.025em;
		line-height: 1.05;
		margin: 0 0 1rem;
		color: #1a1d22;
	}
	.start-hero .lead {
		font-size: 1.18rem;
		color: #495057;
		max-width: 720px;
		margin: 0 auto 1rem;
		line-height: 1.55;
	}
	.start-hero .meta {
		font-size: .88rem;
		color: #868e96;
		font-style: italic;
	}

	/* ==================== Audience callout ==================== */
	.start-audience {
		max-width: 820px;
		margin: 2.5rem auto 0;
		padding: 1.4rem 1.6rem;
		background: #fbfbfd;
		border-left: 3px solid #6366f1;
		border-radius: 8px;
	}
	.start-audience strong { color: #1a1d22; display: block; margin-bottom: .35rem; }
	.start-audience p { margin: 0; color: #495057; line-height: 1.55; font-size: .96rem; }

	/* ==================== Section heads ==================== */
	.start-section { padding: 50px 0 30px; }
	.start-section.alt { background: #fbfbfd; border-top: 1px solid #f1f3f5; border-bottom: 1px solid #f1f3f5; }
	.start-section-head {
		max-width: 820px;
		margin: 0 auto 1.6rem;
	}
	.start-section-eyebrow {
		font-size: .72rem;
		font-weight: 700;
		letter-spacing: .14em;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		color: #6c757d;
		margin-bottom: .35rem;
	}
	.start-section-head h2 {
		font-size: clamp(1.5rem, 2.8vw, 2.1rem);
		font-weight: 800;
		letter-spacing: -.015em;
		color: #1a1d22;
		margin: 0 0 .5rem;
	}
	.start-section-head .sub {
		font-size: 1.02rem;
		color: #495057;
		line-height: 1.55;
		margin: 0;
	}

	/* ==================== Step blocks ==================== */
	.start-step {
		background: #fff;
		border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
		border-radius: 14px;
		padding: 1.75rem 1.85rem;
		margin: 0 auto 1.25rem;
		max-width: 820px;
		display: flex;
		gap: 1.5rem;
		align-items: flex-start;
		transition: border-color .12s ease, box-shadow .12s ease;
	}
	.start-step:hover { border-color: #ced4da; box-shadow: 0 6px 18px rgba(0,0,0,.04); }
	.start-step .num {
		flex-shrink: 0;
		width: 48px; height: 48px;
		border-radius: 12px;
		background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1 0%, #4338ca 100%);
		color: #fff;
		display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
		font-weight: 800;
		font-size: 1.2rem;
		box-shadow: 0 4px 10px rgba(99,102,241,.25);
	}
	.start-step .body { flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
	.start-step h3 {
		font-size: 1.3rem;
		font-weight: 800;
		letter-spacing: -.012em;
		color: #1a1d22;
		margin: 0 0 .35rem;
	}
	.start-step .step-meta {
		font-size: .78rem;
		font-weight: 600;
		color: #4338ca;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		letter-spacing: .08em;
		margin-bottom: .85rem;
	}
	.start-step p { color: #495057; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0 0 .9rem; font-size: .96rem; }
	.start-step ul { color: #495057; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0 0 .9rem; padding-left: 1.2rem; font-size: .94rem; }
	.start-step ul li { margin-bottom: .35rem; }
	.start-step a { color: #4338ca; font-weight: 600; text-decoration: none; }
	.start-step a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
	.start-step .gov-link {
		display: inline-flex;
		align-items: center;
		gap: .4rem;
		background: #eef2ff;
		color: #4338ca;
		padding: .4rem .85rem;
		border-radius: 8px;
		font-weight: 700;
		font-size: .85rem;
		text-decoration: none;
		margin: .25rem .35rem .25rem 0;
		border: 1px solid #c7d2fe;
		transition: background .12s ease, transform .12s ease;
	}
	.start-step .gov-link:hover { background: #e0e7ff; transform: translateY(-1px); text-decoration: none; }
	.start-step .gov-link::before {
		content: "🔗";
		font-size: .8rem;
	}
	.start-step .pull-quote {
		margin: 1rem 0;
		padding: .85rem 1rem;
		background: #fff8f1;
		border-left: 3px solid #f97316;
		border-radius: 6px;
		font-size: .92rem;
		color: #7c2d12;
		line-height: 1.5;
	}
	.start-step .pull-quote strong { color: #431407; }

	/* ==================== Pros/cons table ==================== */
	.start-table-wrap {
		max-width: 820px;
		margin: 0 auto;
	}
	.start-pc-table {
		width: 100%;
		border-collapse: separate;
		border-spacing: 0;
		background: #fff;
		border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
		border-radius: 12px;
		overflow: hidden;
	}
	.start-pc-table thead th {
		background: #f8f9fa;
		font-size: .82rem;
		font-weight: 700;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		letter-spacing: .08em;
		color: #495057;
		padding: .85rem 1rem;
		border-bottom: 1px solid #e9ecef;
		text-align: left;
	}
	.start-pc-table tbody td {
		padding: .9rem 1rem;
		font-size: .92rem;
		color: #495057;
		border-bottom: 1px solid #f1f3f5;
		line-height: 1.5;
		vertical-align: top;
	}
	.start-pc-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 0; }
	.start-pc-table tbody td:first-child { font-weight: 700; color: #1a1d22; width: 30%; }
	.start-pc-table .yes { color: #15803d; font-weight: 700; }
	.start-pc-table .no { color: #b91c1c; font-weight: 700; }

	/* ==================== Cost table ==================== */
	.start-cost-table {
		width: 100%;
		border-collapse: separate;
		border-spacing: 0;
		background: #fff;
		border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
		border-radius: 12px;
		overflow: hidden;
	}
	.start-cost-table thead th {
		background: linear-gradient(180deg, #f8f9fa 0%, #f1f3f5 100%);
		font-size: .82rem;
		font-weight: 700;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		letter-spacing: .08em;
		color: #495057;
		padding: .9rem 1rem;
		border-bottom: 1px solid #e9ecef;
		text-align: left;
	}
	.start-cost-table thead th.right { text-align: right; }
	.start-cost-table tbody td { padding: .85rem 1rem; font-size: .94rem; color: #495057; border-bottom: 1px solid #f1f3f5; }
	.start-cost-table tbody td:first-child { font-weight: 600; color: #1a1d22; }
	.start-cost-table tbody td.amt { text-align: right; font-family: ui-monospace, "SF Mono", Menlo, Consolas, monospace; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1d22; white-space: nowrap; }
	.start-cost-table tfoot td { padding: 1rem; font-weight: 800; color: #1a1d22; background: #fbfbfd; border-top: 2px solid #e9ecef; font-size: 1rem; }
	.start-cost-table tfoot td.amt { text-align: right; font-family: ui-monospace, "SF Mono", Menlo, Consolas, monospace; color: #4338ca; }

	/* ==================== Checklist ==================== */
	.start-checklist {
		max-width: 820px;
		margin: 0 auto;
		background: #fff;
		border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
		border-radius: 14px;
		overflow: hidden;
	}
	.start-checklist .week {
		padding: 1.4rem 1.6rem;
		border-bottom: 1px solid #f1f3f5;
	}
	.start-checklist .week:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }
	.start-checklist .week-label {
		display: inline-block;
		font-size: .72rem;
		font-weight: 700;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		letter-spacing: .14em;
		color: #4338ca;
		background: #eef2ff;
		padding: .25rem .7rem;
		border-radius: 999px;
		margin-bottom: .65rem;
	}
	.start-checklist h4 {
		font-size: 1.1rem;
		font-weight: 800;
		color: #1a1d22;
		margin: 0 0 .65rem;
		letter-spacing: -.01em;
	}
	.start-checklist ul {
		list-style: none;
		padding: 0;
		margin: 0;
	}
	.start-checklist ul li {
		padding: .35rem 0 .35rem 1.7rem;
		position: relative;
		color: #495057;
		font-size: .94rem;
		line-height: 1.5;
	}
	.start-checklist ul li::before {
		content: "☐";
		position: absolute;
		left: 0;
		top: .3rem;
		color: #6366f1;
		font-size: 1.1rem;
		font-weight: 600;
	}

	/* ==================== Common mistakes ==================== */
	.start-pitfall {
		display: flex;
		gap: 1rem;
		align-items: flex-start;
		padding: 1.1rem 1.3rem;
		background: #fff;
		border: 1px solid #fee4e2;
		border-left: 3px solid #dc2626;
		border-radius: 10px;
		margin-bottom: .75rem;
	}
	.start-pitfall .x {
		flex-shrink: 0;
		width: 28px; height: 28px;
		border-radius: 50%;
		background: #fef2f2;
		color: #b91c1c;
		display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
		font-weight: 800;
		font-size: .9rem;
	}
	.start-pitfall .body strong { display: block; color: #1a1d22; margin-bottom: .2rem; font-size: .98rem; }
	.start-pitfall .body p { margin: 0; color: #495057; line-height: 1.5; font-size: .9rem; }

	/* ==================== CTA strip ==================== */
	.start-cta-strip {
		background: linear-gradient(135deg, #0a0e12 0%, #1e1b4b 50%, #312e81 100%);
		color: #f1f3f5;
		padding: 80px 0 90px;
		margin-top: 60px;
		position: relative;
		overflow: hidden;
	}
	.start-cta-strip::before {
		content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 0;
		background-image:
			radial-gradient(circle at 20% 25%, rgba(99,102,241,.18) 0%, transparent 38%),
			radial-gradient(circle at 80% 75%, rgba(168,85,247,.12) 0%, transparent 38%);
		pointer-events: none;
	}
	.start-cta-strip > .container { position: relative; z-index: 1; }
	.start-cta-strip .eyebrow {
		display: inline-block;
		font-size: .78rem;
		font-weight: 700;
		letter-spacing: .14em;
		text-transform: uppercase;
		color: #c4b5fd;
		background: rgba(99,102,241,.18);
		border: 1px solid rgba(99,102,241,.3);
		padding: .35rem .9rem;
		border-radius: 999px;
		margin-bottom: 1.1rem;
	}
	.start-cta-strip h2 {
		font-size: clamp(2rem, 4.5vw, 3rem);
		font-weight: 900;
		letter-spacing: -.025em;
		line-height: 1.05;
		margin: 0 0 1rem;
		background: linear-gradient(180deg, #ffffff 0%, #c0c8d0 100%);
		-webkit-background-clip: text;
		background-clip: text;
		color: transparent;
	}
	.start-cta-strip .lead { font-size: 1.18rem; opacity: .92; max-width: 620px; margin: 0 0 1.6rem; }
	.start-cta-strip .next-grid {
		display: grid;
		grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(220px, 1fr));
		gap: .85rem;
		margin-top: 1.5rem;
	}
	.start-cta-strip .next-card {
		display: block;
		background: rgba(255,255,255,.04);
		border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.08);
		border-radius: 10px;
		padding: 1rem 1.1rem;
		text-decoration: none;
		color: #f1f3f5;
		transition: background .12s ease, transform .12s ease, border-color .12s ease;
	}
	.start-cta-strip .next-card:hover {
		background: rgba(99,102,241,.12);
		border-color: rgba(99,102,241,.4);
		transform: translateY(-2px);
		color: #fff;
	}
	.start-cta-strip .next-card .name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 1rem; margin-bottom: .15rem; }
	.start-cta-strip .next-card .tag { font-size: .82rem; opacity: .7; }

	@media (max-width: 768px) {
		.start-step { flex-direction: column; padding: 1.4rem; }
		.start-step .num { width: 40px; height: 40px; font-size: 1rem; }
		.start-pc-table tbody td { font-size: .88rem; padding: .7rem .8rem; }
		/* Allow the long pros/cons + cost tables to horizontally scroll on
		   narrow screens instead of cramping cell contents into 1-letter
		   wraps. Min-width keeps the columns wide enough to be readable;
		   touch-scrolling is smooth on iOS. */
		.start-table-wrap {
			overflow-x: auto;
			-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
		}
		.start-pc-table { min-width: 560px; }
		.start-cost-table { min-width: 420px; }
	}
	@media (max-width: 575.98px) {
		.start-cost-table thead th, .start-cost-table tbody td, .start-cost-table tfoot td {
			font-size: .88rem; padding: .7rem .8rem;
		}
	}