Hello Rickswanson,
Thanks for your question about the WordPress account requirement to run BoldGrid. As long as you have a valid hosting subscription you can load BoldGrid – a plugin for WordPress. The WordPress installation is not a subscription and does not require purchase. WordPress is free! Your first step is to run the WordPress installation. Depending on your hosting service, you may have the option to have it installed for you, or there might be an installation software that can make the installation much easier. After that, you can reference the BoldGrid Support article, How to Install BoldGrid.
I hope that helps to answer your question! If you require further assistance, please let us know!
Regards,
Arnel C.