InDesign Auto Page Number

Here is a problem that has eluded me for sometime perhaos one of you know the answer.

I use InDesign for all of my page layouts. often times I find myself creating seperate files for the covers. This is confusing to clients and can lead to additional chaos if you forget that an element is on the cover page.

My question is this: Is it possiable to set up InDesign to not count the cover pages as pages in the auto number? I want to start the Auto Numbering on page 3 instead of page 1. That way I can include my cover pages and not count it as page 1.

Does this make sence. Sorry to be so confusing. I can elaborate if you need be.

thanks in advance

mark