A guarantee needs a metric, deadline and boundary
The protected measure is eligible first-year customer value signed for your business. It is not total lifetime value, informal pipeline, funding raised or annual recurring revenue automatically. Which contracts count and how shared contributions are attributed must be settled in the approved agreement.
The public fee is four months at $40,000. The conditional buffer provides up to two further operating months without another base agency charge. It does not mean approved tools become free or that every deal must close by a particular calendar week. The remedy addresses an agreed shortfall, capped by fees paid; the final written terms control mechanics and eligibility.
| Decision | Evidence to use | What changes next |
|---|---|---|
| Measure | Eligible signed first-year customer contract value | Exclude meetings, proposals and unsupported pipeline |
| Operating window | Four paid months; conditional operation through month six | Plan product and client support across the agreed period |
| Remedy | Remaining shortfall, capped at fees paid | Read approval conditions and refund timing in the agreement |
Work through the decision
Illustrative calculation: assume an approved engagement has $160,000 in fees paid and $110,000 in eligible signed first-year value by the month-six measurement. The difference is $50,000, below the fee cap. Under those assumptions, the shortfall example is $50,000.
If signed value reaches $180,000, there is no shortfall against the $160,000 target; $20,000 exceeds the threshold and the public 10% commission rule would imply $2,000 on that eligible excess. These figures demonstrate the definitions only. They do not determine whether a particular real contract is eligible.
A headline replaces the approval conversation
The guarantee applies to approved engagements, not every company that books a call. Product readiness, commercial plausibility and client dependencies matter. A signed-value target also leaves collection, delivery, margin and market risks that a fee remedy cannot remove.
A concrete next step
Ask for a written walk-through using one example contract from your normal deal structure. Clarify what counts, when it counts and which evidence establishes attribution before committing.
Sources and research notes
- Ramp Year: delivery method and public offerOur public offer; final agreement controls
- Bessemer: 10 laws of cloudInvestor operating guidance
Primary sources reviewed October 6, 2026. The operating recommendations and worked scenarios are Daavid’s analysis. Illustrative numbers are assumptions, not measured client results. Company marks identify sources and prior experience; they do not imply a customer relationship or endorsement.
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