Program Overview
A Small Business Program supports early-stage and growing companies by offering discounted access to software and services, scaled according to their financial capacity.
Price should never be a barrier to adoption for organizations that genuinely cannot justify the expense. At the same time, larger organizations with the resources to pay should contribute to the sustainability of the tools they depend on.
Example Discount Model
The following table illustrates one approach to scaling discounts based on an organization's financials. Vendors are encouraged to adapt this to their own context.
| Financial Range (USD) | Discount |
|---|---|
| 0 - 1M | 100% |
| 1 - 2M | 90% |
| 2 - 3M | 80% |
| 3 - 4M | 60% |
| 4 - 5M | 20% |
Financials is defined as the larger of the organization's income, expenses, or assets in USD. The organization is the top-most entity which, directly or indirectly, controls all other entities that will use the software.
Why This Matters
A Small Business Program creates a fair exchange: startups and small teams get full access to proven infrastructure without financial strain, while the vendor builds a sustainable revenue base from organizations that can afford to pay. Everyone benefits from better-funded, better-maintained software.
For Vendors
If you maintain or sell software that others depend on, consider adopting a program like this. It removes the most common objection to commercial licensing ("we can't afford it") while preserving revenue from organizations that can. It also generates goodwill and broader adoption, which strengthens your ecosystem.
For Users
If a tool you rely on has a Small Business Program, make sure your organization takes advantage of it. If it does not, point the vendor to this page. And if your company has grown beyond the eligibility threshold, talk to your leadership about paying for the tools your team depends on.