Beyond Hourly Rates: How Service Providers Build Wealth Through Shared Success Agreements

Are you tired of trading time for money? As a developer, designer, marketer, or consultant, your expertise helps startups grow - but traditional compensation models limit your upside.

In the 6 years since I developed the Shared Success Agreement, I've witnessed how this alternative approach can transform how service providers structure their businesses, replacing some hourly billing with revenue-share partnerships that create ongoing income streams and deeper client relationships.

As a non-technical founder myself, I created this model out of necessity. After struggling with traditional funding and compensation options, I developed a framework that better aligned incentives between founders and the talent they desperately need. Through Cloudburst, we've now invested over $500,000 in our clients using these agreements, proving they work for both sides of the partnership.

In this practical session, you'll discover:

• Why traditional equity compensation often fails service providers and freelancers
• How Shared Success Agreements offer a compelling alternative with potential returns of 25% or more annually
• The tax advantages compared to traditional compensation models
• A simple calculator for determining optimal revenue percentages and payback periods
• Frameworks for identifying which clients are ideal for these arrangements
• How the agreements also benefit founders and investors

I'll share the early lessons we've learned implementing this model at Cloudburst, along with insights from the growing community of professionals exploring revenue-share alternatives to conventional billing models. You'll see how this approach can help create a portfolio of revenue streams that generate income beyond your active client work.

The open-source agreement template is freely available at SharedSuccessAgreement.org, but this session will give you the strategic framework to implement it successfully in your service business.

Bring your client scenarios and questions for a hands-on discussion.

• Other
• Startups