SOP #42 — The Revenue Clawback Clause That Returned $18k

SOP #42 — The Revenue Clawback Clause That Returned $18k

E-commerce store, $9,400/mo net. We added one clause to the purchase agreement. Here is the procedure:

1. Demand 90-day refund/chargeback data from the processor directly (not seller screenshots). Pass if refund rate is stable and disclosed.
2. Compute net-of-refunds profit — subtract the trailing-90-day refund rate from gross. Result: stated profit ignored a 14% holiday return wave.
3. Insert a holdback: escrow retains 15% of price for 60 days post-close, released minus any chargebacks on pre-close orders.
4. Reconcile at day 60 — match processor chargeback report to held funds.

Outcome: $18,200 in pre-close chargebacks hit in the first 45 days. All deducted from the holdback, not our pocket. Without the clause that loss was ours.

Save this — run it every deal.