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Startup Accounting

Contract Modifications, Upgrades, and Renewals Under ASC 606

Written by Harry Prabandham

Curated by Rubric Financial

Last updated

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What Counts as a Modification

  • A contract modification is a change in the scope or price of a contract that both parties approve.
  • Approval can be written, oral, or implied by customary business practices, as long as it creates enforceable rights and obligations.
  • Mid-term upsells, added seats, plan changes, and negotiated renewals are all common SaaS modifications.
  • If the parties have not yet approved a change in scope, you continue to apply the existing contract terms.

About the author

Harry Prabandham

Founder & CEO

Founder and CEO of StartupCFO. MBA from Wharton, MS in Computer Science, and decades of experience building and advising venture-backed startups.

More articles by Harry

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