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Business

Introduce a paid tier to a free product with an active user base

Short-term — weeks to months
Context

The product has real users and genuine engagement. Monetization hasn't started yet. Adding a paid tier could convert power users into paying customers — but it risks fragmenting the community and slowing organic growth if it lands wrong.

Goal

Decide whether the business is ready to monetize, and whether the structure of a paid tier actually fits the way users currently show up.

Analysis dimensions — pre-configured
Reversibility55
Upside Potential75
Downside Severity40
Downside Likelihood35
Dependency Risk30
Long-Term Alignment80

Sky bars indicate dimensions working in the decision's favor. Gray bars highlight areas of elevated risk or cost.

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