Real Cost Score™ Methodology v2.0
An auditable framework for measuring the real economic cost of SaaS beyond the headline price.
1. The five factors
Starting price — 20%
Measure the realistic entry cost for the use case being researched. Record billing period, seat minimums, introductory pricing and taxes separately.
Growth cost — 20%
Measure what happens when seats, contacts, usage or required capabilities increase. Use fixed scenarios instead of vague impressions.
Hidden extras — 20%
Record material costs outside the core subscription: onboarding, add-ons, credits, storage, usage charges and required paid components.
Transparency — 20%
Measure how clearly the provider discloses pricing, limits, billing rules, minimums and important conditions. High transparency does not mean low price.
Ease of exit — 20%
Assess cancellation, data export, contract commitments, refund rules and practical switching friction. Separate documented policy from inferred migration effort.
2. Evidence hierarchy
| Level | Evidence | Use |
|---|---|---|
| A | Official pricing, legal terms, provider documentation | Primary evidence for price and contractual claims |
| B | Official help centre/product documentation | Limits, features, exports, billing details |
| C | Independent reputable sources | Context or corroboration |
| D | User reports/forums | Signals only; never the sole basis for a material claim |
3. Separate facts from interpretation
Every research record should distinguish observed fact, calculation, editorial interpretation and uncertainty. Never turn an uncertain observation into a precise-looking number without disclosure.
4. Prevent double counting
Growth cost is about the cost curve as requirements increase. Hidden extras are material costs outside the core plan. Transparency measures disclosure quality. Do not penalize the same event three times unless it genuinely affects three distinct criteria.
5. Score calculation
(Price + Growth + Extras + Transparency + Exit) / 5. The final score is displayed to one decimal place. Internally, retain the underlying evidence and rationale.
6. Evidence confidence — internal field
Keep a separate internal field: High / Medium / Low. Confidence describes evidence quality, not provider quality. Do not add confidence points to the score.
7. Scenario protocol
For each provider, capture at least: entry case, small-team case, growth case and advanced-feature case. Record the exact assumptions so another researcher can reproduce the calculation.
8. Update rule
Trigger a review when a provider changes pricing, plan names, minimum seats, included limits, add-ons, billing terms or cancellation/export policy. Also perform a periodic full verification.