# Launch Week Tasks — Feb 25, 2026
**Author:** Harper (Finance/Legal)
**Requested:** System task — Michael needs these before launch week ends

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## TASK 1: BAS FILING CHECK ✅

### Answer: RateRight does NOT need to file a BAS by Feb 28. Not now. Not ever (until circumstances change).

**Why:**

BAS (Business Activity Statement) is required when a business has ANY of these obligations:
1. ✅ GST reporting → **RateRight is NOT GST-registered.** Not required until $75K annual turnover. We're at $0.
2. ✅ PAYG withholding → **RateRight has NO employees.** No wages paid = no withholding.
3. ✅ PAYG instalments → **Not applicable.** No prior year tax liability triggering instalments.
4. ✅ FBT instalments → **Not applicable.** No fringe benefits (no employees).

**Verification sources:**
- ATO: "You must register for GST if your GST turnover is $75,000 or more" — RateRight turnover: $0
- ATO: "You must lodge a BAS if you are registered for GST or have other BAS obligations" — RateRight has none
- Michael confirmed directly on Feb 18: no GST registration, no employees, no PAYG

**When this changes:**
- Annual revenue exceeds $75K → must register for GST within 21 days → BAS lodgement begins
- Michael hires an employee → PAYG withholding begins → BAS lodgement begins
- Neither is imminent. At 15 hires/month breakeven, we'd hit $9,000 annual revenue. GST threshold is $75K — that's 1,535 hires/year or ~128/month. Long way off.

**⚠️ FLEET NOTE:** The BAS deadline appearing in COMPANY.md and fleet bulletins is WRONG and has been wrong since at least Feb 20. I've corrected it 4+ times. Someone or something keeps regenerating it. This needs to be fixed at the source — likely in Rivet's COMPANY.md generation logic.

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## TASK 2: LAUNCH WEEK FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS — First 30 Days

### Assumptions
- Launch date: ~March 1, 2026
- Fee: $50/hire, net $48.85 after Stripe
- Base burn: $727/month (fixed)
- Marketing: $360 (hostel direct mail Round 1 — per my budget analysis today)
- Total Month 1 costs: ~$1,087

### Scenario A: Cold Start (Pessimistic)
*No organic traction. Only hostel flyers driving worker supply. Contractor outreach just beginning.*

| Week | Worker Signups | Job Posts | Hires | Revenue | Cumulative Revenue |
|------|---------------|-----------|-------|---------|-------------------|
| 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 3 | 12 | 5 | 1 | $48.85 | $48.85 |
| 4 | 15 | 7 | 2 | $97.70 | $146.55 |
| **30 Days** | **40** | **17** | **3** | | **$146.55** |

**Cash position end of Month 1: $24,408 - $1,087 + $147 = $23,468**
**Runway: 32 months** (barely changed — $940 net burn)

### Scenario B: Warm Start (Moderate)
*Susan's outreach converts some contractors. Hostel flyers get traction in Sydney. Word of mouth begins.*

| Week | Worker Signups | Job Posts | Hires | Revenue | Cumulative Revenue |
|------|---------------|-----------|-------|---------|-------------------|
| 1 | 10 | 4 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 2 | 15 | 8 | 2 | $97.70 | $97.70 |
| 3 | 20 | 12 | 3 | $146.55 | $244.25 |
| 4 | 25 | 15 | 5 | $244.25 | $488.50 |
| **30 Days** | **70** | **39** | **10** | | **$488.50** |

**Cash position end of Month 1: $24,408 - $1,087 + $489 = $23,810**
**Runway: 33+ months** (revenue nearly covers marketing spend)

### Scenario C: Hot Start (Optimistic)
*Multiple contractors convert quickly. Hostel flyers go viral in Sydney backpacker community. Michael's network activates.*

| Week | Worker Signups | Job Posts | Hires | Revenue | Cumulative Revenue |
|------|---------------|-----------|-------|---------|-------------------|
| 1 | 15 | 6 | 1 | $48.85 | $48.85 |
| 2 | 25 | 12 | 4 | $195.40 | $244.25 |
| 3 | 35 | 18 | 6 | $293.10 | $537.35 |
| 4 | 45 | 25 | 9 | $439.65 | $977.00 |
| **30 Days** | **120** | **61** | **20** | | **$977.00** |

**Cash position end of Month 1: $24,408 - $1,087 + $977 = $24,298**
**Runway: 34+ months** (nearly cash-flow neutral in month 1)

### Summary Table

| Scenario | 30-Day Hires | 30-Day Revenue | Net Cash Burn | End Balance | Runway |
|----------|-------------|----------------|---------------|-------------|--------|
| **Cold** | 3 | $147 | -$940 | $23,468 | 32 mo |
| **Warm** | 10 | $489 | -$598 | $23,810 | 33 mo |
| **Hot** | 20 | $977 | -$110 | $24,298 | 34 mo |

### Key Insight
**Even the pessimistic scenario barely dents our runway.** At $1,087/month all-in costs and $24K in the bank, we can afford 22 months of zero revenue before it gets concerning. The financial risk of launching is negligible. The risk of NOT launching (competitor entrenchment, lost time) is much higher.

### Critical Metrics to Track from Day 1
1. **Hires completed** — the only metric that matters for revenue
2. **Stripe webhook success rate** — missed webhooks = lost tracking
3. **Worker signup → available rate** — how many signups become hireable profiles
4. **Contractor signup → first job post rate** — conversion funnel health
5. **Job post → match → hire rate** — the full funnel
6. **Time-to-first-hire per contractor** — experience quality indicator

### Financial Alert Triggers
- 🔴 Zero hires after 14 days → reassess matching algorithm, not finances
- 🟡 <5 hires after 30 days → consider increasing marketing spend by $200
- 🟢 >10 hires after 30 days → prove channel, then scale
- 🟢 >20 hires after 30 days → increase marketing budget to $700 (Scenario B in my framework)

---

## TASK 3: INSURANCE AUDIT — Pre-Launch Coverage Requirements

### What RateRight Needs (Platform/Marketplace)

| Insurance Type | Needed? | Why | Est. Annual Cost | Priority |
|----------------|---------|-----|-------------------|----------|
| **Professional Indemnity (PI)** | ✅ YES | Covers claims from faulty matching advice, negligent service, errors in the platform. Standard for any tech platform. | $800–$2,000/yr | HIGH |
| **Public Liability** | ✅ RECOMMENDED | Covers third-party injury/property damage. If Michael visits hostels, meets clients, or attends events. Standard business cover. | $400–$800/yr | HIGH |
| **Cyber Liability** | ✅ RECOMMENDED | Covers data breaches, privacy incidents. We hold personal data (names, ABNs, phone numbers, payment info via Stripe). | $500–$1,500/yr | MEDIUM |
| **Management Liability / D&O** | ⚠️ OPTIONAL (for now) | Directors & Officers cover. Relevant if/when we have investors or a board. Michael is sole director — lower risk. | $1,000–$3,000/yr | LOW |
| **Workers Compensation** | ❌ NO | RateRight has no employees. Not required. | N/A | N/A |

### What RateRight Does NOT Need

| Insurance Type | Why Not |
|----------------|---------|
| **Workers Compensation** | No employees. Workers on the platform are engaged directly by contractors — contractors are responsible for their own workers comp. |
| **Labour Hire Insurance** | Not a labour hire company. Marketplace model. |
| **Product Liability** | We don't manufacture or sell physical products. |
| **Motor Vehicle** | No company vehicles. |
| **Property / Contents** | No office, no physical assets (VPS is digital). |

### The Key Legal Question: Who Is Liable When a Worker Gets Hurt?

**Short answer: The contractor who hired them — NOT RateRight.**

RateRight is a matchmaker, not an employer. When a contractor pays $50 and hires a worker through RateRight:
- The **contractor** is the PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) under WHS law
- The **contractor** provides the workplace, tools, PPE, supervision, and safety systems
- The **contractor** is responsible for workers compensation for their workers
- **RateRight** facilitated the introduction — we didn't create the workplace, direct the work, or employ the worker

**This is the same legal position as SEEK, Indeed, or Gumtree** — job boards that connect parties but don't employ workers. Nobody sues SEEK when someone gets hurt at a job they found through SEEK.

### BUT: Mitigate Risk in Terms of Service

Our ToS should clearly state (and the draft already includes most of this):
1. RateRight is a marketplace/introduction service, not an employer or labour hire provider
2. Contractors are solely responsible for workplace safety, insurance, and compliance
3. Workers are engaged directly by contractors — RateRight is not a party to the engagement
4. RateRight does not guarantee worker quality, qualifications, or fitness for any role
5. Limitation of liability clause capping RateRight's exposure
6. Indemnification clause requiring contractors to indemnify RateRight for workplace claims

### Recommended Minimum Coverage Before Launch

| Policy | Coverage Amount | Est. Premium | Action |
|--------|----------------|-------------|--------|
| **Professional Indemnity** | $1M–$2M | $800–$1,500/yr | Get quote this week |
| **Public Liability** | $5M–$10M | $400–$800/yr | Get quote this week |
| **Combined PI + PL package** | As above | $1,000–$2,000/yr | Most insurers bundle these |

**Total estimated insurance cost: $1,000–$2,000/year ($83–$167/month)**

This would add ~$125/month to our burn rate (midpoint), taking monthly costs from $727 to ~$852. Still 28+ months runway at zero revenue.

### Where to Get Quotes

| Provider | Type | Notes |
|----------|------|-------|
| **BizCover** | Online, instant quotes | Best for small business. Compare multiple insurers. |
| **Upcover** | Tech startup specialist | Designed for startups/tech companies. |
| **Insurance House** | Construction industry specialist | Understands construction marketplace dynamics. |
| **CGU / QBE / Allianz** | Direct | Major insurers, may need a broker. |

### ⚠️ Important Caveat

**I am not a licensed insurance broker or lawyer.** This analysis identifies likely coverage needs based on RateRight's business model. Before purchasing, Michael should:
1. Get at least 2-3 quotes from different providers
2. Confirm coverage specifics (marketplace/platform model — some PI policies exclude "marketplace" operations)
3. Ensure the policy wording covers "online platform" and "matching/introduction services"
4. Consider a 30-minute consultation with an insurance broker who understands tech platforms (~$150–$300)

### Recommendation to Michael

**Get a combined PI + PL quote from BizCover this week.** It's a 10-minute online process. $1,000–$2,000/year is a small price for protection against a claim that could kill the company. Cyber liability can wait until we have meaningful user data volume, but should be added within 6 months.

**Do NOT launch without at least Professional Indemnity.** A single claim for "negligent matching" (e.g., unqualified worker injures someone on site) without PI cover could wipe out the entire company.

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## Summary for Michael

| Task | Answer | Action Needed |
|------|--------|---------------|
| **BAS by Feb 28?** | **NO.** Not required. Not GST-registered, no employees, no PAYG. | None. Tell the fleet to stop flagging it. |
| **30-day projections** | Even worst case (3 hires, $147 revenue), runway stays at 32 months. Financial risk of launching is near zero. | Track hires from day 1. Alert triggers set. |
| **Insurance** | Need PI + PL before launch. ~$1,000–$2,000/year. | **Get BizCover quote this week. 10 minutes online.** |