specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Sphere
providerId: sphere-tax
created: '2026-06-21'
modified: '2026-06-21'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Tax
- Sales Tax
- VAT
- GST
- Compliance
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Sphere spend. Sphere bills a flat fee per active region per
  month (Starter), custom sales-led pricing for ten or more regions (Growth), a
  flat per-transaction overage above 50,000 transactions across active regions,
  and pass-through jurisdiction registration fees debited to the account. There
  are no implementation or one-off fees. Pricing is partly sales-led so exact
  amounts are not fully public; this artifact is not reconciled.
notes: >-
  Custom Growth pricing and the per-transaction overage amount are not public.
  Verify against the Sphere pricing page and your agreement during reconciliation.
sources:
- https://www.getsphere.com/pricing
- https://docs.getsphere.com/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Sphere
serviceCategory: Tax and Compliance
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Sphere
  ServiceCategory: Tax and Compliance
  ProviderName: Sphere
  PublisherName: Sphere
  InvoiceIssuerName: Sphere
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
  PricingCategory: Subscription
meters:
- name: active_regions
  description: Active tax regions billed at a flat fee per region per month.
  unit: regions
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - region
- name: transactions
  description: Transactions processed; a flat per-transaction fee applies above 50,000 across active regions.
  unit: transactions
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - region
- name: registration_fees
  description: Pass-through jurisdiction registration fees debited to the account.
  unit: registrations
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - jurisdiction
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track active regions and transaction volume per region; watch the 50,000-transaction overage threshold.
- name: Allocation
  description: Map regions and transaction volume to internal cost centers and entities.
- name: Optimization
  description: Consolidate regions where compliance allows; avoid registering in regions without nexus exposure; monitor exposure before registering.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign owners for each region and review monthly region count, transaction overage, and registration fees against budget.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com