{"id":1301,"slug":"rule-never-rent-mission-critical-when-vendor-can-reprice","title":"R4 — Never rent mission-critical data infrastructure when the vendor can reprice unilaterally; keep the path to a free alternative warm","kind":"rule","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["agency-methodology","data-infrastructure","mapping-apis"],"reference_body":"**Rule:** When recommending paid data infrastructure for a *mission-critical* dependency (mapping, lookups, geocoding), always preserve the path to a free alternative. **Never** let a client depend on a vendor that can unilaterally reprice them out of business.\n\n**Why:** Google Maps 2018 ([[google-maps-2018-1400pct-pricing-change]]) and March 2025 ([[google-maps-march-2025-pricing]]) are the canonical examples. StreetEasy switched to OSM when Google would have cost ~$300k/year ([[streeteasy-300k-google-maps-osm-switch]]). The smaller the SMB, the more devastating an unanticipated rent increase.\n\n**How to apply:**\n- Mapping defaults: use Google when free quota covers usage, design the integration so OSM/Mapbox is a configuration change, not a rebuild.\n- Document the *cost ceiling* at which the alternative becomes preferable.\n- Review the vendor pricing model at scoping time, not after first invoice surprise.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"google-maps-march-2025-pricing","title":"Google Maps Platform restructured pricing March 1, 2025 — replaced the universal $200/month credit with per-SKU free caps and Essentials/Pro/Enterprise tiers","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"google-maps-2018-1400pct-pricing-change","title":"Google Maps July 16, 2018 pricing overhaul — per-1,000 map-call rate from $0.50 to $7; free map calls from 25,000/day to 28,000/month","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"streeteasy-300k-google-maps-osm-switch","title":"StreetEasy switched from Google Maps to OpenStreetMap after calculating Google would cost ~$300k/year; Foursquare also switched","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-data-driven-tools-smb-june-2026","title":"Research brief: live data and data-driven tools for SMBs — when it's an edge, when it's overkill (June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"article-data-tools-for-smbs-edge-or-overkill","title":"Article (draft): Before you buy that data tool, ask one question — would your competitor's version look exactly like yours?","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T16:57:38.996Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T16:57:38.996Z"}