Fiducia TogetherVendor lock-in
Being unable to leave a supplier without unreasonable cost or disruption.
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.
What it means
Lock-in arises where data, integrations, contracts or skills make switching prohibitively expensive.
Why it matters
It removes negotiating power. A supplier who knows you cannot leave prices accordingly, and renewal becomes a formality rather than a decision.
What it looks like in practice
Before signing, ask how you would leave: can you export your data, in what format, at what cost, and who owns it. Get the answer in the contract.\n\nSee exit and termination.
What to watch out for
Proprietary data formats and long notice periods. And integrations built so deeply into a workflow that the switching cost is internal rather than contractual.
Where to get proper advice
The contract, read before signing. A solicitor for anything material.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.