DOCUMENT 5 — THE TREASURER EARNINGS PROGRAMME METHODOLOGY
Charter Hall — The Treasurer Earnings Programme Methodology Effective: [Date] Version: 1.0 Status: Public methodology document — §3.2, §3.4, §3.5 SUPERSEDED
Substantial supersession notice (2026-06-04). §3.2 (Activation Bonus), §3.4 (Retention Bonus), and §3.5 (Health Bonus) — the three platform-paid bonus components — are superseded by the Treasurer Service Fee Framework Charter v1.0 at
/charter-hall/treasurer-service-fee-framework. §3.3 (Residual Earnings) is reframed under the same Framework as a compound-subscription service fee paid by Members to their Treasurer through the platform's payment processing — not by the platform from its own books.The structural change addresses the worker-classification risk articulated in Uber BV v Aslam [2021] UKSC 5. Under the Framework no payment flows from the platform's books to any Treasurer. §1 (What Treasurers do), §2 (The five identity levels), §4.1 (Treasurer-issued invoicing), §5 (Anti-abuse heuristics), §6 (Suspension), §7 (Tax) remain in force read consistently with the Framework. The §3.1 (TEP overview) and §3.6 (Settlement) provisions are read consistently with the Framework — the Treasurer's earnings come from the Member-paid service fee processed by the platform, not from platform-paid compensation.
Read this document for the surviving non-bonus provisions. Read
/charter-hall/treasurer-service-fee-frameworkfor the compensation mechanism itself.
Preamble
This document explains the Treasurer Earnings Programme ("TEP") — the structure through which Treasurers are recognised, supported, and compensated for the work they do administering Circles and supporting members.
The TEP exists because Treasurers do real work that creates real value on the Platform. They coordinate cycles, attest to transactions, mediate small disagreements, recruit and onboard Members, and act as the trust anchors of their Circles. The Platform recognises this work with structured compensation.
This Methodology sets out:
(a) what Treasurers do; (b) the five identity levels Treasurers progress through; (c) how compensation is structured; (d) what activities qualify; (e) how the programme operates legally and operationally.
The TEP is a platform-economy compensation structure, not employment, not a partnership, not a multi-level marketing scheme.
Section 1 — What Treasurers do
1.1 Core Treasurer activities
A Treasurer:
(a) administers their Circle in accordance with the Circle Bylaws; (b) confirms contributions and payouts within the time frames set in the Bylaws; (c) communicates with circle members about cycle progress, schedule, and issues; (d) maintains accurate records; (e) refers urgent matters to appropriate venues (Help Desk, Care Concierge, Dispute Settlement Centre); (f) cooperates with disputes; (g) onboards new members.
1.2 Additional Treasurer activities (depending on tier)
At higher tiers, Treasurers also:
(a) recruit new Members to the platform (community-building); (b) coordinate multi-circle initiatives; (c) act as community liaisons; (d) participate in Treasurer governance; (e) train and mentor newer Treasurers.
1.3 What Treasurers do not do
§1.3(a) updated to reflect the Custody Framework Charter v1.0 — the absolute prohibition originally drafted here predates the Framework's three-category model. The corrected text below matches the hybrid architecture: Category A Circles may vote Member-to-member custody (Members contribute directly through their own bank accounts; the Treasurer governs the rotation but does not hold funds) or escrow-held; Categories A escrow, B, and C are escrow-only. The TEP Methodology v2 Amendment Rider at /legal/treasurer-agreement-v2-draft codifies this textually.
Treasurers do not:
(a) hold money outside the custody model adopted by their Circle under the Custody Framework Charter v1.0. Where the Circle has voted Member-to-member custody for cycle contributions (Category A, single-jurisdiction), the Treasurer governs the rotation and records each contribution but does NOT hold cycle funds — Members contribute directly through their own bank accounts to the receiving Member each round. Where the Circle has voted or is required to use escrow custody (Category A escrow, Category B for loans + CPR + collateral, Category C for cross-border), the Treasurer never holds funds. In every model, funds are held by the members themselves, by a dedicated Circle account, or by a partner institution — never by Circlworld and never by the Treasurer's personal account. The Bylaws record the Circle's choice; (b) provide financial, legal, or tax advice; (c) override Circle Bylaws; (d) decide matters that should be Member-voted; (e) impersonate Circlworld staff or act as Circlworld agents.
Section 2 — The five identity levels
The TEP recognises five progressive identity levels.
2.1 Level 1 — Community Builder
Eligibility:
- Successfully completes the Treasurer Foundation Course;
- Identity verification at Level 2 or above (per Identity Verification Framework);
- Acceptance of the Treasurer Addendum.
Activities:
- May treasurer one Circle of up to 15 members;
- May treasurer Cycles up to £5,000 per cycle.
Compensation tier: Level 1 (see Section 3.1).
2.2 Level 2 — Community Organiser
Eligibility:
- 6 months active as Community Builder;
- Successfully completed at least 3 full Cycles;
- Community Builder Standing ≥ 70;
- Optional intermediate certification.
Activities:
- May treasurer up to 3 Circles concurrently;
- Each Circle may have up to 25 members;
- May treasurer Cycles up to £15,000 per cycle.
Compensation tier: Level 2.
2.3 Level 3 — Community Leader
Eligibility:
- 12 months active as Community Organiser;
- Successfully completed at least 10 full Cycles;
- Standing ≥ 75;
- Advanced certification.
Activities:
- May treasurer up to 5 Circles concurrently;
- Cross-border Circles permitted;
- May treasurer Cycles up to £25,000 per cycle.
Compensation tier: Level 3.
2.4 Level 4 — Community Architect
Eligibility:
- 18 months active as Community Leader;
- Substantial community impact (peer attestations, cycle volume);
- Standing ≥ 80;
- Multi-jurisdictional certification.
Activities:
- May treasurer up to 10 Circles concurrently;
- May mentor and train newer Treasurers (mentor compensation applies);
- May propose Circle Bylaws templates and Platform improvements through Town Hall;
- Cycles up to £50,000 per cycle.
Compensation tier: Level 4.
2.5 Level 5 — Circlworld Ambassador
Eligibility:
- 24+ months active as Community Architect;
- Recognition by the broader Treasurer community (peer election may apply);
- Sustained excellence;
- Cultural advisor recommendation (where applicable);
- Standing ≥ 85.
Activities:
- Unlimited Circles within reasonable workload;
- Represents Circlworld at community events;
- Senior advisory role;
- Cycle limits removed (subject to AML and identity verification thresholds).
Compensation tier: Level 5.
Section 3 — Compensation structure
3.1 The four compensation components
Treasurer compensation comprises four components, each subject to tier-specific terms:
SUPERSEDED — the bonus table below. Under the Service Fee Framework v1.0 only the Residual Earnings row survives, and it is reframed as the Member-paid service fee processed by the platform (not platform-paid). The Activation, Retention, and Health Bonus rows are removed from the architecture. The original table is preserved here for change-history visibility; do not rely on it as current.
| Component | What it captures | Sensitivity to tier | Status | |---|---|---|---| | Activation Bonus | Per qualified new Member brought to a Treasurer's Circle | Modest tier multiplier | Removed under Framework | | Residual Earnings | Percentage of platform revenue attributable to Circle activity | Increases with tier | Reframed as service-fee subscription split | | Retention Bonus | Awarded for Member retention beyond defined milestones | Modest tier multiplier | Removed under Framework | | Health Bonus | Awarded for Circle health metrics (low dispute rate, high satisfaction) | Modest tier multiplier | Removed under Framework |
3.2 Activation Bonus — REMOVED under the Service Fee Framework v1.0
Per qualified new Member brought to a Treasurer's Circle:
- Level 1: £5 per qualified Member
- Level 2: £8 per qualified Member
- Level 3: £12 per qualified Member
- Level 4: £18 per qualified Member
- Level 5: £25 per qualified Member
Equivalent amounts in JMD are calculated at the prevailing exchange rate.
A Member is qualified when:
- They complete identity verification at Level 1+;
- They join the Treasurer's Circle;
- They complete their first contribution.
3.3 Residual Earnings — REFRAMED as the Member-paid service fee (Service Fee Framework v1.0)
REFRAMED. Under the Treasurer Service Fee Framework v1.0, what was previously characterised as platform-paid Residual Earnings is now the Member-paid service fee — a structurally compound subscription where a portion flows directly to the Treasurer through the platform's payment processor. The platform's books no longer recognise the Treasurer portion as platform revenue. See the Framework §2 for the mechanism and §3 for the bands.
Tier bands (Framework §3.1) — Treasurer sets their rate within the band:
- L1 Community Builder: 13% – 17% (15% midpoint)
- L2 Circle Steward: 14% – 18% (16% midpoint)
- L3 Community Anchor: 15.5% – 19.5% (17.5% midpoint)
- L4 Regional Custodian: 17% – 21% (19% midpoint)
- L5 Circl Ambassador: 18% – 22% (20% midpoint)
The midpoints match the prior rates so Treasurers earn approximately the same at the same Member count under the reframed model. The bands give the Treasurer ±2 percentage points of genuine pricing range within their tier. The Treasurer’s posted rate is disclosed on the Treasurer Profile and at Circle formation.
Calculation (unchanged in substance, reframed in characterisation):
- The Member’s subscription is structurally split: a portion (the Treasurer’s posted rate × Member subscription) flows to the Member’s Treasurer; the remainder is platform infrastructure;
- A Member's subscription contributes to the Treasurer of their primary active Circle (defined as the Circle where the Member has the longest active participation);
- The Treasurer’s monthly accrual settles via Treasurer-issued invoice per §4.1.
3.4 Retention Bonus — REMOVED under the Service Fee Framework v1.0
REMOVED. No 6/12/24-month platform milestone payments. The Treasurer’s retention incentive is structurally preserved through the subscription split — a retained Member is a Member whose subscription continues to flow to the Treasurer; losing a Member loses the subscription split. The prior text below is preserved for change-history; the parameters listed do NOT apply under the Framework.
~~Per Member retained beyond defined milestones: 6-month retention £15 paid to Treasurer; 12-month retention £30 paid to Treasurer; 24-month retention £50 paid to Treasurer. Modest tier multipliers (1.0x at Level 1; 1.5x at Level 5) apply.~~
3.5 Health Bonus — REMOVED under the Service Fee Framework v1.0
REMOVED. No quarterly platform-discretionary health award. Circle health is incentivised structurally — tier progression (which gates higher fee bands) depends on Circle health metrics; Members leaving a poorly-administered Circle reduces the Treasurer’s subscription-split revenue. The prior text below is preserved for change-history; the parameters listed do NOT apply under the Framework.
~~Awarded quarterly based on Circle health metrics: (a) Dispute rate below 5% of cycles; (b) Member satisfaction above 80% (where surveyed); (c) Cycle completion rate above 95%; (d) Treasurer responsiveness within target windows. Bonus amount: £50-£500 per quarter per qualifying Circle, scaling with tier and Circle size.~~
Section 4 — Compensation operations
4.1 Payment
(a) Treasurers receive compensation monthly in arrears; (b) Payment is made by Circlworld to the Treasurer's nominated payment account (bank transfer, Wise, or equivalent); (c) Currency: GBP by default; alternative currencies available where Treasurer is in a non-UK jurisdiction.
4.2 Tax
(a) Compensation is paid gross of tax; (b) Treasurers are responsible for their own tax on TEP earnings in their jurisdiction; (c) Circlworld will provide annual statements suitable for tax filing; (d) Circlworld will report TEP earnings to HMRC and equivalent authorities as required by law (including under digital platform reporting rules).
4.3 Status of Treasurers
Treasurers are independent contractors (per Treasurer Addendum §3.6). The TEP creates no employment, partnership, or agency relationship.
4.4 Treasurer expenses
The platform does not reimburse Treasurer expenses. Treasurers' work is compensated through the TEP components only.
4.5 Compensation review
The Member is entitled to review their compensation calculation at any time through the platform. Disputes about compensation are resolved through the Help Office and (where unresolved) the Dispute Settlement Centre.
Section 5 — TEP structural protections
5.1 Not a multi-level marketing scheme
The TEP is not a multi-level marketing or pyramid scheme:
(a) compensation is based on the Treasurer's own administration of Circles, not on recruiting other Treasurers; (b) the Treasurer's earnings depend on the activity of Members of their own Circles, not on a downstream chain of Treasurers under them; (c) there is no payment to upline Treasurers from a Treasurer's own activity; (d) the Treasurer's tier progression depends on the Treasurer's own work, not on others' performance.
5.2 Compliance with the Trading Schemes Act 1996
(a) The TEP has been structured in consultation with qualified counsel to avoid characterisation as a trading scheme under the Trading Schemes Act 1996; (b) Reviews of the TEP against this Act are conducted annually; (c) Material changes that affect this positioning trigger renewed regulatory analysis.
5.3 Not a Collective Investment Scheme
(a) The TEP does not pool Member contributions and pay returns to Treasurers; (b) Treasurer earnings come from Platform revenue (subscriptions, Storefront), not from Member contributions to Circles; (c) The TEP is not within the perimeter of CIS regulation under FSMA 2000.
5.4 Not a referral scheme requiring authorisation
The TEP is compensation for Treasurer work, not a referral commission. Treasurers earn for administering Circles where Members participate, not for marketing Circlworld to non-Members in a way that would attract regulated-referral status.
Section 6 — Tier progression and review
6.1 Application for progression
Treasurers apply for progression to a higher tier when they meet the eligibility criteria. Applications are reviewed by Circlworld staff.
6.2 Progression decisions
(a) Approved: Treasurer moves to the new tier; (b) Declined: Treasurer is informed of the reasons; the Treasurer may reapply when issues are addressed; (c) Where progression is declined for cause that is not the Treasurer's fault (e.g., a dispute pending), reapplication is automatic on resolution.
6.3 Tier review (downgrade)
A Treasurer's tier may be reviewed by Circlworld on:
(a) sustained drop in Standing below the tier threshold; (b) upheld disciplinary findings; (c) breach of the Treasurer Addendum; (d) Treasurer's request (a Treasurer may voluntarily reduce tier if workload demands).
Downgrade is procedural: the Treasurer is informed, may appeal through the Help Office or the Dispute Settlement Centre, and may be supported in remediation.
6.4 Removal from the TEP
A Treasurer may be removed from the TEP entirely on:
(a) sustained material breach of the Treasurer Addendum; (b) upheld AUP violation of high severity; (c) suspected criminal activity in connection with Treasurer duties; (d) Member vote in the affected Circle (per Circle Bylaws); (e) Selection Committee finding of unfitness.
Removal: (a) is procedural with the Treasurer entitled to representation through the Help Office; (b) does not extinguish accrued TEP earnings already due; (c) terminates future accrual from affected Circles.
Section 7 — Treasurer support
7.1 Training
(a) Treasurer Foundation Course — required before serving as Community Builder. Free. Available through Circl Academy. (b) Intermediate Treasurer Certification — for progression to Community Organiser. Offered through Circl Academy. (c) Advanced Treasurer Certification — for progression to Community Leader. (d) Multi-jurisdictional Treasurer Certification — for Community Architect+. (e) Continuing Treasurer Education — ongoing programmes available; participation contributes to tier progression.
7.2 Tools
Treasurers have access to:
(a) Circle administration tooling; (b) Treasurer dashboard with cycle and contribution oversight; (c) Treasurer-specific communication features (Circle Announcements); (d) Templates for common Treasurer communications; (e) Reporting and analytics for their Circles.
7.3 Support channels
(a) Treasurer Support Help Desk; (b) Treasurer community in the Forum and Plaza; (c) Mentorship programme (Community Architects and Ambassadors mentor newer Treasurers); (d) Cultural Advisors for tradition-specific Circle administration.
Section 8 — Treasurer rights
A Treasurer has the right to:
(a) Be paid the compensation due under the TEP; (b) Receive accurate calculations and timely payment; (c) Apply for tier progression when eligible; (d) Appeal compensation, progression, or removal decisions; (e) Receive training appropriate to their tier; (f) Be supported through Circle administration challenges; (g) Resign from Treasurer roles with reasonable notice (typically 30 days); (h) Receive accrued TEP earnings on resignation; (i) Be treated with dignity in all dealings with Circlworld and other Treasurers; (j) Refer matters they cannot handle to appropriate venues; (k) Decline Circles where conflicts of interest exist.
Section 9 — TEP modifications
9.1 Material changes
Material changes to the TEP (rate changes, tier requirements, structural changes) require:
(a) 60 days' notice to Treasurers; (b) Treasurer consultation through the Forum; (c) Where changes reduce existing Treasurer earnings, transitional grandfathering arrangements; (d) Approval through Town Hall governance procedures where the change is broadly applicable.
9.2 Minor adjustments
Minor adjustments (clarifications, technical corrections) are notified through routine Treasurer communications and recorded in the Methodology's version history.
9.3 Annual review
The TEP is reviewed annually for:
(a) effectiveness in attracting and retaining Treasurers; (b) fairness across tiers and jurisdictions; (c) compliance with applicable regulation; (d) financial sustainability for the Platform.
Section 10 — Acknowledgement
By becoming a Treasurer, the Member acknowledges that the TEP:
(a) is a platform-economy compensation structure, not employment; (b) creates tax obligations for the Treasurer in their jurisdiction; (c) is subject to change with appropriate notice; (d) is governed by this Methodology, the Treasurer Addendum, and the Platform's other agreements.
— End of the Treasurer Earnings Programme Methodology —