Updated: Apr 29th, 2026, Owner/contact: @Susanna Laanikari, Role: Organisational development

<aside> <img src="/icons/apple_gray.svg" alt="/icons/apple_gray.svg" width="40px" /> We distribute income and access to opportunity. We want to create regenerative and distributive economies that thrive within social and ecological boundaries. Growth doesn’t bring equality; distribution should be part of the economic systems by design.

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A sustainable business run like a non-profit

At Sonder, we do not aim to make a profit from the work that we do. We want to be guided by the impact that we can create. The network-based model allows us to put most of the costs into the high-quality work of our Members and Collaborators.

For each project that we engage in, we add a Recoverable Admin Cost (RAC) to the overall project budget. The sum of these RAC contributions ultimately finances the functioning of our operational and cultural backbone.

We use any surplus the co-operative generates to:

• Manage cashflow inconsistencies.
• Ensure equitable processes.
• Improve the co-operative through learning, knowledge-sharing, and organisational development.
• Run collective social impact activities outside project engagements.

As such, engaging with Sonder in a project will always have the same financial structure:

• Daily rate based calculation for each team member.
• Travel costs.
• Cost of other direct costs (i.e. tools, translation, and other, non-human resources).
• 15% Recoverable Admin Cost (RAC) added to all project budgets.

How are daily rates calculated?

Daily rates for our members and collaborators vary by expertise, location, and length of engagement.

The daily rates of our members generally take into account the following:

• Personal income.
• Taxes.
• Premium insurance for health and travel to high-risk areas.
• Necessary software and tools.
• Management of uncertainty based on engagement (long-term engagement vs. short term, high risk vs. low risk).

What is the RAC, and what is it used for?

The RAC — Recoverable Admin Cost — is 15% added on top of all direct project costs. It funds the infrastructure that keeps Sonder running: