Answers to Questions we often get asked before a trial
Your quick guide to pricing, trials, setup, technology, and data — answered plainly.
The one minute briefing
Governance360 is a simple to use, affordable, board portal built for charities, sports organisations, and smaller companies — and getting started is straightforward. Pricing is fixed per organisation (not per user), you can trial the platform for free ahead of your next board meeting, setup takes just three screens, there’s nothing to download or install, and your data is fully protected under the GDPR if you decide not to proceed.
Key Points:
Fixed pricing per organisation — choose your plan to trial, change later if you wish
We actively want you to trial for Free for a real (or pretend if you want!) meeting (board, sub-committee, etc)
Three-screens only to setup — no IT department needed
Works in any browser on laptop, tablet, or mobile — no app required to download
Full GDPR-compliant data handling if you choose not to continue
Table of Contents
- How Much Does Governance360 Cost?
- How Long Is the Free Trial?
- How Do I Get Started?
- Do I Need to Download Anything or Involve IT?
- What Happens to Our Data If We Don’t Proceed?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- Next Steps
Introduction
Switching to a new board portal — or using one for the first time when migrating from excel, cloud and email (which frankly is what most of our customers are doing) — raises a number of really obvious questions. You want to know what it costs, how long you have to try it, whether it’s going to be a headache to set up, and what happens if it’s not right for you.
We hear the same five questions from almost everyone who discovers Governance360 for the first time. Rather than make you dig around our website, we’ve answered them all here in plain English.
Governance360 was built by a team practitioners who know instinctively what you need to help run your governance and risk processes – we’ve been there after all. Something simple, affordable, and ready to use without a in-house technology team with a short set-up time. Why not see if we’ve succeeded and start your free trial here.
1. How Much Does Governance360 Cost?
This is usually the first question — and it’s a fair one.
Simple, Fixed Pricing Per Organisation
Governance360 is priced per organisation, not per user. That means you pay one fixed price regardless of how many board members, committee members, or staff need access depending on the Plan you have chosen. No surprises, no per-seat charges creeping up as your board grows.
How it works:
- Choose the plan that fits your organisation’s needs
- All prices on the website are quoted excluding VAT
- You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time
This keeps things predictable for organisations working to a budget (and frankly aren’t we all). You pick a plan, you know what you’re paying, and you can adjust as your needs change.
Worth knowing: Because pricing is per organisation rather than per user, you can invite your full board, sub-committees, and senior staff without worrying about the cost going up.
2. How Long Is the Free Trial?
We don’t put a rigid timer on it — because we’d rather you get genuine value from the trial than rush through a tick-box exercise.
Trial It Around a Real Meeting
The best way to evaluate Governance360 is to use it for an actual board or sub-committee meeting. Most people start their trial a few weeks before their next scheduled meeting, which gives them time to:
- Set up their organisation on the platform
- Create a meeting (one previous meet, the proposed meet usually suffices)
- Upload board papers and documents (usually the papers from your last meeting – so people know what they used to receive, and then some draft papers for the actual meeting to be run)
- Add an action or two to the Action Register, Risk Register, Documents etc – so that you can visualise how you would use, what saves you most time and gives the same chance to your board
- Invite a few colleagues to see how it works in practice
- Evaluate and then choose how to proceed (or book a call with our team to ask any queries)
Of course, you can subscribe on day one if you’ve seen enough. But we find that running a real meeting through the platform — even a practice one — is the quickest way to see the value. Time to value is genuinely quick; once you’ve set things up, the benefits are obvious straight away is what we tend to find – and we want to keep it that way.
Practical tip: If your next board meeting is a few weeks away, start your trial now. That gives you time to get comfortable before going live with your trustees, you aren’t on a ‘clock’.
3. How Do I Get Started?
Getting up and running is deliberately simple — three screens is all it takes to create your organisation.
Setup in Minutes, Not Days
If you’re likely to be the board administrator (CEO, PA to CEO, Chair or whoever manages board logistics), you’re the right person to start the trial. Here’s how:
Step 1: Create personal account — head to the Governance360 website and begin from the trial page. You’ll create your account and set up your organisation in just three screens.
Step 2: Add your content — upload some board documents, set up a meeting or two (past ones count too), and add any other items you’d like your members to see.
Step 3: Invite your board — once you’re happy with how things look, invite your board members. They’ll be able to see everything you’ve set up straight away once they accept their invite and add their security permissions
That’s it. No lengthy onboarding process, no implementation project, no waiting around for someone to configure things for you.
Helpful hint: Start with a past meeting you’ve already held. Upload the papers and minutes so you can see how the platform organises and presents everything — without any pressure.
4. Do I Need to Download Anything or Involve IT?
No. Not a thing.
No App, No IT, No Specialist Technology
Governance360 is entirely browser-based. There’s no app to download, no software to install, and no reason to involve your IT team (if you even have one).
What you need:
- A laptop, tablet, or mobile phone
- A web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox — any will do)
- An internet connection
The platform is sized for use on a laptop or tablet, which is how most of our users access it. It also works well on a mobile phone for checking documents or reviewing agendas on the go.
Why does this matter? Most smaller organisations don’t have dedicated IT support – often YOU are the IT department! Governance360 was purpose-built with real users in mind — managers and administrators, not technologists. If you can use email and browse the web, you can use Governance360.
No surprises: Your board members won’t need to install anything either. When you invite them, they simply click a link, log in through their browser, and they’re in (once they’ve set up their base level security permissions of course)
5. What Happens to Our Data If We Don’t Proceed?
This is an important question, and we take it seriously.
GDPR-Compliant Offboarding
If you decide Governance360 isn’t right for your organisation, we handle the offboarding process in line with our GDPR policies. Your data is treated with care throughout.
What happens:
- We offboard your organisation and data in accordance with our GDPR-compliant policies
- During the offboarding period, you can remove any data yourself if you prefer (all data entered into the platform is exportable)
- Nothing is left lingering without your knowledge
You’re in control. We won’t hold your data hostage or make it difficult to leave. That’s not how we operate.
Peace of mind: Trying Governance360 is risk-free from a data perspective. If it’s not for you, your information is handled properly and removed in line with data protection requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Governance360 pricing per user or per organisation?
Governance360 is priced per organisation, not per user. You pay one fixed price for your plan regardless of how many board members, committee members, or staff access the platform. Prices on the website are quoted excluding VAT.
Can I change my plan after signing up?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. If your needs change — perhaps you add sub-committees or need additional features — you simply switch to the plan that suits you best.
How long does the free trial last?
There’s no fixed time limit designed to pressure you. We encourage you to use the trial around a real board or sub-committee meeting so you experience the platform properly. Most people trial for a few weeks ahead of their next meeting, though you’re welcome to subscribe sooner if you’ve seen enough.
Who should set up the trial?
The person who typically handles board administration — often the CEO, Chair or PA to CEO but frankly the person who manages meeting logistics is the right one. You’ll be creating the organisation on the platform, so it helps to be someone who knows how your board operates.
How long does it take to set up Governance360?
The initial setup takes just three screens to create your organisation. From there, adding documents, setting up meetings, and inviting members can be done in less than an hour. We also provide a document both for you and for your Board Members explaining what Governance360 is and how they will receive their sign-up links so they know what is coming and not to click on a link from someone they don’t know!
Do board members need to download an app?
No. Governance360 works entirely in the browser. Board members simply click their invitation link, log in, and access everything through their web browser on a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.
Does Governance360 work on mobile phones?
Yes. While the platform is primarily designed for use on laptops and tablets (which is how most users access it), it works well on mobile phones too — handy for reviewing documents or checking meeting details on the go.
Do I need IT support to get started?
Not at all. Governance360 was built for managers and administrators, not IT professionals. If you can send an email and browse the web, you can set up and use the platform without any technical help.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
Your organisation and data are offboarded in line with Governance360’s GDPR-compliant policies. During the offboarding period, you also have the option to remove your data yourself. Nothing is retained without your knowledge or against your wishes.
Is my organisation’s data secure during the trial?
Yes. Your data receives the same level of protection during the trial as it does on a paid plan. Governance360 takes data security seriously from day one.
Can I set up a practice meeting to test the platform?
Absolutely — and we’d encourage it. You can create an imaginary meeting to see how the platform handles agendas, documents, and member access before running a real one. It’s a great way to get comfortable without any pressure.
What do I need to prepare before starting the trial?
Very little. It helps to have a few board documents to hand (minutes, agendas, reports) so you can upload them and see how the platform organises your content. But you can start with nothing and add things as you go.
Key Takeaways
Here’s what you need to remember:
- Pricing is simple and predictable: One fixed price per organisation, not per user. Choose your plan, and change it any time you need to.
- The trial is designed around real use: We’d rather you experience Governance360 through an actual meeting than tick boxes against a feature list. Time to value is quick.
- Setup takes minutes: Three screens to create your organisation, then add documents, set up meetings, and invite your board when you’re ready.
- No technology barriers: Browser-based, no downloads, no IT involvement. Built for the people who actually use it.
- Your data is protected: If you choose not to proceed, your data is handled in line with GDPR. You stay in control throughout.
The bottom line: Getting started with Governance360 is simple, low-risk, and designed around how busy charity boards actually work.
Next Steps
Ready to see Governance360 for yourself? Here’s how to start:
Right now:
- Visit the Governance360 website and start your free trial
- Create your organisation — it takes just three screens
- Upload a few documents or set up a past meeting to explore the platform
Over the next week or two:
- Set up your next upcoming board or committee meeting on the platform
- Invite a couple of colleagues to see how it looks from a member’s perspective
- Run through the experience as if it were meeting day
Before your next board meeting:
- Go live with your full board using Governance360
- Enjoy a calmer, better-organised meeting experience
See How It Works
Governance360 was built by Directors for Directors — a simple, affordable platform that makes governance and risk management easier, not harder. Start your free trial today and see the difference for yourself.
Last Updated: 10/02/2026
Reading Time: 7 minutes
Author: Laura Baker, Customer Success specialist at Governance360