The period for which the contractual commitment applies, as defined by the agreement. It sets the duration of the commitment; invoicing and payment schedules sit alongside it rather than replacing it.
An example
An order runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2028 and is billed annually. The customer has a two-year commitment with two annual billing periods, subject to any termination rights in the agreement.
What to check
A two-year commitment can have annual invoices. Term and billing frequency should be recorded separately.
In practice
Confirm start and end dates, renewal mechanics and termination provisions. A document signed in September may start services in November, so the signature date alone does not establish the service period.