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Updated 2026-06-01

Spend management RFP: the 30-question template

The questions to ask every vendor before you sign anything.

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TL;DR

The questions to ask every vendor before you sign anything.

  • Always ask: card type, issuer bank, settlement currency, FX markup.
  • Always ask: ERP integration depth — show me a sync demo.
  • Always ask: approval workflow flexibility, multi-entity support.

Card mechanics

What's the card type (charge, credit, debit, prepaid)? Who is the issuer bank? What's the settlement currency and FX markup? What's the per-transaction limit? What's the underwriting model and limit calculation?

Spend controls

Per-employee, per-department, per-vendor limits? Receipt requirements with auto-decline? Pre-approval workflows? Policy as code? Real-time vs daily settlement?

Integration

Show me a NetSuite/QuickBooks/Xero sync end-to-end. Custom field mapping? Multi-entity / multi-subsidiary? Class and location dimensions? Reconciliation matching rules?

Pricing

Per-user or platform fee? Interchange share? FX markup? Implementation cost? Premium tier inclusions? Contract length and exit terms?

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