United Kingdom · Events and experiential marketing · Lead (8-12 years)

Lead Sponsorship Manager

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

See how AI is changing this job, and get the full read by email.

As a Lead Sponsorship Manager, a good place to start on AI-Powered Strategic Insights & Decision-Making is Planning Automation Across a Department, a free Future Fluency module at Level 5. You'd practise working out what in your department's work could be automated, what should not be, and what to recommend.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for, where it leads, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandLead (8-12 years)
  • Direct reports3-8 reports
  • Reports toHead of Sponsorship
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Staff Sponsorship Manager · Principal Partnerships Manager · Senior Manager, Strategic Alliances (Events)

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

ISM Level 5 Diploma in Sales (RQF) Institute of Sales Management · Level 5 · covers 1 of 1 standard

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Develop working relationships with stakeholders ISM Level 5 Diploma in Sales (RQF)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Lead Sponsorship Manager?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Powered Strategic Insights & Decision-Making
  • Immersive Technology Integration (AR/VR/Metaverse)
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Lead Sponsorship Manager plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

A Lead Sponsorship Manager negotiates and closes large, multi-year sponsorship deals.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Building custom dashboards for team pipeline visibility, designing automated workflows for deal progression, managing complex pipeline stages, and using CRM data for strategic forecasting and account planning. You'll be extracting deep insights, not just logging calls.

Designing complex project plans from scratch for multi-faceted activations, managing team capacity across several major deals, creating automated status reporting for strategic sponsors, and ensuring every contractual obligation is tracked and met. You're the architect of the fulfillment process.

PandaDoc, DocuSign, or Canva (Proposal & Contract Mgmt) Advanced

Creating compelling new proposal templates for strategic partnerships, customising complex contracts with legal teams, negotiating terms directly within the platform, and analysing signing velocity to optimise the sales cycle. You'll be pushing the boundaries of what these tools can do.

Cvent, Bizzabo, or Swoogo (Event Management Platform) Expert

Configuring complex sponsorship packages within the platform, setting up advanced lead retrieval systems, building custom reports to prove ROI for strategic partners, and integrating sponsor data with other systems. You'll be optimising the platform's capabilities for maximum sponsor value.

Excel/Google Sheets (Advanced), Tableau, or Power BI (Financial & BI Reporting) Advanced

Building sophisticated financial models for new sponsorship tiers, connecting various data sources (CRM, event platform, marketing), creating interactive dashboards for internal and external stakeholders, and presenting complex financial forecasts. You'll be telling the story with numbers.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Deal Pricing & Terms for Key Accounts No authority; recommends options to manager. Proposes pricing within a defined range; requires manager approval. Negotiates and approves pricing within a broader, pre-agreed framework up to £250K; escalates exceptions. Lead Sponsorship Manager: Full authority within domain, up to £500K; consults Head of Sponsorship for anything above or highly unusual.
Sponsor Activation Strategy & Budget Assists with implementation of defined activations. Proposes minor adjustments to standard activations; requires manager approval. Designs and implements bespoke activations within defined project budget up to £50K. Lead Sponsorship Manager: Designs and approves complex, innovative activations, managing budgets up to £100K; consults Event Directors for significant operational impact.
Team Hiring & Performance Management No authority. Provides input on candidate suitability. Mentors junior colleagues; provides feedback to managers. Lead Sponsorship Manager: Leads recruitment process for direct reports, makes hiring recommendations (with final sign-off from Head of Sponsorship); conducts performance reviews and manages development plans.
Process Improvement & Methodology Follows established processes. Identifies minor inefficiencies; proposes small improvements. Identifies significant process bottlenecks; designs and implements improvements within own workstream. Lead Sponsorship Manager: Defines and optimises sponsorship sales processes and methodologies across the team, impacting multiple workstreams; seeks input from Head of Sponsorship for major strategic shifts.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Annual Personal Sales Quota
Total revenue generated from new and renewing strategic sponsorships you personally lead.
Target · Achieve £1.5M - £3M+ in annual revenue.

Closing a £750K multi-year deal with a new title sponsor for our flagship tech conference, contributing significantly to the annual target.

Strategic Account Renewal Rate
Percentage of your managed strategic accounts that renew their sponsorship year-on-year, ideally with increased investment.
Target · Maintain an 80%+ renewal rate on your top 10 accounts.

Successfully renewing 8 out of 10 key partners, with 3 of those increasing their investment by 15%.

Average Deal Size Increase
Growth in the average value of sponsorship packages you design and close, reflecting higher-value, more complex partnerships.
Target · Increase average deal size by 15% year-over-year.

Moving from an average deal size of £150K to £172.5K by creating more compelling, integrated packages.

New Business Acquisition Rate (Strategic Accounts)
The proportion of new, high-value sponsors brought into the portfolio, distinct from renewals.
Target · Secure at least 2-3 new strategic (six-figure+) partners annually.

Bringing in two new automotive brands as headline sponsors for our lifestyle festival, each valued at over £250K.

Team Revenue Contribution & Mentorship Impact
The overall revenue contribution of your direct reports, reflecting your guidance and leadership.
Target · Ensure your team collectively achieves 90%+ of their assigned revenue targets.

Your team of 3 hit 95% of their combined £1.2M target, largely due to your coaching on complex deal structures.

Strategic Partnership Development
The ability to move beyond transactional sales to co-create truly integrated, multi-year partnerships that deliver mutual strategic value.
  • Sponsors actively seeking your input on their marketing strategy
  • co-developed custom activations that become case studies
  • multi-year contracts with clear growth pathways
  • positive feedback from sponsors on partnership depth.
Internal Advocacy & Influence
Your effectiveness in aligning internal teams (content, operations, marketing) around sponsor needs and ensuring smooth delivery, even when priorities conflict.
  • Being proactively consulted by other department heads on new event initiatives
  • successful resolution of cross-functional conflicts without escalation
  • positive feedback from internal teams on your collaborative approach
  • ability to get buy-in for novel activation ideas.
Team Mentorship & Development
Your impact on the growth, skill development, and overall performance of your direct reports.
  • Junior team members consistently hitting or exceeding their targets
  • positive feedback in 360-degree reviews regarding your coaching and support
  • successful progression of team members into more senior roles
  • observable improvement in their negotiation and client management skills.
Market Reputation & Thought Leadership
Your standing within the industry as a knowledgeable and respected expert in event sponsorship and experiential marketing.
  • Being invited to speak on industry panels or contribute to thought leadership pieces
  • positive feedback from industry peers and competitors
  • active and engaged network of contacts
  • a reputation for innovative deal-making.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Building Big Things

You get a real kick out of seeing a multi-year, complex partnership you've designed come to fruition, from the initial pitch to the on-site activation. You're driven by the scale and impact of your deals.

Successfully landing a new title sponsor for our biggest festival, knowing their investment will enable a truly spectacular new stage design and global marketing campaign.

Strategic Problem Solving

You thrive on the challenge of understanding a sponsor's deep business needs and then figuring out how our events can uniquely solve them. You love connecting the dots and crafting bespoke solutions.

Working with a tech company to design a custom activation that not only showcases their new product but also helps them recruit top talent at our developer conference.

Leading & Developing Talent

You enjoy guiding and mentoring your team, helping them grow their skills, close bigger deals, and navigate the complexities of sponsorship. Seeing them succeed is a genuine win for you.

Coaching a junior manager through their first six-figure negotiation, providing strategic advice that helps them close the deal and grow their confidence.

What frustrates people
  • The 'Logo Chase': Spending an obscene amount of time chasing high-resolution logos from major brands, often receiving them in the wrong format an hour before a critical deadline.
  • Scope Creep Disguised as 'Partnership': Sponsors using the language of collaboration to make last-minute, out-of-scope demands that create chaos for your operations team.
  • Internal Turf Wars: Battling with the content team for stage time or the marketing team for prime email placement, because their priorities (e.g., editorial purity) conflict with your revenue-generating obligations.
  • Proving the Unprovable: Being pressured to assign a hard ROI number to 'brand awareness' or 'thought leadership' for a skeptical sponsor who won't share their own sales data.
  • The 11th Hour Budget Cut: Working a deal for six months, getting verbal commitment, and then hearing 'Sorry, our marketing budget was just reallocated' a week before signing.
What this role does not give you
  • A predictable, 9-to-5 routine – event cycles are intense, and strategic deals have their own rhythm.
  • A purely creative role without commercial targets – revenue is a core driver here.
  • Complete autonomy over event content or operational delivery – you'll influence, but not solely control.
  • A 'set it and forget it' approach to client relationships – these partnerships require constant nurturing.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes our event revenue trajectory and significantly influences our market position. You'll be bringing in the big deals that allow us to invest in bigger, better events, attracting more attendees and higher-calibre speakers. Your success directly translates into the financial health and brand reputation of our entire Events & Experiential Marketing department, and frankly, the wider organisation. You're not just selling; you're building a future.

Inside the business
  • Event Directors (for specific event strategy)
  • Marketing Leads (for brand alignment and promotional reach)
  • Legal Counsel (for contract negotiation and compliance)
  • Finance Business Partners (for deal profitability and forecasting)
  • Operations Team (for seamless activation delivery)
  • Content Team (for integration of sponsor messaging)
Outside the business
  • C-suite Marketing Leaders (CMOs, VPs) at prospective sponsor companies
  • Key Account Decision-Makers and Budget Holders
  • Creative and Media Agency Partners of sponsors
  • Industry Bodies and Associations (for market intelligence and networking)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A proven track record of 8+ years in sponsorship sales or strategic partnerships, specifically within the events or experiential marketing industry.
  • Demonstrable experience in closing multi-year, six-figure (or ideally seven-figure) deals with major corporate clients.
  • Experience in managing or mentoring a small team, with clear examples of developing talent and driving team performance.
  • Expertise in designing and delivering complex, bespoke sponsor activations that go beyond standard packages.
  • Strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of P&L implications and deal profitability.
  • Excellent negotiation skills, with a history of successfully navigating complex contract discussions.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Data Storytelling & Visualisation

As data becomes more complex, simply presenting dashboards isn't enough. You'll need to craft compelling narratives from data, influencing C-suite decisions and proving the nuanced ROI of strategic partnerships. This means going beyond basic charts.

Narrative Design for Data · Interactive Visualisation Best Practices · Contextualising Data for Business Impact · A/B Testing & Causal Inference

  • This quarter: Focus on one complex ROI report; challenge yourself to simplify the narrative and make the insights undeniable.
  • Next month: Explore advanced features in Tableau or Power BI, specifically around interactive elements and data blending.
  • Month 3-6: Seek feedback from internal and external stakeholders on your data presentations; what questions do they still have? How can you answer them visually?
  • Month 6-12: Take a course on 'Data Storytelling' or 'Advanced Data Visualisation' to refine your techniques.

Quick win: For your next internal update, try to explain a complex data point in one simple sentence, then support it with a single, clear chart. Less is often more.

Blockchain for Rights Management & Authenticity

While still emerging, blockchain technology could fundamentally change how sponsorship rights are managed, verified, and tracked, offering greater transparency and security. You'll need to understand its potential implications for contracts and asset tracking.

Smart Contracts for Sponsorship · NFTs for Digital Assets & Rights · Supply Chain Transparency for Activations · Data Security & Immutability

  • This quarter: Read introductory articles or watch explainer videos on 'Blockchain for Business' or 'Smart Contracts explained'.
  • Next month: Research companies or projects that are already applying blockchain in events or marketing; identify potential use cases.
  • Month 3-6: Participate in a workshop or online course on blockchain fundamentals to understand the underlying technology.
  • Month 6-12: Brainstorm with Legal and Operations how a blockchain-based system could streamline a specific aspect of our contract fulfillment or asset tracking.

Quick win: Follow some key blockchain thought leaders on LinkedIn or Twitter. Set up a Google Alert for 'blockchain events' or 'sponsorship NFTs' to keep an eye on developments.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attend industry conferences (e.g., Event Tech Live, Sponsorship Week, Festival of Marketing) to stay abreast of trends and network.
  • Participate in advanced negotiation workshops or executive leadership programmes.
  • Actively seek mentorship from senior leaders within the events or sales industry.
  • Contribute to industry thought leadership through articles, webinars, or speaking engagements.
  • Join professional associations like the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) or the Association of Event Organisers (AEO).

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Powered Strategic Insights & Decision-Making

AI is rapidly changing how we analyse market data, predict trends, and identify strategic opportunities. Competitors will be using AI to spot new sponsor categories or predict activation success, and you'll need to be leading the charge here.

  • Predictive Analytics for Sponsorship
  • Generative AI for Market Research
  • AI-Driven Personalisation at Scale
  • Ethical AI in Partnership Data

Immersive Technology Integration (AR/VR/Metaverse)

As audiences seek more interactive and memorable experiences, sponsors will increasingly demand activations that use augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), or even metaverse platforms. You'll need to understand how to sell and deliver these.

  • AR/VR Activation Design
  • Metaverse Event Sponsorship
  • Haptic Feedback & Sensory Integration
  • Measuring Immersive ROI

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Sponsorship Valuation & Tiering
  • Activation Strategy & Design
  • Pipeline Management & Revenue Forecasting
  • Consultative Selling & Negotiation
  • ROI Storytelling & Renewal Strategy

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Senior Sponsorship Manager (within Events)

    3-5 years at this level

    Skills to master

    • Consistently exceeding individual sales targets, managing a portfolio of high-value accounts, leading complex negotiations, and demonstrating initial mentorship capabilities.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently delivering £500K - £1M+ in personal annual revenue.
    • Successfully closing multi-year deals and securing high renewal rates.
    • Proactively identifying and pursuing new business opportunities.
    • Providing informal guidance and support to junior team members.
    • Demonstrating strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
  2. 2

    Key Account Manager (from related industries like Media, Advertising, SaaS)

    4-7 years in a similar role

    Skills to master

    • Transferable skills in complex client relationship management, strategic solution selling, and negotiation for high-value contracts. You'll need to quickly learn the nuances of event sponsorship and activation.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managing a portfolio of 5-10 enterprise-level clients with annual contracts of £250K+.
    • Proven ability to understand complex client needs and co-create bespoke solutions.
    • Experience navigating internal stakeholders to deliver client programmes.
    • Strong track record of client retention and growth (upselling/cross-selling).
    • A genuine interest and quick learning ability for the events and experiential space.
  3. 3

    Senior Business Development Manager (from B2B Sales)

    5-8 years in a senior BDM role

    Skills to master

    • Expertise in new business acquisition, pipeline generation, and closing large deals. The focus here would be on adapting your sales process to the unique long-cycle, relationship-driven nature of sponsorship.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently exceeding new business targets (£750K+ annually).
    • Strong prospecting and lead qualification skills for enterprise clients.
    • Experience in consultative selling and building robust business cases.
    • Ability to manage a complex sales cycle from initial contact to contract close.
    • A desire to transition into a role with a stronger focus on long-term partnership development.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to senior partnership roles or broader commercial and marketing leadership, such as VP of partnerships or chief commercial officer.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Lead Sponsorship Manager is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Develop working relationships with stakeholders, worked against Lead Sponsorship Manager.

Develop working relationships with stakeholders Level 5

Applied to your work in Lead Sponsorship Manager

The objective of this unit is to develop learners' understanding of the importance of effective working relationships with stakeholders, including different stakeholder groups and their needs. Learners will be able to determine the scope for collaboration, develop productive relationships through clear communication, and evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Lead Sponsorship Manager
  • Sponsorship Valuation & Tiering
  • Activation Strategy & Design
  • Pipeline Management & Revenue Forecasting
  • Consultative Selling & Negotiation
  • ROI Storytelling & Renewal Strategy
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Lead Sponsorship Manager is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Head of Sponsorship

    3-5 years in the Lead Sponsorship Manager role

    Level 5 (Principal/Manager)

    • Portfolio Optimisation Analysing the entire event portfolio to identify new sponsorship opportunities and refine existing offerings.
    • Global Market Expansion Identifying and pursuing sponsorship opportunities in new geographical markets.
    • Cross-Departmental Integration Ensuring sponsorship strategy is seamlessly integrated with overall business goals and other revenue streams.
  2. Director of Partnerships (or Strategic Alliances)

    4-6 years in the Lead Sponsorship Manager role

    Level 6 (Director/VP)

    • Year-Round Partnership Development Moving beyond event-specific sponsorship to build continuous, year-round strategic alliances.
    • New Revenue Stream Identification Exploring and developing entirely new partnership-driven revenue streams beyond traditional event sponsorship.
    • Global Partnership Ecosystem Management Building and nurturing a network of strategic partners across different regions and industries.
    • Complex Legal & Regulatory Navigation Handling highly complex international contracts and regulatory environments for global partnerships.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, you're juggling a lot. Imagine if you could offload the repetitive, time-consuming tasks and spend more time on what truly matters: building relationships, crafting innovative partnerships, and leading your team. Our AI Productivity Hub is designed to do just that.

We're not talking about replacing your strategic brainpower. We're talking about giving you a serious advantage. Our AI tools are here to handle the grunt work, from deep-diving into prospect data to summarising complex contracts, freeing you up to focus on the high-value, strategic work that only you can do.

Strategic Prospecting & Account Mapping

Use AI tools to go beyond basic lead lists. Scan industry news, funding rounds, and competitor sponsor portfolios to generate highly-qualified, prioritised lists of potential strategic partners. Get AI-generated insights into their recent marketing campaigns, product launches, and ESG goals, giving you a massive head start on your pitch. This isn't just finding leads; it's finding the right leads with actionable intelligence.

Advanced ROI Storytelling

After an event, feed all your data – social media mentions, sentiment analysis, attendee survey feedback, lead capture numbers, even competitor activity – into an AI tool. It'll instantly generate insights, identify key trends, and draft the narrative for compelling, data-driven ROI reports. You'll spend less time crunching numbers and more time crafting the persuasive story that secures renewals and upsells.

Bespoke Proposal Generation

Imagine a generative AI assistant that can research a target company's latest annual report, marketing strategy, and brand values, then draft a hyper-personalised 'Why You, Why Now' section for a pitch deck or outreach email. It can help you quickly iterate on custom package ideas, ensuring every proposal speaks directly to the sponsor's specific needs and objectives, making your pitches far more impactful.

Complex Contract Analysis & Summarisation

Forget spending hours poring over 50-page contracts. Use AI to scan fully executed agreements and automatically extract all key deliverables, critical dates, exclusivity clauses, and obligations into a clean, actionable fulfillment checklist in your project management tool. It'll also flag any unusual clauses or potential risks, giving you peace of mind and saving valuable legal review time.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Lead Sponsorship Manager?

Common routes in include Senior Sponsorship Manager (within Events) (3-5 years at this level), Key Account Manager (from related industries like Media, Advertising, SaaS) (4-7 years in a similar role) and Senior Business Development Manager (from B2B Sales) (5-8 years in a senior BDM role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Lead Sponsorship Manager progress to?

This role can lead on to Head of Sponsorship (3-5 years in the Lead Sponsorship Manager role) and Director of Partnerships (or Strategic Alliances) (4-6 years in the Lead Sponsorship Manager role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Lead Sponsorship Manager?

Increasingly, AI-Powered Strategic Insights & Decision-Making and Immersive Technology Integration (AR/VR/Metaverse). These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in events and experiential marketing

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built here, strategic negotiation, deal structuring, relationship building and commercial thinking, transfer well. They can lead to senior business development, key account management or strategic alliances roles in media, technology, sport or entertainment. Turning intangible assets into measurable value is valued across many sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.