# recognize

URL: /business/nouns/period/recognize · Id: `verb:Period.recognize` · Call: `await $.Period.recognize({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Recognize moves the revenue a Period earned out of deferred revenue, by the Startup’s revenue-recognition Policy.

Recognize moves the revenue a [Period](/business/nouns/period) earned out of deferred revenue, by the [Startup](/business/nouns/startup)’s revenue-recognition [Policy](/business/nouns/policy).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `period` | [Period](/business/nouns/period) | Yes | The open Period to recognize. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `entries` | list of [Entry](/business/nouns/entry) | Yes | The recognition Entries it posted. |
| `period` | [Period](/business/nouns/period) | Yes | The Period whose revenue was recognized. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Period.recognized`](/business/events/Period.recognized).
- Performed by the [Finance Lead](/agents/finance/finance-lead).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Runs daily, and once more before the Period closes.
- Recognizes a Subscription by elapsed days and an Order on delivery.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Period.recognize](/business/nouns/period/recognize) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Recognize the latest period.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/periods/period_1/recognize \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY"
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com",
  "entries": [
    {
      "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/entries/entry_1",
      "$type": "Entry",
      "account": "cash",
      "amount": {
        "amount": 400,
        "currency": "USD"
      },
      "direction": "debit",
      "startup": "startup_1"
    }
  ],
  "period": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/periods/period_1",
    "$type": "Period",
    "month": "2026-10-22",
    "status": "Open"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Period.recognize",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const { entries, period } = await $.Period.recognize({ period: 'period_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Period.recognize --json '{"period":"period_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Period.recognize({ period: 'period_1' })"
  }
}
```