# Settings file

URL: /code/project-structure/settings · Id: `convention:settings`

> The Settings file holds the Settings a Startup or Studio sets for itself; every other Setting inherits from its nearest holder.

The [Settings](/business/nouns/setting) file holds the Settings a [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) or [Studio](/business/nouns/studio) sets for itself; every other Setting inherits from its nearest holder.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Path | `settings.mdx` |
| Holds | [Setting](/business/nouns/setting) |
| Kind | file |
| Leaders | db-first, git-first |
| Team | [Operations Team](/agents/operations) |
| Written by | [Change.merge](/business/nouns/change/merge) |
| Compiled by | [StartupBuilder](/code/builders/startup) |

### Example
`settings.mdx` in a Startup repository.

```mdx title="settings.mdx"
---
trial: 30d
signup: workEmail
refundWindow: 14d
approvalHours: 24
priceMove: 0.1
delayWindow: { refund: 1 business hour }
locked: [signup]
---
```

### Props
The frontmatter keys the file takes. The body is its prose.

| Prop | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `trial` | `string` | No | How long a trial runs before the first charge: `14d` by default. |
| `signup` | `string` | No | How a buyer signs up: `email`, `workEmail`, `magicLink`, `keyless`, `apiKey`, `oauth` or `agentIdentity`. |
| `refundWindow` | `string` | No | How long after a charge a refund is granted without review. |
| `approvalHours` | `number` | No | How long an Approval waits before it escalates. |
| `priceMove` | `number` | No | The largest Price change, as a share, an Agent makes without an Approval. |
| `delayWindow` | `json` | No | How long each one-way Verb waits before it runs, keyed by Verb. |
| `locked` | `string[]` | No | Settings no Product below may change. |

### Generates
[StartupBuilder](/code/builders/startup) compiles it into these records, Verbs and routes.

| Kind | What |
| --- | --- |
| Records | [Setting](/business/nouns/setting), [Change](/business/nouns/change) |
| Verbs | None. |
| Routes | None. |