Startup M&A Articles

How Double Trigger Acceleration Protects Freelancers During Client Acquisitions

**[Double trigger acceleration](https://scaleup.mofo.com/guidance/equity-fundamentals-single--vs-double-trigger-acceleration-explained)** means a protection turns on only after two separate events happen, not one. For a freelancer or consultant, it matters when a client gets acquired and the deal is followed by a cancellation, fee cut, or another contract event that knocks out expected income. A sale alone does not automatically trigger a payout, but a sale plus a defined adverse action might.