BuyIn

Buy-in is a term used to describe the level of commitment or acceptance of a proposal, plan, or change by individuals or groups within an organization or community. It can also refer to the amount of money required to participate in a specific activity, such as a game or investment, or to purchase a stake in a venture. In both senses, buy-in implies not just passive agreement but a willingness to support or invest.

In business and project management, obtaining buy-in from stakeholders—such as executives, managers, or teams—is often a prerequisite for approval and successful implementation. Buy-in signals alignment with goals, anticipated benefits, and acceptable risk. Strategies to secure buy-in include early stakeholder involvement, transparent communication of costs and benefits, evidence-based rationale, and addressing concerns.

In finance and gaming contexts, a buy-in is the entry cost to participate. In poker, for example, the buy-in is the minimum amount a player must contribute to enter a game or tournament; higher-stakes games have higher buy-ins. In corporate governance or entrepreneurship, the term also describes the commitment of leaders or investors to support a project or venture, sometimes through personal investment or resource allocation to align incentives.

A lack of buy-in can result in resistance, poor adoption of new processes, or project failure, while strong buy-in typically improves cooperation and execution.

See also: stakeholder engagement, change management, entry fee, investment