A guaranteed contest means the client has chosen to guarantee the prize to the participating designers and therefore has forfeited any option to a refund.
Guaranteed contests are great because they tend to attract more designers resulting in more designs than non-guaranteed contests.
While this is a fantastic upgrade for your design contest we do like to reiterate that you won’t be able to request a refund once you confirm that you want to make your contest guaranteed. But remember, it could make a world of difference to your final design!
When starting a design contest, clients have the option to guarantee the contest early in two separate places:
1. During the launch process (after you've filled out the design brief) in the "Contest options" section:
*Note: You must check the box to confirm this option applies.
2. While the contest is running, during the Qualifying Round:
*Note: You must click the contest options icon, then hit "Guarantee prize," and lastly confirm.
Designers can see that a guaranteed contest is guaranteed on the contest page itself, and in the contest listing page, so designers can easily see which contests are guaranteed, and which aren’t.
If a winner isn't chosen in a guaranteed contest, the prize money will be distributed evenly amongst the eligible designers on the 61st day of the contest being locked. Find out more about locked contests.
Find out how to guarantee a design contest.