A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for calculating closing metrics regarding a contract between a promotion service and provider. A promotional system may calculate a probability of closing, and an estimated time to close. The promotion service may offer a promotion to consumers for a discounted product or service, to be honored by the provider. A category, lead source, historical data, stage in sales, and/or size of the provider may be used in calculating a probability of close and/or time to close. An example method may comprise supplying a classifying model with a dataset, wherein the dataset comprises an identification of a provider and attributes corresponding to the provider and identifying a class of the provider in accordance with the plurality of corresponding attributes, wherein the identification is determined based on one or more patterns determinative of a return rate by the classifying model.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the device to at least: supply a set of classifying models with a dataset, wherein the dataset comprises an indication of one or more providers in a given geographic area, a plurality of available attributes corresponding to the one or more providers wherein the available attributes comprise at least one of a provider category, a lead source or historical data relating to the one or more providers; and determine whether a probability of close with a particular provider is likely to satisfy a predetermined threshold, wherein the probability of close indicates the probability that the particular provider will contract with a promotion service to offer a promotion, wherein the promotion is offered to a consumer for purchase from the promotion service in exchange for at least one of a discounted service or discounted product from the provider; wherein the determination of whether the probability of close with the particular provider is likely to satisfy a predetermined threshold comprises: determining an availability of credit report data within the plurality of available attributes; in an instance in which the availability of credit report data is determined, utilizing a first classifying model from the set of classifying models; in an instance in which an unavailability of credit report data is determined, utilizing a second classifying model from the set of classifying models; wherein each classifying model of the set of classifying models is trained to utilize a set of determinative attributes, and identifying one or more patterns of available attributes that match one or more patterns found in the set of determinative attributes, wherein each of one or more patterns is indicative of a known probability of close; and identifying which of two classes to assign the provider in accordance with the identified patterns, wherein a first class of the two classes is indicative of a determination that the probability of close with the provider is likely to satisfy the predetermined threshold and a second class of the two classes is indicative of a determination that the probability of close with the provider is not likely to satisfy the predetermined threshold. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: calculating an estimated time to close the contract between the particular provider and the promotion service. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the device to at least: applying the one or more providers as categorical dependent variables, wherein the categorical dependent variables are established based on historical data. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the device to at least: determining a sales stage of an opportunity to contract offered by the promotion service to the provider, wherein the probability of close is based on at least the sales stage of the opportunity. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the probability of close is based on at least a source used to identify the particular provider. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the device to at least: analyzing a history of previous contracts between the promotion service and the particular provider, wherein the probability of close is based on at least the history analysis. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the probability of close is calculated based on at least a category of the particular provider. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the probability of close is calculated based on at least one of a size of the particular provider, merchant quality score of the particular provider, or a demand forecast. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the probability of close is calculated relative to a specified time period. 10. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions to: supply a set of classifying models with a dataset, wherein the dataset comprises an indication of one or more providers in a given geographic area, a plurality of available attributes corresponding to the one or more providers wherein the available attributes comprise at least one of a provider category, a lead source or historical data relating to the one or more providers; and determine whether a probability of close with a particular provider is likely to satisfy a predetermined threshold, wherein the probability of close indicates the probability that the particular provider will contract with a promotion service to offer a promotion, wherein the promotion is offered to a consumer for purchase from the promotion service in exchange for at least one of a discounted service or discounted product from the provider; wherein the determination of whether the probability of close with the particular provider is likely to satisfy a predetermined threshold comprises: determining an availability of credit report data within the plurality of available attributes; in an instance in which the availability of credit report data is determined, utilizing a first classifying model from the set of classifying models; in an instance in which an unavailability of credit report data is determined, utilizing a second classifying model from the set of classifying models; wherein each classifying model of the set of classifying models is trained to utilize a set of determinative attributes, and identifying one or more patterns of available attributes that match one or more patterns found in the set of determinative attributes, wherein each of one or more patterns is indicative of a known probability of close; and identifying which of two classes to assign the provider in accordance with the identified patterns, wherein a first class of the two classes is indicative of a determination that the probability of close with the provider is likely to satisfy the predetermined threshold and a second class of the two classes is indicative of a determination that the probability of close with the provider is not likely to satisfy the predetermined threshold. 11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to: calculate an estimated time to close the contract between the particular provider and the promotion service. 12. A method for ranking providers, the method comprising: supplying a set of classifying models with a dataset, wherein the dataset comprises an indication of one or more providers in a given geographic area, a plurality of available attributes corresponding to the one or more providers wherein the available attributes comprise at least one of a provider category, a lead source or historical data relating to the one or more providers; and determining whether a probability of close with a particular provider is likely to satisfy a predetermined threshold, wherein the probability of close indicates the probability that the particular provider will contract with a promotion service to offer a promotion, wherein the promotion is offered to a consumer for purchase from the promotion service in exchange for at least one of a discounted service or discounted product from the provider; wherein the determination of whether the probability of close with the particular provider is likely to satisfy a predetermined threshold comprises: determining an availability of credit report data within the plurality of available attributes; in an instance in which the availability of credit report data is determined, utilizing a first classifying model from the set of classifying models; in an instance in which an unavailability of credit report data is determined, utilizing a second classifying model from the set of classifying models; wherein each classifying model of the set of classifying models is trained to utilize a set of determinative attributes, and identifying one or more patterns of available attributes that match one or more patterns found in the set of determinative attributes, wherein each of one or more patterns is indicative of a known probability of close; and identifying which of two classes to assign the provider in accordance with the identified patterns, wherein a first class of the two classes is indicative of a determination that the probability of close with the provider is likely to satisfy the predetermined threshold and a second class of the two classes is indicative of a determination that the probability of close with the provider is not likely to satisfy the predetermined threshold. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: calculating an estimated time to close the contract between the particular provider and the promotion service. 14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising: applying the one or more providers as categorical dependent variables, wherein the categorical dependent variables are established based on historical data. 15. A method according to claim 12, further comprising: determining a sales stage of an opportunity to contract offered by the promotion service to the provider, wherein the probability of close is based on at least the sales stage of the opportunity. 16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the probability of close is based on at least a source used to identify the particular provider. 17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising: analyzing a history of previous contracts between the promotion service and the particular provider, wherein the probability of close is based on at least the history analysis. 18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the probability of close is calculated based on at least a category of the particular provider. 19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the probability of close is calculated based on at least one of a size of the particular provider, merchant quality score of the particular provider, or a demand forecast. 20. A method according to claim 12, wherein the probability of close is calculated relative to a specified time period.