Gives money back rather early perhaps, as you say at the outset (6)
I believe the answer is:
repays
'gives money back' is the definition.
'repays' can be an answer for 'gives' (repaying is a kind of giving). I am not certain of the 'money back' bit.
'rather early perhaps as you say at the outset' is the wordplay.
'at the outset' indicates taking the first letters (the outset is the beginning).
The first letters of 'rather early perhaps as you say' is 'REPAYS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for repays that I've seen before include "Returns loan or favour" , "Recompenses" , "Discharges debt" , "Returns favour or debt" , "Refunds; rewards" .)