Frequently Asked Questions
- Why us?
1. How exactly can SubscriptionFlow help me in managing my business?
SubscriptionFlow is a recurring billing and subscription management system enabling its customers to manage all the aspects of the subscription life cycle including recurring billing, subscription upgrade, downgrade, and renewals management for your customers, and payment processing.
We help our customers to streamline their revenue operations with seamless integrations for multiple payment gateways and other third-party applications.2. Why should I use SubscriptionFlow to manage my billing and payment processes?
SubscriptionFlow provides a plethora of features and functionalities so that you can stream more revenue, offer your customers more options for subscription upgrades, downgrades, and renewals, recover pending payments, stay alert of the looming threats of churn or revenue leakages, convert more customers with gift and trial subscriptions, and more.
Businesses with vertical-specific needs can ask for custom solutions to support their business. SubscriptionFlow provides special assistance with white labelling and branding, migration, CRM integrations, and other professional services implementation.3. How soon can I start using your service?
You can begin your subscription management journey with SubscriptionFlow, today. Just book an appointment with our subscription management consultants, get a better understanding of its features and solutions for your business, and kickoff the process.
If you are still not sure, you can always request a free trial to start using our services at the earliest.4. What kind of businesses does SubscriptionFlow provide its services for?
SubscriptionFlow aims at SMEs with recurring billing and payment processing requirements to provide them with agile subscription management, billing, and payment solutions that are tailored to their needs. It mainly includes E-Commerce, E-learning & Education Management, Digital Media & OTT, Telecom, Utilities Services, Print & Magazine, etc.
5. What if I need an expert’s advice on my business and need subscription management software?
SubscriptionFlow offers free consultancy to help you evaluate and understand your company’s requirements and the solutions needed. Schedule a Demo with SubscriptionFlow to get the expert’s advice now.
- Xero
1. Recurring subscription handling software with metered billing that integrates with Zoho CRM and Xero?
When it comes to integration, the most important feature of subscription handling software is the system’s flexibility to connect with other applications. SubscriptionFlow is one such subscription handling system that easily integrates with Xero and Zoho so that you can handle all miscellaneous activities of your business from a single platform.
2. If I integrate Xero, would my system remain flexible enough for more add-ons?
Yes, a subscription management platform of SubscriptionFlow integrated with Xero is flexible and scalable to have more add-ons.
3. If I integrate Xero, can I integrate payment gateways as well?
Though Xero integration allows users to receive payments in multiple currencies, the sytem can still be integrated with other payment gateways to ensure payment security.
4. How to test if integration with Xero is working
It is better to schedule a demo first so that you will see how the process of Xero integration works. That way you will know if the integration is working as per the flow or not.
- Sales Tax Management
1. How does Sales tax differ from VAT?
Sales tax differs from Value Added Tax (VAT) in many ways. Sales tax is imposed as a general sales tax and is applicable for all the purchasing and selling of products and, wherever, there is a physical sales nexus.
In the case of value-added tax (VAT), tax is charged at every step of production along with the addition of flat sales tax. VAT is not only levied at every step but also at the retail chain for generating the government’s revenue for a specific region. VAT is implemented in many countries, prominently in nordic countries, the UK, South Africa, etc.
2. How would ‘Tax compliance support’ localize my sales tax?
SubscriptionFlow’s additional tax compliance serves vendors and customers by focusing on their local currency and updated tax rates based on region. With SubscriptionFlow, localizing also enables businesses to automate their sales tax for easier sales tax processing.
3. What features would I avail of from Avalara Sales Tax integrated with SubscriptionFlow?
SubscriptionFlow is a subscription management platform dealing with automated billings and subscription management. Integrated with AvaTax, you will be able to get automated tax calculations in your invoices, according to various regions and tax types of your customers. Subscription businesses do not need to worry about uploading tax invoices, returns, and fillings manually, rather, SubscriptionFlow’s automated system would serve them.
Regulated with tax standardizations, SubscriptionFlow serves ease of access for frictionless tax management processes.
4. How would Sales Tax Returns and Reporting benefit my business?
With SubscriptionFlow automated and cloud-based system, sales tax returns and reporting work would not require manual input. All data and information will be stored digitally along with managing tax returns within the application.
Integration of multiple tools and software, SubscriptionFlow provides robust and frictionless real-time reporting to enhance the process of auditing for different major and minor instances.
5. Do I need to add Sales Tax to my products?
Yes, you need to add sales tax to your products if they have a physical nexus and they are tangible – tangible properties are taxable. However, sales tax varies from region to region.
If your business deals with interstate and international customers, SubscriptionFlow’s automated sales tax management solutions can apply the taxes on the products inclusive of customizations.
- Subscription Pricing and Plans
1. What is subscription pricing?
Subscription pricing or billing is a model in which the customers pay a recurring fee for a product or service based on the set time interval (quarterly, monthly, etc.). There are different subscription pricing models such as flat-fee model, usage-based model, tier pricing, and volume-based pricing. With SubscriptionFlow, you can also create a hybrid billing model to serve your revenue goals.
2. How can I determine the right subscription plan for my business?
To determine the optimal subscription pricing strategy for your business, you must consider four points for analysis. Business Model – It is primarily based on your product type and services in the market depending upon the customers of your business. Business Cost – Consider all your business’s costs such as customer acquisition cost (CAC), fixed costs, and variable costs.Competitors – Study your competitors and understand them from a consumer perspective. Value to Customer – Providing value to your customers by taking their opinions in. Moreover, analyze the factors that lower customer conversion rate and higher customer lifetime value (LTV) and implement them in your pricing strategy.
3. Can I customize the features of subscription billing plans?
Yes, SubscriptionFlow enables its customers to optimize the billing and pricing plans. Furthermore, you can add a product catalogue, create and customize the features of your subscription plans, implement discounts, manage tax rates and automate tax calculations, and more.
4. How does a volume-based pricing plan differ from a usage-based pricing plan?
They are often overlapped, however, the bedrock difference between the two models is ‘time’. In quantity-based pricing plans, services are provided to customers in units over a set pricing regardless of consumption. Consumers have to pay at the start of the billing cycle. In a usage-based billing model, customers are charged for only what they ‘consume’. In most cases, the end customers pay when a billing cycle ends.
5. How can subscription pricing models benefit my business?
Once you integrate QuickBooks, all of your data from SubscriptionFlow will be synced to QuickBooks. However, your data from QuickBooks cannot be synced with SubscriptionFlow. It is a one-way sync from SubscriptionFlow to QuickBooks.
Subscription pricing models will:
- Make your business management easier
- Result in increased revenue potential
- Improves upselling and cross-selling ratio
- Increased revenue and lower churn rate
- QuickBooks
1. Do you know any CRM application which has QuickBooks integrated into it?
SubscriptionFlow offers QuickBooks integration and allows users to sync all their financial data. It offers seamless synchronization and bridges the gap between CRM and finances.
2. What services will I be able to get if I get QuickBooks integration?
SubscriptionFlow QuickBooks integration allows:
- Data Synchronization
- Payment Reconciliation
- Subscription Payment Processing
- Automation of billing and invoicing
3. What payment gateway can I use with this integration?
You can use any of the payment gateways supported by SubscriptionFlow to process the payments. A record of all the transactions will be synced to QuickBooks online for the financial record.
4. Do I need to create a new account or can I connect to my current account?
You can connect to an existing account or if you don’t have one you can create a new account and connect that with SubscriptionFlow.
5. Will all of my data be synced with QuickBooks?
Once you integrate QuickBooks, all of your data from SubscriptionFlow will be synced to QuickBooks. However, your data from QuickBooks cannot be synced with SubscriptionFlow. It is a one-way sync from SubscriptionFlow to QuickBooks.
6. Can you download a monthly transaction file to import into QuickBooks?
Yes, once you connect QuickBooks with SubscriptionFlow you can download the transactions in excel format.
7. Can I generate multiple invoices for the same customer?
Yes, you can generate multiple invoices and allocate them to the same customer. All this data will be synced on an hourly basis in QuickBooks until selected otherwise.
- Analytics and Reporting
1. How could analytics and reporting help my business?
SubscriptionFlow generates automated reports and analytics for merchants to understand customer behaviors, customer journeys, and buyers’ persona. Understanding customers’ behavior is important for strategizing, planning, and drawing prospects. Moreover, with analytics and reporting you can also estimate recurring revenue and its potential. With reporting feature of SubscriptionFlow, all metrics such as retention metrics, renewal rate, churn rate, revenue churn rate, and much more help you gain insight into your subscription business health.
2. What can I see on my dashboard for analytics and reporting?
SubscriptionFlow’s dashboard offers you custom views. You can choose what analytics you want to monitor every day. However, its default view offers metrics like sales, sale reversals, payments, refunds, MRR, ARR, and activations.
3. What are MRR and ARR?
MRR stands for monthly recurring revenue. It entails the predictable recurring revenue generated by your businesses from all the subscriptions in a time span of a month. It will give you an insight into how much you made in a month. It is a key metric for SaaS and subscription-based businesses.
ARR stands for Annual Recurring billing. It entails the predictable recurring revenue generated by your business from all the subscriptions on the annual basis.
4. How would integrations help streamline my business operations?
SubscriptionFlow integrates different software, tools, and applications in order to provide you with a seamless experience in handling:
- Recurring Billing
- Automated Invoicing
- Sales Management
As it is a one-stop solution you will not need to switch between windows and tabs, rather you will find everything in one place – synced and automated. With automation and cloud-based software, your data will be managed in an organized manner accessing it remotely without any hassle.
- Recurring Billing Software
1. How do I set up monthly billing and payment processing for customers using SubscriptionFlow?
SubscriptionFlow is an all-inclusive subscription management platform through which you can automate all recurring billing & payments. Not only monthly payments, but different time intervals can also be set up such as weekly, quarterly, and so on.
2. My billing model is a combination of billing charges, how can I set it up in SubscriptionFlow?
SubscriptionFlow allows users to design and implement hybrid billing by setting up one time, recurring, or usage-based charges. They can set up flat pricing, usage-based pricing, volume-based, tiered pricing, or overage pricing for their recurring billing. Moreover, add-ons like discounts, vouchers, etc. can also be set up.
3. What are the benefits of using SubscriptionFlow for recurring billing?
SubscriptionFlow is a subscription management platform that facilitates its customers with the following benefits:
- Automation
- Various Pricing and Billing Models
- Robust Invoicing and Billing
- Versatile Accounting & Finance Integrations
- Multi-currency & Multiple Payment Methods Support
- Safe, Secure and Seamless API Management
- Inclusive Recurring and Subscription Billing Features
- Reporting And Analytics
4. How do I know which pricing model is the most suitable one for me?
Choosing the right pricing model for your business involves several factors. Firstly, you must determine the value metrics for your businesses to further understand the cost of products, needs of customers, and profit gained. With this, you will be able to select the right pricing model for your business. From flat-free, usage-based billing models, to hybrid billing models, merchants get a wide array of options in SubscriptionFlow that they can choose as per their needs.
5. Which type of Business uses Recurring Billing & Payment Systems?
Businesses with recurring billing or subscription business model use recurring billing & payment systems like SubscriptionFlow. These include SaaS subscription businesses, B2B trade & retail, e-Commerce, rental businesses, memberships, etc.
- Subscription Handling
1. How much will I have to pay for subscription billing?
If you’re going for SubscriptionFlow, you can automate your subscription lifecycle management from only $79/month (USD). This will include all the features that you can find here.
2. What is the best platform for selling SaaS subscriptions?
Ahead of the competition with its flexibility and customization capabilities, SubscriptionFlow is the best platform for selling SaaS subscriptions online. You can automate all operations related to subscription lifecycle management such as recurring billing, customer service, smart dunning, and even get subscription analytics.
3. What are the best B2B subscription apps?
SubscriptionFlow is the only B2B subscription app that companies need to streamline their operations and have a robust billing software that doesn’t just automate subscription management but also allows for countless integrations to make your B2B subscription app the only platform you need to manage your business.
4. Who uses subscription billing? What is the scope of subscription billing?
Subscription billing is for any business that charges customers on a recurring basis. With more additions being made every day, companies operating in the following industries require subscription billing:
- Digital media (magazines, news channels, etc.)
- Entertainment (games, movie streaming services, etc.)
- Cosmetics (subscription boxes, etc.)
- Mobile services (mobile data)
- Cleaning services
- Education and eLearning
- Fitness
- Software as a Service
- Automobiles (Porsche)
5. What is the best method to charge a monthly/subscription payment from customers?
The best method to charge a monthly subscription payment from customers is through a recurring billing platform like SubscriptionFlow that can automate the transaction process, keep track of payments made and due, and initiate dunning processes to streamline cashflow.
- Subscription Management Software
What is the subscription business model for a SaaS?
A SaaS subscription business model entails offering your software as a service for a fixed or usage-based price that is charged every month. There are several recurring billing models that SaaS providers can go for including Tier-based, volume-based, usage-based, and even hybrid combinations of several billing models.
Can I offer a free trial for my online subscription service?
With SubscriptionFlow, you can offer free trials, freemiums and even rewards, coupons, subscription boxes, rundles, etc. You can customize the pricing plan and package as per your requirement and watch the recurring billing system automate your transactions.
What’s the best invoicing and subscription billing online tool?
If you’re looking for a cloud-based subscription billing and invoicing software, SubscriptionFlow is the ultimate solution. Catering to custom billing models, streamlining cashflow with smart dunning, and handling complex proration-based tasks, you can rely on SubscriptionFlow to provide you with a robust subscription management system.
How to design SaaS monthly or annual subscription?
After you have a clear idea of your value metrics and have a pricing strategy in mind, you should have a recurring billing platform like SubscriptionFlow streamline your billing and payment processes. Designing custom billing models for each onboarding customer is a complex task that can be done and automated in a matter of minutes.
- Self-Service Portal
1. Can I view my customer on their self-service portal?
Yes, you can monitor user activity using SubscriptionFlow’s self-service portal and track their behavior to identify churn patterns, upsell and cross-sell opportunities and observe real-time payment changes as well.
2. What is a customer self-service portal for Subscription business?
The customer self-service portal for subscription businesses provides subscribers with a dashboard from where they can choose to change their subscription status, upgrade and downgrade plans, buy add-ons or even contact support for queries and concerns.
3. Can I track user activity time via the self-service portal?
Yes, you can measure almost anything the user does from the time they log on, the changes they make, the things they see and the time they log off. You can even get statistics and identify activity or behavior patterns that hint towards churn.
4. Can I customize the customer self-service portal?
You can customize almost anything that will appear to your customers from the moment they’re onboarded to the day they end their subscription. This can include advertisements, notifications, important reminders, daily newsletters, etc.
- Payment Processing
1. How can I manage the involuntary churn rate?
The involuntary churn rate refers to the frequency of customers or subscribers that leave the services during a set period of time due to different reasons such as lack of communication, failed payments, declined credit cards etc. SubscriptionFlow offers a unique combination of tools and metrics to keep a check on subscription lifecycle health and hence prompts your time ahead to avoid involuntary churn.
2. How SubscriptionFlow would help my business in reducing the churn rate?
SubscriptionFlow provides a smart payment failure proof feature that mitigates payment letdowns by sending your customer personalized emails. In addition to improving effective communication, a merchant can set up auto-charges to the cards to recover the payments.
3. Which payment gateways are integrated with SubscriptionFlow?
SubscriptionFlow enables merchants and customers from 100+ countries to integrate dozens of payment gateways. Stripe, CardConnect, PayPal, Authorize.net, Braintree, GoCardless, Adyen and others can easily be integrated into SubscriptionFlow for seamlessly recurring billing processes.
4. Can I use multiple gateways on my eCommerce website?
Yes, SubscriptionFlow enables customers to use multiple payment gateways with multiple payment methods to enhance cash flow, accommodate customers from different regions, and gain maximum revenue potential.