GoodFirms is a research and review platform that helps software buyers and service seekers choose the best software or firm. So far, it has helped more than 102,000 businesses find the right software service companies and products. They have been using Zoho Subscriptions for more than three years to manage their billing cycles. We had a discussion with Rachael Ray, the Analyst and PR Manager at GoodFirms.

Challenge - Subscription factors to consider

"When we chose to adopt a subscription-based business model, there were several factors to consider," recalls Ray. "The subscription cycle should be customized according to the clients' preferences. They should be able to securely save their card information so the subscription renews each month, and following up with them about payments through notifications should be simple."

Solution - A flexible, scalable application

Looking at these factors, we realized we were in need of a solid software solution. Since we were going to invest our time and effort to implement it, we wanted the ability to continue using the platform even after we scale our business up. That's when we came across Zoho Subscriptions. We tried the app for some time and were really impressed. We realized that the app is flexible enough to grow with us, and we decided to implement it for GoodFirms.

We handle monthly, quarterly, and yearly subscriptions. Some of our clients want to begin their subscription cycle on the first of every month while some don't want to wait and would rather begin their cycle mid-month.

We are happy that the application offers the flexibility to handle any billing frequency for subscriptions.

- Rachael Ray, Analyst and PR Manager, GoodFirms

Some of our clients wish to change their plan. Maybe they want to move from a monthly billing cycle to quarterly or yearly. In those cases, we cannot cancel the subscription or ask them to feed the card details again. With Zoho Subscriptions, we can just edit the subscription and change the plan. The system takes care of the rest.

Also, our clients need to get consent from their company to continue their subscription for the next month. In case we don't get a consent email before the renewal date, we usually extend the subscription for two days. We love that the platform can easily be tailored to meet our exact needs.

Why GoodFirms loves Zoho :

Apart from Zoho Subscriptions, we also use Zoho Mail. Overall, we like the breadth of Zoho's applications and that they are easy to customize.

With Zoho Subscriptions, all we have to do is create the subscription plans and update them whenever needed. The application does the rest. It collects payments, follows up with customers who haven't paid, and even acknowledges the payments received. That's why we love Zoho.