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Finding an automated recurring billing system for your business can seem like a dauntingly complicated task. Being faced with several billing systems, each claiming to automate your recurring billing more efficiently than the other, can leave you confused and overwhelmed. So I decided to dive into the automated online recurring billing system market to see whats out there and try to find the best system for your buck.
What is a recurring billing system?
Recurring billing is billing that occurs at specified intervals. Recurring billing systems deal with the automation of recurring or subscription billing. These can be set charges or fees that are due more than once. Recurring billing also includes transactions for which a cardholder grants permission to the merchant to periodically charge his account number for recurring goods or services. For example the monthly or annual subscription fee you pay to receive your favorite newspaper or magazine.
I started with investigating billing systems that offer true recurring billing like Chargify, Recurly, SnapBill, Spreedly, CheddarGetter and skipped over systems offering invoicing with only basic recurring functionality like Freshbooks, Invoicera, BlinkSale, BallPark, Invoice Machine, etc. The following systems made the recurring billing shortlist:
Recury is an online subscription billing management system. Set up unique subscription plans, automated customer communications, apply trail periods and setup fees and accept payments through several well know payment gateways. All this with per transaction pricing that scales accounting to the size of your business.
SnapBill is an automated billing system that allows you to easily sell your services online. SnapBill has been designed for businesses requiring a powerful and fully customisable subscription or recurring billing system with payment collection facilities. SnapBill is PCI DSS compliant, encrypts and securely stores your data and allows you to seamlessly transfer between multiple payment gateways.
Offers simplified recurring billing for web 2.0 and SaaS companies. Chargify allows you to set customized subscription plans and pricing models and bill your clients securely though their hosted payment page of API integration with your site. Chargify also offers an iphone app for accessible recurring billing on the move.
With my short list in hand I set about testing the recurring billing systems to try to find the best of the bunch.
I have a small to medium sized business (500 clients +) and require automated recurring billing, payment processing and automated reconciliation as well as effective client management. I have several staff members who assist with my billing and need secure access to client data. I need to keep my gateway costs as low as possible and have in the past switched between payment gateways to ensure I have the lowest rates. I would like my recurring billing system to allow me to switch painlessly.
I found all this and more in SnapBill! Recurly, although fully featured focused more on the needs of large enterprise clients – leaving small to medium sized business owners like myself rather mystified as to how their recurring billing solution will work for us. Recurly, very much like Chargify also lacks adequate client management features. Both provide you with several recurring billing options, but none provide the full package like SnapBill does.
SnapBill allows you to easily set up your recurring billing, offering bulk import of my client records and secure storage of my clients billing and personal details. With a range of customisable services and packages as well as once off and recurring charges SnapBill can be used to bill for any goods or services. SnapBill also provides a fully branded hosted billing management centre where you clients can log in and manage their banking details, view and pay invoices and order more of your services online.
SnapBill is definitely the first word in automated recurring billing.
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Jana, I read your post and wondering to know what does you mean by true recurring billing and basic recurring billing. thanks
Hey Manish, I consider any system offering the ability to issue invoices for fees that are due more than once a basic recurring billing system. True or advanced recurring billing includes the complete customisation of recurrence period, automated application of setup and prorated fees, syncronisation with debit batch submission and automatic payment reconciliation.
I noticed that you were from Invoicera – I’d love to take a closer look at your system! Drop me a mail if your interested in a review.
I’d also suggest CheddarGetter! CheddarGetter is a simple and flexible online recurring billing service, and can be used by a wide range of businesses. Its features include multiple pricing plan options, custom analytics, and a thoroughly documented API (among others). This winter it also released its own payment gateway (CheddarGateway), although you can still opt to integrate with an outside service like PayPal, Authorize.net, or Verifi. I definitely recommend it!
Thanks for the suggestion Jessica. I’ll be sure to take a closer look at CheddarGetter. A few questions bout the getter of the cheddar; does CheddarGetter allow you to apply setup fees for services and customise pro-rata fee application? Also, does it offer users a ready hosted services ‘order centre’ where my clients can order my services?
I love the fact that you are developing and will be integrating your own payment gateway! What are the benefits of using CheddarGateway above other more established gateways? Will your gateway work with my existing South African merchant account and will CheddarGateway support ZAR transactions?
eVapt – Subscription Management, Metering and Billing Solution
Subscription Management may seems to be a very odd term for common personals but on enterprise level, it is a very careful and hectic job to perform. If you are looking for a clouds automation for the concern, here is something you must try!
eVapt is the world’s leading provider of billing, subscription management, metering, charging and customer lifecycle management solutions for cloud computing and on-demand service providers. This solution is build and delivered using leading technologies in a modular fashion and can be easily integrated with exhisting business operations. From customer acquisition to customer retention in cloud computing or for on demand service providers, eVapt handles all aspects of creating, managing and cultivating relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. Its architecture ensures the entire network of internal (departmental, multi-agency) and external (customer, vendor, reseller, partner) relationships are seamless and are geared to enhance the total customer experience.
eVapt offers unified view of a customer with billing at its core. Conforming to international standards and developed using leading-edge technologies the solution is suitable for monetizing all types and sizes of subscription businesses including On-Demand, Cloud enabled, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
eVapt allows subscription service providers to manage their business efficiently, reduce the costs, and support exponential growth in customer base and the service offerings. By streamlining operations, simplifying the billing process and improving customer satisfaction, it facilitates the service providers to focus on their core competencies, while dramatically reducing costs.
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Subscription Management services,Subscription Billing usage,