If your software business is subscription-based, you might want to implement a customer-retention program that ensures satisfied clients, timely renewals, and a price upsell. But it’s easier said than done to land all three.

They talked about how difficult it was for clients to understand contracts even after they had signed a renewal and how their main objective was to keep income as high as possible. This is the fundamental idea behind subscription-based client retention strategies: they safeguard your income and encourage recurrent subscriptions.

Departing too late

Long before the renewal date, an effective retention playbook begins to take shape. In order to be prepared to speak with clients about their renewal 120 to 90 days in advance, your internal research phase should start 180 to 120 days prior to the renewal date. Timeliness and client profiles determine how variable these timetables are. Start your process earlier rather than later for large enterprise customers, for example, as they can require more time to route contracts internally.

Taking things too seriously

Contracts are necessary for formal agreements like renewals. However, formality is not required in the interactions. A typical renewal cycle ought to feel like a continuing discussion, particularly if it is provided by your team that interacts with customers.

This covers price increases for renewals as well because your clients ought to be aware of the growing platform expenses as well as interest rates, among other things. Of course, there will be some outliers that call for a formal conversation—for example, a danger of client turnover or an escalation.

Not providing your staff with training

It is incorrect to assume that your staff is adept at contract negotiations or explaining the reasoning for a price rise. Any work activity or function need training, but revenue-generating professions require it much more.

Workers who lack negotiation skills frequently offer the best terms or the lowest asking price to the consumer rather than the organization they work for. This is essentially due to fear of failing to close the deal, anxiety about facing someone, and other related factors. However, with practice and training, this can be prevented. One-on-one coaching, call shadowing, role-playing, and using training materials and seminars are a few methods of providing training on renewals. Every budget has a solution.

Not having agreements for each renewal

Contracts are a necessary tool for both practical and professional renewal assurance. For the term of the contract, they let you maintain the protection of your revenue. Legal documents, though, can take a lot of time. Think about creating a Master Service Agreement, which can retain the larger customer agreement while allowing for easier renewal adjustments to be carried out at each cycle.

It’s important to keep in mind that you have the legal right to retain your clients on the contract if they decide to end it early or to negotiate with you to find other arrangements, such an early-out payout. However, remember to include any alternatives in a new amendment.

Insufficient record of customer conversations

This may seem uncomplicated, but it is actually quite significant. That does not imply, however, that all of their information was shared. On a few situations, clients who had made an arrangement predecessor, via email or a phone call, that was not communicated generally.

Individuals change both inside and outside of organizations, so make sure you record everything so that future generations can find it. It will not only help your internal staff, but it will also give your customers access to historical data.

Ignorance of money and consumer debt

Although sometimes disregarded by non-finance teams, having a foundation understanding of revenue, debt, cash, and what happens when customers default is crucial.

Because it might be difficult and costly to rely solely on collections agencies for all of your consumer debt, make sure you receive payment within ninety days, or else take alternative measures with your clients. Without a signed contract for renewal, it is acceptable to inform a customer, “I will have to pause your service.” Even a satisfied customer needs to realize that the product they are using is part of a business.

By staying away from these six traps, you can guarantee that your clients are informed, satisfied, and long-term partners, as well as timely and reasonably priced renewals.