Monthly or Annual?

[Mandi]

I don't presently have anyone on reseller myself (well, except a few of my own projects LOL) - but that is exactly the approach I would pick too - annual invoice for the client, monthly payments on a credit card for me, backed by the float from the client.

[kitchin]

The monthly billing to resellers is pretty easy. One big email with a single total due amount, which covers all accounts resold. The line items make sense if you see each block as a mini-history, but it's easier to use FQ's super-handy http://QuestAdmin.net for accounting purposes.

[dan]

My boss (that pays the bill to FQ) thinks it is kind of silly to be billing resold accounts each month. She can't imagine the amount of extra work FQ has to do to put these little transactions in the books and keep track of them.

So we are still billing our clients by the year and paying FQ by the month, which of course means more work for us also to keep track of the small charges and more trees dying so that we have an offline copy of each bill. It seems easier to me, and my boss, to go back to annual payments for resellers.

[John Kennett]

OK, so it's been a while now, but I've just about had it with the new monthly system. I'm not a major league reseller, but mainly use it as an add-on for a few clients plus friends and family. I've got about 30 domains here, spread over a dozen accounts.

I like to keep it simple -- buy yearly, pay in advance, know where I stand.

The staff are helpful as ever, and with QuestAdmin I can dig through and check the status of each account, but at the moment I'm feeling that it's all more bother than it's worth.

Of course, if I move some of my accounts elsewhere then because of the monthly pricing, the cost of the remaining packages will go up as I lose points. So it would have to be an all or nothing approach.

I don't want to leave FutureQuest, as everything else about the service is superb. I also know that the aggravation of moving would actually be at least as bad as dealing with the monthly accounting system.

So I'll probably stay and see if I get over it, but it's really bugging me at the moment.

How are you all getting on with it?

John

[hobbes]

Pretty straight forward. We continue to bill yearly, and pay FQ once a month. If you only have 12 accounts, then I can see where it's an issue as you're at about the break even point; with more accounts, you only need to review the FQ charges once a month (12x/year) vs. each time a renewal is due.

[Webmarm]

Oh, I blew it when I opened a new account this month. I forgot about the whole switch over, automatically clicked annual billing for a Visionary, and only much later realized I'd forgotten to check the coupons page (sheesh, I also added an IRO), and that billing monthly for a Visionary ends up cheaper.

Other than that, it hasn't been a biggy. I put a chunk of change into my account at the end of the tax year and am still working off of that for the monthly accounts.

[sheila]

Originally Posted by Webmarm

Oh, I blew it when I opened a new account this month. I forgot about the whole switch over, automatically clicked annual billing for a Visionary, and only much later realized I'd forgotten to check the coupons page (sheesh, I also added an IRO), and that billing monthly for a Visionary ends up cheaper.

If you make an error of this type, you can always write in to the Service Desk and request that we change the billing on the package to monthly, and we will work with you to adjust the account's billing records, so that you can receive your reseller discount.

even if you've already paid for it...

[EWOlson]

Originally Posted by Andilinks

New and prospective clients without a history here are not likely to be so confident.

You are so right Andi.

I agree that FutureQuest should make there invoices and such easier to read.

I am not a reseller currently but wanted to become one. I haven't found the reseller area yet though. Is it gone? I signed up for the affiliate program for now/instead.

As far as the people who aren't any good at finances I have to say one thing. You really need that skill, especially if you are going to be involved in the trade of goods/services. I understand if you are having difficulting, it can be hard, but it *can* be learned. It is a skill that you need for this type of work just like HTML and PHP. Take a course or have someone help you. Finances are a part of everyone's life and should be something you feel comfortable with.

I, also, am confused on why FutureQuest would want to go to monthly billing in place of yearly billing. Business *does* love yearly billing. They can hold that money in an account and accumulate interest on it. I don't know why FutureQuest is the odd man out.

[EWOlson]

Originally Posted by Evoir

Maybe should use a credit card instead of my bank card.

You should always use a credit card when doing business online. It is the only form of payment that has fraud protection for Internet sales. Some bank cards can be used as credit cards and should be. Not only do you get the added security but you will also be entered in all of the contests that they are currently running to promote bank cards being used as credit cards.

Sorry for the double post but I hate trying to combine multiple quotes into one post.

[Bob]

Hello,

The Resellers area is found at:
http://www.FutureQuest.net/Services/Resellers/

It is a link from the Navigation on the FutureQuest Web Site:


Third from the bottom under "Services"

Earlier in this thread was the rational for changing to Monthly for Resellers Accounts due to the changing nature of discounts...

-Bob