Investing in a partner portal is the right choice when it comes time to scale your business. With many options out there, it can be difficult to narrow down the right portal for you, and how it will impact your bottom line. Before committing to a partner portal, take time to examine their pricing, and the short-term and long-term value that you will get from the portal. Look for a B2B Saas company that can easily, and willingly, speak to the below points to make sure that you’re getting the best value for your monthly spend.
Set Up and Implementation Time
Time is money. And any time that is spent setting up your partner portal and walking through the training is time that isn’t spent on furthering business development. Get a detailed timeline on how long it will take the partner portal to be fully functional, and how quickly your team should feel confident when using it. Are training hours included in an initial setup fee, or are they extra? What if additional training is required? Ask these questions to make sure you don’t get any surprise fees tacked on at the end.
Customization
The level of customization required will depend on your business’ needs, but be wary about being upsold on customization features that might look nice, but not add a lot of value. Do you need a fully branded setup, or is a generic layout suitable for your needs? Can you upgrade the level of customization at a later date, or are you committed to your choice for the long term? Understanding your customization needs before signing up for a partner portal helps you narrow down what options are right for you.
Cost Breakdown
When it comes to the dollars and cents of your monthly bill, make sure you understand why the charges are what they are. Know whether or not you’re being charged per user, or by bulk sign-on. Ask how pricing is impacted if you bring another user on, and how quickly they can get access to the system. Ask if there are discounts for bulk users, or is it a flat fee regardless of the number of users you sign up. While the deliverables and usability of the product are integral to consider, the final pricing dictates your bill at the end of the month.
Contract Terms
The terms of your contract can often have an unforeseen impact on the cost of the partner portal if it needs to be amended for any reason. Understand how long your contract is in place, and look for the nuances in it. What penalties do you have to pay if you break your contract early? Are you guaranteed any price protection if your contract is extended? The fine print will give you a big-picture understanding of any contractual costs that might be incurred.
A partner portal will help you seamlessly grow your business, but it comes at a cost. Understanding your business needs prior to engaging with a portal provider will help you understand the right questions to ask so that your portal provides you with as much value as possible. xAmplify provides advanced partner solutions your company cannot afford to live without. Learn more about our PRM pricing.