Subscription businesses have experienced significant success in recent years, offering convenience and value to customers. However, a silent threat has also been growing — failed payments. These issues pose a significant risk to the cash flow and long-term viability of subscription-based businesses.
If you’ve noticed a surge in payment issues recently, you’re not alone. A recent survey reveals that 41% of subscription-based businesses now see payment failures as their top concern, surpassing worries about customer acquisition.
The survey also notes that 45% of these businesses spend at least 5 hours per week dealing with failed payments. This consistent issue drains resources from business operations and the longer it goes on, the more damage it can do.
In this article, we’ll learn how payment failures can impact your business and why it’s essential to address and prevent them proactively. By understanding the importance of managing failed payments effectively, businesses can safeguard their revenue, reputation, and customer relationships.
Beware The Slippery Slope of Failed Payments
Succeeding in the world of subscriptions requires a delicate balancing act, prioritizing a seamless payment experience for customers. However, numerous challenges can prevent a smooth billing process. Failed payments can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as maxed-out credit cards, outdated payment information, or expired credit cards, leading to revenue leakage and involuntary churn. These payment failures can also have far-reaching consequences, including financial instability, damage to reputation, and operational losses.
Increase in Involuntary Customer Churn
As much as 50% of companies surveyed say that payment failures are responsible for a significant portion of subscriber churn. When a customer’s recurring payment fails, their subscription may be automatically canceled, resulting in involuntary churn. Even loyal customers who have been utilizing the services for months can be affected. Discovering that their subscription has been canceled due to non-payment can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. This not only results in a loss of revenue but also impacts customer loyalty and lifetime value. To mitigate involuntary churn, businesses must adopt proactive strategies and follow subscription billing best practices to recover failed payments and retain their valuable subscribers.
Negative Customer Experience and Damage to Brand Reputation
Customer experience (CX) is a crucial factor in sustainable business growth. The payment process is a critical touchpoint where customers entrust their hard-earned money to the business. Multiple payment failures can lead to a frustrating experience, which customers are likely to share with others. Negative word-of-mouth marketing can tarnish a company’s reputation and deter potential customers from subscribing. To ensure a positive customer experience, businesses must prioritize effective payment management and minimize the occurrence of failed payments.
Significant Operational Losses
Failed payments not only impact revenue but also result in operational losses. According to a payment trends report, businesses lose up to 3.6% of their annual revenue due to payment failures. Managing failed payments can be time-consuming and expensive, requiring resources to contact customers, chase payments, and potentially hire debt collectors or pursue legal action. These additional costs and operational burdens can hamper profitability and hinder business growth.
Reduced Cash Runway
Cash flow issues account for the vast majority of business failures. High rates of payment failures can lead to revenue loss, cash flow challenges, and difficulties in paying bills, investing, and expanding the business. In the current economic climate, such a loss can significantly hinder overall business growth.
Shield Your Subscription-Based Business with ReliaFund
Failed payments pose a significant threat to the cash flow and overall sustainability of subscription-based businesses. By understanding the impact of failed payments on revenue, customer churn, and operational efficiency, businesses can implement targeted strategies to prevent and recover from these failures. While implementing effective payment recovery strategies and choosing the right subscription pricing model is essential, partnering with a reliable payment processor can further safeguard your subscription business from the impact of failed payments.
Partnering with ReliaFund to improve your accounts receivable process can help you streamline your payment transactions and ensure a seamless payment experience for your subscribers. It is a crucial step in safeguarding the growth and success of your subscription business. Connect with our dedicated team of specialists today for a free business analysis and find out how we can help your subscription-based business reach your goals.