When I launched our company in 2017, one of the things I decided not to do was impose long-term IT contracts on our clients. This is because I didn’t like the extra-long, restrictive, even punitive contracts I was seeing in our industry. I wanted one thing to keep clients sticking around: trust. I didn’t want anyone to stay with us because it was what they felt they had to do. We required 60 days’ notice for anyone wanting to switch IT services.
This approach has worked well for both our company and our clients. But something has changed within our biggest technology suppliers (mainly Microsoft, and OVH): the best prices are now attached to 1-year contracts. To pass on the best pricing to our clients, and keep our own operations organized and in line with our suppliers, I knew we had to consider moving to 1-year contracts as well.
Here’s what we changed about our IT contracts:
We offered a choice to existing clients
During our annual pricing review, we shared with clients that we would be offering a choice: a price where they could continue as usual on a month-to-month basis, or a price lower than the first option which would come attached to a 1-year contract.
We decided on 1-year renewing contracts for new clients
To keep new clients in line with our standard operating procedures, we are asking new clients to sign 1-year contracts.
Though we can no longer say that we don’t require any time commitment, I am satisfied with the 1-year commitment. A 1-year contract will not force clients to stay with our company for the long-term. We must still provide excellent service, and keep fostering a trusting business relationship on an ongoing basis. This is how we hold ourselves accountable. We believe that if we are not providing value to our clients, they should feel free to switch services. No client will ever be “stuck” with us.
