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Subscription billing and subscription-based business models have become the standard for many industries, from SaaS technology companies to utilities, professional services , financial services and retail. The appeal lies in the consistent revenue stream they provide, as well as the opportunity to build long-term relationships with customers.

However, with these benefits come challenges, especially when it comes to managing subscriptions efficiently. For businesses running on Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions like Business Central, having a robust subscription billing system is critical to scaling operations, improving customer satisfaction, and optimizing financial processes. For a while, customers have been limited to the core Business Central functionality. However, Microsoft has made steps to address this. For many customers, this will be enough, but for others with more complex needs, other questions might remain.

Subscription Billing in Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides several core subscription billing features designed to meet the basic needs of businesses. These include capabilities like contract management, automatic posting to accrual accounts, invoice previews, billing templates, and automatic deferrals. These features are undeniably useful, allowing businesses to automate many manual tasks and improve the efficiency of their billing cycles.

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However, for businesses dealing with high transaction volumes, multiple customer segments, or sophisticated pricing models, the built-in features of Business Central may not be enough. Managing subscriptions requires flexibility, accuracy, and scalability, especially when companies want to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. To get the most value from your subscription model, you’ll need advanced tools that go beyond the basics, helping you automate complex processes and tailor your offerings to different customer needs. Let’s explore what these advanced features might look like.

Advanced subscription features to look out for

Subscription management is multifaceted, and businesses need more than just foundational billing functions to thrive in a competitive market. In fact, research highlights key trends that reflect how much more sophisticated subscription models have become:

With these statistics in mind, here are the advanced subscription billing features that businesses should be looking for to stay ahead:

Personalized customer communication

Automating personalized communications like billing reminders, renewal notices, and payment confirmations can make a huge difference in customer satisfaction and retention. Tailoring these messages based on customer preferences, subscription status, and engagement history helps build stronger relationships and ensures that customers feel valued throughout their subscription lifecycle.

Streamlined Accounts Receivables (AR)

Late payments are a common challenge, but with advanced accounts receivable automation, businesses can streamline payment collection and reduce delays. Features like automated dunning (payment reminders) and proactive billing alerts help reduce late payments while keeping customers informed about their account status.

Comprehensive payment management

Customers expect flexibility when it comes to payment options. Offering a self-service portal where they can easily manage their subscriptions, update payment details, and renew their services can significantly improve the user experience. Providing support for multiple payment methods—credit cards, ACH transfers, PayPal, etc.—is essential for reducing friction and ensuring timely payments.

Advanced reporting and analytics

Real-time reporting and analytics are crucial for subscription-based businesses. Advanced subscription billing solutions should offer comprehensive dashboards and financial reports that provide deep insights into revenue trends, customer behavior, and operational efficiency. With access to accurate, up-to-date data, CFOs and finance teams can make more informed decisions, ensuring long-term financial health and profitability.

Advanced Subscription Billing Bundle for Dynamics 365 Business Central

With the growing complexity of subscription management, Binary Stream has developed an advanced subscription billing bundle designed to meet the needs of businesses looking to optimize their billing processes. This bundle provides all the essential features mentioned earlier, but with a focus on taking these functionalities to the next level. Here’s what you can expect from Binary Stream’s advanced subscription bundle.

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Subscription-based businesses thrive on customer retention, but with increasingly complex billing structures and rising competition, keeping customers engaged can be challenging. Many companies are losing customers due to churn and billing complications, and they’re not alone.

According to a survey of 318 subscription leaders in North America—representing companies with over 50 employees and Annual Recurring Revenues exceeding $5 million—59% of respondents consider customer retention a higher priority than customer acquisition, while 27% place both on equal levels of importance. Only 14% considered retention a lower priority than acquisition.

The message is clear: customer retention is more important than ever, making it the most critical KPI for subscription-based businesses to track. If you’re struggling with churn, AI may offer the solution you’ve been looking for.

AI offers significant value for subscription billing

AI’s potential to revolutionize subscription billing is rapidly becoming evident. Whether it’s improving customer retention, enhancing billing processes, or optimizing communication, AI technology offers a broad range of benefits. According to a recent survey we conducted with our partners, the vast majority are exploring AI solutions to increase efficiency.

The automation and insights AI brings can significantly improve how businesses handle subscriptions, moving from reactive to proactive management strategies.
AI doesn’t just help you handle data faster—it enables smarter decision-making by identifying patterns and trends that would otherwise go unnoticed.

How AI can optimize subscription billing

So, how exactly does AI benefit subscription billing? Here are some key areas where AI can make a difference:

Identifying customers at risk of churning

One of the most powerful uses of AI is predictive analytics. AI algorithms can analyze customer behavior, payment history, and engagement data to identify customers who are at risk of churning. By detecting patterns—such as late payments, declining usage, or unsubscribing from communications—AI can give businesses a heads-up before it’s too late. This allows companies to intervene proactively, whether through targeted offers, more flexible payment terms, or enhanced customer service.

Enhancing communication to prevent churn

AI can also play a vital role in personalizing customer communications. By leveraging machine learning models that analyze customer preferences and past interactions, AI can tailor messaging in ways that feel more relevant to each individual. Whether it’s sending a reminder about an upcoming renewal or offering a personalized discount to a disengaged customer, AI-driven communication helps foster better relationships, making customers feel valued and understood.

Binary Stream’s AI-driven churn reduction model

Binary Stream is staying ahead of the curve by integrating AI into its advanced subscription billing suite. Our new AI-driven retention model is designed to work seamlessly with your existing subscription functions, providing intelligent insights and proactive solutions to reduce churn. Here’s what our AI integration can do:

Seamless churn risk identification

By analyzing behavioral data, payment history, and engagement levels, our AI model pinpoints accounts that are most at risk of churning. This helps businesses focus their retention efforts where they’re needed most, improving customer satisfaction and reducing revenue loss.

Automatic personalized email notifications

Say goodbye to generic, one-size-fits-all emails. With Binary Stream’s AI-powered system, you can automatically generate intelligent, personalized email notifications tailored to the specific needs and behaviors of each customer. Whether it’s a gentle nudge for an upcoming payment or a more urgent message for disengaged users, AI ensures that your communications are timely and relevant.

Customizable email templates with adaptable tones

To further enhance personalization, Binary Stream’s AI solution offers customizable email templates that allow businesses to modify the tone, messaging, and design of their communications. Whether you want a friendly reminder, a formal notification, or a promotional message, AI helps adapt the content to fit each customer, increasing the likelihood of a positive response.

Stay ahead with AI: The future of subscription billing starts now

As the subscription economy grows, leveraging AI is no longer just a competitive advantage—it’s a necessity. By incorporating AI into your subscription billing processes, you can identify churn risks, enhance customer communications, and ultimately boost retention rates. To learn more about how Binary Stream’s advanced subscription billing solutions, powered by AI, can transform your business, reach out to us today for a personalized consultation.

Binary Stream, an award-winning Microsoft ISV (Independent Software Vendor), is excited to announce an expanded partnership with Solver, a leader in extended financial planning and analysis (xFP&A).  The enhanced partnership will help organizations using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central manage the complete order to cash process while accessing powerful analysis that delivers real-time insights to business performance.

The inclusion of Solver’s xFP&A advanced reporting capabilities as part of Binary Stream’s Advanced Subscription Billing Suite will provide businesses with an end-to-end solution that automates and optimizes key financial workflows, from billing to cash collection, while delivering actionable insights through advanced reporting and analysis.

“Our expanded partnership with Solver allows us to deliver an even more robust solution for businesses looking to streamline their financial processes, ” said Lak Chahal, CEO at Binary Stream. “This integration automates critical financial functions throughout the order-to-cash cycle, giving customers greater control, visibility, and agility in managing their subscriptions.”

Designed for businesses with complex subscription billing processes, this partnership ensures key financial insights are accessible and actionable. By integrating subscription billing and advanced financial reporting, Binary Stream and Solver provide a comprehensive financial management solution that transforms Dynamics 365 Business Central into a powerful tool for managing complex subscription billing.

“Solver is proud to partner with such a trusted and respected Microsoft Dynamics 365 ISV to enhance the Binary Stream Advanced Subscription Billing Suite,” said Tracy Rich, EVP of Alliance Business Development at Solver. “Our combined solutions will empower customers to effectively manage complex subscription reporting requirements, with the option to expand into budgeting and forecasting processes.”

Binary Stream and Solver partnership

 

Revenue recognition is a generally accepted accounting principle (GAAP) referring to how you recognize revenue. This process varies from company to company, but is crucial to a company’s financial health, especially when it comes to identifying when to recognize revenue immediately, when to defer revenue, and when to recognize deferred revenue. For companies in industries that sell multiple elements, such as products, services, and subscriptions, it is important to be able to isolate each element and then recognize the revenue from each.

The Revenue Recognition module in Dynamics 365 Finance has been a useful tool for accomplishing this, enabling companies to allocate and defer revenue based on their own company-specific and industry-specific guidelines. With Microsoft deprecating the Revenue Recognition module, many users are faced with the task of migrating to Subscription Billing. Any kind of migration demands a deliberate approach, with careful steps to mitigate risk and reduce downtime.

Whether you’re doing this alone or in collaboration with a partner, here are some important steps to follow to successfully migrate from Revenue Recognition to Subscription Billing.

1. Discovery and analysis
2. Project planning and scoping
3. Utility configuration and object mapping
4. Trial migration validation and testing
5. Training and advisory services

We’ll take a closer look at these steps shortly, but first, let’s consider some factors to consider when attempting to migrate from Revenue Recognition to Subscription Billing.

Factors to consider when migrating from Revenue Recognition to Subscription Billing

Risk

Moving from one solution presents many challenges, one of which is risk, especially where your data is concerned. When deciding how you want to migrate, or who to partner with, pay attention to experience and expertise that can guarantee you a process with lower risk.

Time

Dealing with downtime when migrating from one solution to another is inevitable. However, the right approach can help you keep your downtime to a minimum. A manual migration will take much more time and is more prone to errors. With a partner offering a configurable migration utility, you’ll move much quicker, reducing the amount of time your Dynamics Finance environment will be down.

Cost

By utilizing a partner that has experience in migrating from Revenue Recognition to Subscription Billing you will have much more efficient migration. This will reduce the cost of the migration and reduce the manhours spent by your team migrating. In addition, the migration period is a good time to identify areas of potential business improvement. Working with the right team, you can also analyze if your company can benefit from the recurring contract billing capabilities provided by Subscription Billing, which can improve efficiency and eliminate unnecessary costs.

Steps involved in a successful migration

Discovery and analysis

This initial stage should focus on understanding your business requirements. How have you been using Revenue Recognition? How do you intend to use Subscription Billing? The goal should be to gain a robust perspective on your specific deferral use cases. In addition, you should seek to identify any uses you have for Revenue Recognition not covered by Subscription Billing and how to make up for those functionality gaps.

Project planning and scoping

With sufficient background from the previous step, work with your partners to come up with a detailed plan for the project. The goal here should be to ensure everyone is prepared and that the project follows a timeline that makes sense for your business.

Object mapping

Here, your technical team and your partners should collaborate to ensure that the migration utility is properly configured and mapped to your system. This helps ensure smooth migration of your data during the actual event.

Trial migration and testing

Before disabling Revenue Recognition and enabling Subscription billing, you want to ensure everything will work right. A trial stage helps to identify any potential issues or blockers, solve them beforehand, and ensure that the final migration is successful.

Training

Here, ensure that your team is fully trained on how to replicate any previous Revenue Recognition processes in Subscription Billing. In addition, this period when moving from one solution to another is a great opportunity to make necessary changes in your processes—so work with your partners to identify any opportunities for business process improvements.

RevRec in Dynamics 365 | Successfully migrate to Subscription Billing with Binary Stream

Welcome to the first installment of our two-part series on revenue leakage – a pervasive challenge faced by businesses across industries. In this blog, we’ll address a series of commonly asked questions that form the foundation for understanding and tackling it effectively. We’ll start by unravelling the concept, exploring its synonyms, and delving into the typical culprits behind this profit-sapping phenomenon. Through illustrative examples, we’ll shed light on the tangible impacts it can have on your business.

The second blog in this series will serve as a practical guide for those who want to conduct an internal audit and want to take actionable steps to fortify their business against further leakage. But, before we jump to solutions, it’s essential to understand where these leaks might arise and prioritize the areas so that you can identify possible problem areas. Below, you’ll find a list of questions that will be addressed. You can skip ahead by clicking the topic that interests you most. Let’s dive in and start reclaiming those lost profits.

 

 

What is revenue leakage? (Definition and synonyms)

Revenue leakage is a term that refers to the gradual dissipation of potential earnings arising from a medley of factors such as oversights, discrepancies, and inefficiencies within the billing and revenue management workflows. It’s akin to money earned by a business yet left uncollected—a disparity between what’s rightfully due and what actually finds its way into the coffers. Put simply, revenue leakage represents the funds owed to a company that slip through the cracks due to a myriad of reasons.

Research shows that revenue leakage is common, with 42% of companies experiencing the issue. One of the prime channels through which leakage transpires is a lack of internal awareness. This can manifest in scenarios where sales teams might inadvertently misinterpret or overlook changes in pricing structures, leading to inadvertent undercharges for services rendered. Moreover, inefficiencies within financial processes, instances of human error, pricing or billing discrepancies, and incongruities in billing systems can all contribute to profit drain, culminating in a notable impact on a company’s financial health. Recognizing and addressing these leaks is paramount to safeguarding a business’s bottom line.

 

42% companies experience revenue leakage

 

Synonyms for revenue leakage

 

What are the impacts or effects of revenue leakage?

The effects or impacts can have wide-ranging consequences on a business, affecting its financial health, growth potential, and overall competitiveness. Here is a comprehensive list of the potential effects:

Addressing profit drain is critical for businesses seeking to maintain their financial stability and competitiveness in a dynamic market environment. Implementing robust internal controls, conducting regular audits, and leveraging technology solutions are essential steps in mitigating the impacts of revenue leakage.

 

What are examples or types of revenue leakage?

In businesses of all sizes and industries, revenue leakage can manifest in various forms, ultimately impacting the company’s financial health and overall profitability. These leaks can occur both externally, stemming from customer interactions and market dynamics, as well as internally, often related to operational inefficiencies and employee conduct. The image below gives a brief summary of common areas, and below it you will find further information about what each categorization means.

common examples of revenue leakage table

 

Customer-related

 

Market-related

 

Operational

 

Employee fraud or misconduct

Recognizing these common examples and types of revenue leakage is essential for businesses seeking to maintain a healthy financial position. By implementing robust internal controls, conducting regular audits, and leveraging advanced technologies, companies can effectively identify and address these leaks, safeguarding their profitability and ensuring long-term success.

 

What are the core causes of revenue leakage?

Every business is distinct, meaning there could be specific reasons for revenue loss that apply uniquely to your enterprise. However, in broad terms, there are common inefficiencies and shortcomings that lead to revenue leakage in businesses, particularly when it comes to subscription or modern billing models.

core causes of revenue leakage image (1)

 

1. Shortcomings and mistakes in billing processes

In the realm of revenue management, one of the primary culprits for revenue leakage is the presence of inefficiencies and errors within billing operations, especially in recurring billing processes. These errors can arise from both manual oversight and automated mishaps. Manual errors, such as sending out invoices with incorrect total amounts, can have a cumulative impact on a company’s earnings. Similarly, automated errors, like inaccuracies in data extraction for automated invoice generation, can lead to periodic overcharges or undercharges, further contributing to revenue loss over time.

Furthermore, the complexity of billing cycles can exacerbate the issue. When existing systems lack the capacity to effectively handle intricate billing cycles, companies may find themselves grappling with errors when attempting to downgrade or upgrade billing plans. For SaaS companies, this can translate into a significant loss of rightfully earned income. These challenges underscore the critical need for a robust billing solution to mitigate the risk of revenue leakage.

In addition to these broader inefficiencies, there are specific areas within recurring billing that demand attention. Pricing discrepancies across products, tiers, or customer segments can lead to either undercharging or overcharging, directly impacting revenue streams. Similarly, even slight inaccuracies in tracking customer consumption for subscription models based on usage can accumulate over time, resulting in substantial revenue losses. Unresolved disputes in billing and invoicing can lead to delayed payments or even complete revenue loss, while failing to bill for all services or products provided can leave potential revenue uncollected, ultimately affecting the overall financial health of the business.

 

2. Over incentivization with special offers and discounts

Excessive reliance on special offers and discounts can be a double-edged sword. While discount codes can effectively drive transactions and attract new customers, it’s crucial to strike a balance. If your sales team doles out too many discounts, it can erode your profits over time. Similarly, if there’s an abundance of easily accessible coupon codes circulating online, it may lead to the same issue.

It’s worth noting that the proliferation of discount code websites poses a potential challenge. Without a system in place to monitor and manage these platforms, outdated or untracked discount codes may inadvertently cost your business. This situation can arise even if you don’t recall issuing those codes.

Furthermore, it’s essential to be mindful of how discounts and promotions are implemented. Over-discounting or applying promotions incorrectly can devalue your products or services, ultimately impacting your revenue potential. Striking the right balance in incentivizing transactions while safeguarding your bottom line is key to sustainable business growth.

 

3. Manual and inefficient accounts receivable process

One significant factor contributing to revenue leakage in SaaS companies is the inefficiency of their Accounts Receivable (AR) processes. Allocating valuable workforce resources to manually chase unpaid invoices not only consumes time but also detracts from the core focus of delivering value to customers. In contrast, opting for an automated solution streamlines and organizes the AR procedures, offering a more efficient approach.

For instance, manual follow-ups and reminders necessitate a coordinated effort across marketing, finance, and operations teams, making them labor-intensive and time-consuming. Implementing automated intelligent payment recovery protocols not only mitigates the risk of human error but also trims down collection expenses, thereby reducing dependency on resources.

Moreover, overlooking renewals, especially in subscription-based models, can lead to revenue leakage. Failing to capture opportunities for sustained customer engagement through missed renewals can result in a notable loss of revenue. It underscores the importance of implementing robust renewal strategies to ensure continued value delivery and revenue retention in subscription-based businesses.

 

4. Frequent payment failures and involuntary churn

In the realm of SaaS and recurring billing, involuntary churn refers to the loss of a subscriber due to mechanical issues like payment failures or card declines, rather than a lack of appreciation for the service. This can occur when payment gateways are unreliable or when a customer’s credit card expires. To prevent automatic cancellations, it’s crucial to have a backup payment method or an additional card on file, regardless of the customer’s intention to continue the subscription.

Complications arise when customer data for processing payments is fragmented across different systems, potentially resulting in outdated information. In such cases, businesses may struggle to collect payments from customers, even if services continue to be provided. This leads to a revenue loss, which can be further compounded if services are extended to these customers without receiving proper compensation.

Another challenge tied to involuntary churn is chargebacks, which occur when a customer disputes a transaction with their card provider. This category also encompasses product returns. The card issuer then demands the specified amount to be returned by the business. Interestingly, despite its seeming inevitability, involuntary churn can be managed. Implementing a dunning management system offers an effective solution, allowing businesses to recover potentially lost revenue through customized and streamlined automated processes tailored to their specific software operations.

5. Failing to take adequate steps to improve voluntary churn

Neglecting to implement effective measures to reduce voluntary churn can also lead to revenue loss. This type of churn occurs when a customer chooses to cancel their subscription or downgrade to a lower-tiered plan. To mitigate voluntary churn, it’s crucial for businesses to proactively identify and address issues in their customers’ experiences, ensuring that they remain satisfied and have no reason to leave or downgrade their subscriptions.

Additionally, emphasizing the significance of revenue operations is essential for aligning various functions within organizations, fostering a cohesive approach to maximizing revenue and ensuring sustainable growth. This entails integrating sales, marketing, finance, and customer service efforts to optimize revenue-generating strategies.

 

6. Lack of internal communication

A significant concern in revenue management is the lack of internal communication, which may appear deceptively simple but can lead to substantial revenue leakage. If your customer sales team is not well-versed in critical business policies or pricing structures, they may inadvertently undercharge or remain unaware of additional costs for certain services. Establishing a consistent flow of communication across all teams in your organization can prevent these potentially costly errors.

Moreover, misalignment between the sales team and Customer Success Manager (CSM) can also result in revenue loss. For instance, a customer seeking an extra feature presents an upsell opportunity, but without accurate tagging between these teams the opportunity may be missed. This not only leads to lost revenue but can also result in voluntary churn if the customer seeks a different provider offering the desired functions.

 

How to calculate revenue leakage?

Mitigating revenue leakage can prove to be quite challenging without the appropriate strategies in play. However, assessing the extent of revenue leakage is a relatively straightforward process. By employing a basic formula, you can determine the extent of leakage within your business operations. Initially, aggregate the projected revenue from your projects or product lines. Subsequently, calculate the actual cash received. The variance between these figures provides an estimate of your revenue leakage.

calculate revenue leakage

Subscription revenue recognition has evolved in line with the advent of modern billing models introduced by the growth of subscription services. The ubiquity of subscription billing has led to many SaaS companies scrambling to understand best practices when it comes to revenue recognition.

While complicated to manage, these less traditional billing models can be very beneficial for companies looking to maximize their revenue and capture new markets with competitive subscription strategies. Understanding how to recognize revenue from these models is critical to their success and it can feed into every aspect of the company’s financial health. It’s a mistake to assume that only the finance teams need to understand how it works. Most companies will need to get numerous departments involved so they can evaluate their contracts, strategies, key performance metrics, planning, budgeting, pricing strategies, and even IT requirements.

In this blog, you’ll learn all about revenue recognition and get access to useful resources to help you better understand the complexities of “rev rec” for recurring billing and the accounting standards that you will need to meet (i.e., ASC 606 and IFRS 15). Below is a list of the topics covered. You can click each one to jump ahead to that section:

Defining subscription revenue?

Subscription revenue refers to the income generated from ongoing subscriptions to a product, service, or platform. It represents the revenue stream that a business receives on a regular basis from customers who have subscribed to their offering for a specific period. This revenue is typically recurring, predictable, and often collected at regular intervals, such as monthly or annually. Subscription revenue is a key metric for subscription-based businesses and is influenced by factors such as the number of subscribers, subscription fees, and the retention rate of customers.

This type of revenue is frequently accompanied by enhanced customer retention, particularly when subscribers are required to actively cancel their subscriptions to discontinue the service. By subscribing, clients can anticipate their expenses over the subscription term and allocate funds accordingly. The revenue acknowledged by the company should align with the performance obligations, which are the services agreed upon with the client in exchange for the subscription fee.

What is subscription revenue recognition?

It is a generally accepted accounting principle (GAAP) referring to how you recognize revenue. Regardless of when money lands in an account, the revenue only counts when the product or service is delivered and accepted. It helps companies identify what is actual revenue and what is a liability and should be deferred revenue.

In more traditional business models, the difference between cash collection and revenue recognition is often subtle, delivery of the product happens at the time of the transaction. For SaaS companies, it’s not so simple. Revenue should be recorded depending on how it accrues over time. You should only ever recognize revenue when the entire revenue-generating process is complete i.e., you must not recognize revenue until the contract’s performance obligation has been met and accepted.

Subscription revenue recognition is a subset of overall revenue recognition. It involves recording income once the entire revenue-generating process is complete and the performance obligation outlined in the subscription contract has been fulfilled and accepted by the customer. This shift in recording revenue impacts how subscription-based companies account for their financials, moving away from capturing a one-time lump sum payment and considering the subscription term as an essential component of their accounting practices.

 

Understanding accrued versus deferred revenue

Accrued revenue and deferred revenue are two distinct concepts within subscription revenue recognition. Accrued revenue refers to recognizing revenue for performance obligations that have been fulfilled but not yet billed, while deferred revenue involves deferring subscription revenue for cash received but not yet fulfilling all performance obligations.
Subscription revenue recognition for subscription billing models

 

Why revenue recognition is important for subscription billing

Revenue recognition is of utmost importance for subscription billing due to several key reasons. Firstly, it ensures that accounting records are accurate and up to date in real-time. By properly recognizing and accruing revenue as performance obligations are fulfilled, companies can maintain accurate profit and loss margins that reflect their actual revenue.

Moreover, revenue recognition plays a vital role in connecting actual revenue and expenses concurrently, providing companies with a clear understanding of their financial health and identifying which subscriptions or activities are truly profitable. This visibility into subscription revenue recognition impacts every aspect of the business, allowing for informed decision-making and resource allocation.

Accurate revenue recognition is particularly crucial when it comes to external factors such as seeking investments, going public, or securing business loans. To attract investors and maintain transparency, companies must accurately recognize and defer revenue on their financial statements. Failing to grasp the intricacies of revenue recognition can have detrimental effects on the company’s reputation and its ability to make sound financial decisions.

Additionally, revenue recognition is essential for corporate tax calculations and compliance. The introduction of accounting standards such as ASC 606 and IFRS 15 has helped SaaS companies gain a better understanding of revenue recognition practices and the necessary steps to ensure compliance.

 

Examples of how to recognize revenue for subscriptions

In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of how revenue recognition works for subscription-based businesses, let’s explore four different examples of subscription strategies and how revenue would be recognized in each situation.

These examples provide a simplified depiction of revenue recognition principles for subscriptions. However, it is important to note that implementing revenue recognition can become complex, especially when managing multiple revenue models.

The specific method of revenue recognition will depend on various factors, including the terms outlined in your contracts, the performance obligations involved, and the accounting standards that your company is required to adhere to.

 

Example 1 | Monthly subscriptions

Consider a content streaming platform as an example. Typically, these companies recognize revenue on a monthly basis. If a subscriber pays $15 per month for their subscription, you would record $15 in revenue each month on your financial statements for the duration of the customer’s subscription.

 

Example 2 | Annual subscriptions

There are companies that offer annual subscriptions (often at a reduced rate for the commitment). A good example might be a software license. Revenue is recognized over the entire subscription period. If a customer pays $240 for an annual plan, you would divide the full amount by twelve months and, recognize $20 in revenue each month.

 

Example 3 | Multi-year subscriptions

Similar to annual subscriptions, businesses may choose to provide longer-term contracts that recognize revenue throughout the contract duration. Suppose a customer signs a three-year deal for $576. In this case, you would recognize $16 in revenue each month over the course of three years, you arrive at this number by dividing the total revenue by the number of months over which the revenue will be recognized.

 

Example 4 | Usage-based subscriptions

With usage-based subscriptions, such as cloud computing or pay-as-you-go services, revenue recognition may be based on the customer’s usage or activity. Let’s say a customer utilizes cloud storage at a rate of $1 per GB. If they were to use 500 GB in one month, the company would recognize $500 in revenue.

When should subscription revenue be recognized

Determining the appropriate timing for recognizing subscription revenue is a crucial consideration for subscription-based businesses. Revenue should be recorded on an accrual basis, meaning it is recognized when the value is earned, rather than when payment is received. However, the complex nature of subscription models, where products and services are provided over different time periods, can complicate the recognition process.

 

Timing of subscription revenue recognition

 

At the time of payment 

Before payment is received 

 

After payment is received 

Prepaid subscriptions 

 

Our guide to subscription services will help you better understand recurring billing.

Deferred revenue is key to financial health for subscription billing

You earn revenue for a service each day that you deliver that service. If you claim the unearned income, it can lead to tricky situations if customers decide to complain, cancel, or ask for refunds. Deferring revenue appropriately makes it a liability and will protect your cash flow, preventing you from investing more than you earn.

Traditionally speaking, companies didn’t need to defer much of their revenue. Goods were usually paid for and received over the counter. Buying software was as simple as purchasing a disk and then downloading the content onto your hard drive. The customer had ownership of the product and might wait for years to update the technology.

In our current world, technology is advancing at an accelerated rate. Software no longer takes years to update, and by hosting services online and selling subscriptions. SaaS companies allow customers immediate access to the latest updates and configurations.

Companies are establishing recurring billing relationships that are mutually beneficial. However, this does complicate revenue recognition for the software or subscription provider. Customers may pay for services or software in advance, but you can only recognize revenue as services are delivered. For instance, if a customer buys a yearlong subscription and pays upfront. You are obliged to defer most of that revenue (as it is a liability rather than an asset) and recognize the revenue throughout the year.

Bundles bring further complications to revenue recognition for subscription billing

SaaS companies often struggle to understand revenue recognition for services sold in bundles. Sometimes, a new customer will pay for several features at once. It’s common to have consulting services, set-up fees, customization, and support services included with the initial purchase of software.

Some of these services may be optional (e.g., consultancy services). Others might be obligatory (e.g., set-up fees). Revenue recognition is determined by whether or not these services are separate units of accounting.

An example of rev rec for separate units of accounting in a bundle:  

In this instance, you should recognize the revenue of the set-up fee and annual fee over the first year of the service. Though the set-up fee is delivered early in the contract, it’s obligatory. Therefore it is part of the same unit of accounting as the subscription fee.

In contrast, the consulting service can be bought separately. It is a separate unit of accounting. Recognize the revenue over the first three months as the delivery of the consultancy services occur.

The introduction of ASC 606 and IFRS 15

The growth of subscription services led to the introduction of ASC 606 and IFRS 15 by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). These standards help SaaS companies better manage their revenue recognition. As a result, enabling them to stay consistently compliant. They created a five-step approach that can be applied to any subscription billing structure. It outlines how to correctly recognize revenue with any contract.

The 5-step process for revenue recognition for SaaS

There’s a lot to learn in each of these steps, which is why we created a booklet to help you better understand each stage and how they apply to your company. You can download it for free below. Start to recognize revenue correctly and enable your company to reach its full potential.

rev rec booklet for AC 6060 and IFRS 15

Northern Business Intelligence (Northern BI), a Canadian-based telematics provider, recently faced challenges in managing their monthly subscription billing accounting effectively. However, with the adoption of a new solution, Subscription Billing Suite (SBS), Northern BI was able to streamline their billing processes and manage their subscriptions more efficiently.

SBS allowed Northern BI to effectively manage recurring billing monthly schedules and reduce the growing number of invoice errors, ensuring greater accuracy in billing and helping keep customers satisfied. The cloud-based solution also accommodated growth year-on-year, enabling accounting to keep pace and scale operations with the company’s rapid expansion.

With SBS, Northern BI was able to automate reconciliations, eliminating manual processes and creating efficiency in the team’s operations. The solution was also built to integrate with both Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 BC, making the transition between the old and new systems smoother and requiring a shorter training period.

The adoption of SBS allowed Northern BI to reduce the time spent on recurring billing cycles by 50%, and achieve a 98% customer retention rate. Furthermore, the migration from on-premise to cloud-based was a smooth and effective process, with the team fully supported by the SBS team throughout the transition.

Northern BI’s success story with SBS highlights the importance of adopting the right solution for managing recurring billing and subscriptions, and the positive impact it can have on a company’s operations and customer satisfaction. Download the full story with our case study.  

Finding innovative ways to improve the recurring billing and payments process should be at the core of any subscription billing strategy. Although what that means can be different depending on the industry or offering, there’s a need for most teams to streamline and automate critical components of revenue recognition and deferral workflows so that they can do more with less.

Modern billing doesn’t have to be complicated, yet many make it so. Rather than invest in the automation needed to bolster billing operations for strategic pricing strategies, they scramble to make month-ends, often resulting in high subscriber churn.

When you struggle to bill effectively, it impacts every level of your organization. With the rise of subscription options across industries, many need help to keep up with the flood of administrative work in finance departments.

If you want to meet customer demand and relieve your finance team of unnecessary work, you’ve come to the right place. This guide is your guide to improving your billing one step at a time.  

Here’s what you’ll find inside your copy of the guide 

Download your copy of the guide now by clicking this link.