Question 1

How much do small businesses typically overspend on software?

Accepted Answer

Most small businesses overspend on software by 20–40% of their annual SaaS budget. Overspend accumulates through unused licences, duplicate tools across teams, default premium plans that exceed actual usage, and subscriptions that were added over time with no single owner tracking them. For a 30–50 person business spending $80,000–$150,000 per year on software, this commonly translates to $18,000–$50,000 in recoverable savings — without changing how teams work.

Question 2

How does SoftStatus charge for a software audit? Is there an upfront fee?

Accepted Answer

SoftStatus operates on a success-fee model with no upfront cost. If the audit identifies savings, the fee is 30% of the first year's realised savings — charged once, not annually. If no savings are confirmed, there is no fee. The initial software cost review is free, with no obligation to proceed. This structure means SoftStatus is financially aligned with finding real, invoice-confirmed savings rather than recommendations that look good on paper.

Question 3

What is a software cost audit and how is it different from a SaaS management platform?

Accepted Answer

A software cost audit is an independent, expert-led review of a business's software subscriptions, licences, and systems to identify waste, redundancy, and unnecessary cost. Unlike SaaS management platforms (such as Torii, Productiv, or Zluri), which are ongoing subscription tools requiring IT integration and internal ownership, a software cost audit is a one-time engagement that produces actionable savings recommendations without adding new software or ongoing fees. It is particularly effective for small businesses that lack a dedicated IT or finance function to manage software spend proactively.

Question 4

What does a SoftStatus software review actually involve, and how disruptive is it?

Accepted Answer

The review process involves three stages: a brief intake to understand the business's software environment, an audit of invoices, contracts, and licence assignments, and a written findings report with specific savings recommendations. No software is installed, no vendor accounts are touched, and no internal workflows are changed during the process. Most businesses complete the information-gathering step in under two hours. SoftStatus does not implement changes — the recommendations are yours to action at your own pace.

Question 5

Is a software cost review suitable for construction, trades, or professional services businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes — SoftStatus specialises in small businesses across construction, marine, professional services, and consulting. These sectors commonly carry significant software waste because teams adopt tools independently (project management, estimating, document sharing, accounting, communication), creating overlapping subscriptions that are rarely reviewed centrally. A 40-person construction firm and a 35-person marine business have each recovered over $18,000 and $31,000 annually respectively through a SoftStatus audit. The process requires no technical expertise from the business.

Question 6

What's it like to work with you?

Accepted Answer

Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and save you money.