Productivity
5 Reasons Why Automating Billing Software is a MUST in 2025
Happy New Year! Ready to tackle 2025, or are you still running your business like it’s 1995? The alarm industry is brimming with cutting-edge technology to prevent crime, minimize loss, and protect lives. Yet, so many alarm companies cling to outdated methods when it comes to their operations—billing being one of the worst offenders. Here’s…
Read More5 Reasons to Merge Service, Mobile App, and Recurring Billing into Your Alarm Company Software
Work order chaos is a silent killer for alarm companies. Missed jobs mean lost customers and delayed payments can put a big stress on your business. You need a solution that makes it easy…and therefore more profitable. Cornerstone launched its mobile app for technicians in 2021, to help our customers avoid the “paper chase.” Paper…
Read MoreUpdate Part Costs Instantly! With Portal.io and Cornerstone Billing.
One of the biggest headaches for our life safety customers is this: keeping inventory costs CURRENT in their alarm business software. Especially with the inflation of the last few years, part prices are changing constantly. Well, Cornerstone Billing Solutions has solved the problem with our newest alarm business software integration. The payoff for our customers…
Read MoreLabor Shortage? DO LESS! With Alarm Software
Not shocking news: we’re in the tightest labor market in over 20 years. Security alarm dealers, and many other industries, are having real trouble finding enough people to get all the work done. What’s a business owner to do? Until the labor market improves, here are some ideas that may help. You’ve heard the adage,…
Read MoreManagement: Many Flavors
To state the obvious: effectively managing your small business is difficult! It’s easy to get derailed. Whether that’s getting hit by a big surprise problem, losing a large customer you thought was happy, losing a key person, battling inflation-driven cost increases, and so on. Management is a very broad term, and it may be better…
Read MoreCRM Software for Security Dealers: A Must Have
A CRM is generally understood to be software that helps you manage your customers and prospects. But when I hear “I really need a good CRM!” the real question is: what are you trying to manage? Lead Management CRM vs. Customer Management CRM Often what they really want is not a customer management system, but…
Read MoreRecurring Credit Card Transactions: Painful to Comply
Over the last few years, the credit card industry has adopted new rules that make it tough for small companies to stay in compliance. Including for recurring payments charged by security alarm companies. IF your company accepts Visa and Master Card for recurring subscription invoices, please review your processes versus the list below. Does your…
Read MoreCustomer Acquisition Cost: Do you Know Yours?
How much does it cost you to acquire a new customer? Most security companies don’t really know – but they should. If you’ve ever seen an episode of “Shark Tank”, one of the most common questions from the Sharks is: what’s your customer acquisition cost? It’s a key metric for any business, and one you…
Read MoreDON’T SELL! (But Be Ready To)
Many of our customers have owned their security alarm business for a long time…20 – 30+ years. Some are baby boomers that are no doubt thinking about retirement. Other owners have pulled back from their business a bit, and are in maintenance mode, enjoying the recurring cash flow. In the latter case, Cornerstone serves the…
Read More6 Tips for Improving Alarm Company Office Communication
Security dealers usually have different departments—sales, service, administration, accounting, and so on. Because these departments are in regular contact, interoffice communication is a crucial factor for success. Technology tools can facilitate easier office communication. Cornerstone Billing Solutions, as a cloud-based company, has used a work-from-home office model for over 20 years. We understand that poor…
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