Insights
The biggest cost in business software isn't the software any more
25 October 2026
| 4 min read
When people think about financing software, they think about the licence. Whether it's Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, SAP, Salesforce or a specialist industry platform, the question has always been the same:
"Can we spread the cost of the implementation too?"
The answer is yes. And in many projects, that's where the real value lies.
Software doesn't transform a business. Implementation does.
Modern software is powerful, but on its own it's just another subscription. The return on investment comes from the expertise around it: the specialists who
- redesign business processes
- configure the system around how the organisation works
- migrate years of business data
- build integrations with existing systems
- run consultancy and project management
- train staff and support change across the business
Whether it's an ERP rollout in a manufacturer, a move to a new CRM, a warehouse management system or a cybersecurity platform, the success of the project depends on this work far more than on the licence.
The most valuable part of the project is the part you can't touch
Ten years ago, technology investment was mostly tangible: servers, networking, PCs and licences. Today the biggest share of value often sits in services. On many projects, implementation and professional services now cost as much as the software, and sometimes more.
Yet those costs usually land upfront, long before the customer sees any return.
When cash flow decides the scope, everyone loses
For most businesses, the question isn't whether the project makes sense. It's how to pay for it.
When the services bill has to be paid in one go, the same things happen again and again: projects get delayed, scope gets cut, and integrations get pushed to "phase two". Customers end up buying the solution their budget allows today, not the one they'll need for the next five years.
That's bad for the customer, and it's bad for the provider selling to them.
Funding that matches how technology is bought today
Monthlii is the technology finance proposition from Reality Finance, built for software vendors, resellers, implementation partners and MSPs. We help your business customers spread the cost of the whole project, not just the licence, including:
- software licences and subscriptions
- implementation and configuration
- consultancy and project management
- data migration and systems integration
- development work
- training and onboarding
- cloud migration and managed services
- annual software renewals
ERP, CRM, CAD, BI, cybersecurity, HR, document management or specialist industry software, the approach is the same. Your customer pays monthly. You're paid in full, upfront.
This isn't theory. In just six weeks this summer, Reality Finance funded more than £500,000 of implementation and professional services costs, without a single piece of hardware involved.
Don't forget the renewal
Most technology finance focuses on new implementations. But for many customers, the hardest moment in the relationship is the annual renewal invoice: a large, predictable bill that still arrives as a lump sum.
Monthlii lets you offer monthly payments on renewals too, so customers can spread the cost while you still receive the full amount on day one. It's a simple way to protect retention and make renewal conversations easier.
A better way to sell technology
When customers can spread the cost of the entire project, the conversation moves from "what can we afford to cut?" to "what do we need to get this right?" For technology providers, that means:
- Fewer compromises, with the full scope bought first time
- Faster decisions, because the budget conversation is easier
- Larger deal values, with services included rather than trimmed
- Better outcomes, because projects are delivered properly
- Stronger renewals, with monthly terms available at renewal time
Make every part of the project affordable
Whether you sell Sage, Microsoft, NetSuite, SAP, Salesforce, Autodesk, cybersecurity, AI platforms or any other business-critical software, Monthlii can help your customers fund the complete solution, including the consultancy, implementation and services that make it work.
Businesses don't invest in software to own better technology. They invest in technology to build a better business.
FAQs
Do we have to choose between the API and working with a person?
No. You get both and choose what will work best for your business. Integrating streamlines the process, straightforward deals flow through the API, widget or Quotation Builder with no involvement from your team. When a deal is complex, you call your account manager. Each deal takes the route it needs.
How fast are decisions?
Decisions come back in minutes. Complex cases, such as larger or multi-year deals, take no more than 1 hour.
What if a funder says no?
Because we work with a panel of over 25 funders, a decline from one isn't the end. Your account manager will look for another route across the panel and keep you and your customer informed.
Who takes the risk if a customer misses a payment?
We do! You've been paid in full upfront, so credit risk and collections sit with us, not with you.
What happens if the customer adds licences, modules or services mid-contract?
No problem. We can add another agreement to run alongside the customer's existing one. They can finish on the same date as the current agreement, so everything renews together, or run on their own term if that suits the customer better.
Can we finance multi-year contracts and bundles?
Yes. The multi-year contract builder packages software licences, hardware and services into one agreement, with a standard annual uplift built in, and gives your customer one flat monthly fee.
Can we offer 0% finance, deferred starts or milestone payments?
Yes. You can cover the finance cost to offer 0%, delay your customer's first payment until go-live, or release funds in stages through an implementation. Your account manager will set out what each option costs, so you can choose the one that fits your offer. Subject to funder and status
Can our resellers offer monthlii too?
Yes. We can set up your channel partners with the same monthly offer and rates, so your customers see consistent pricing however the deal is sold.
How much developer time does integration take?
Two to three days for the full API build, spread across the five stages. The drop-in widget needs none, and many partners start there.
Latest insights
Monthlii: What It Means for Customers Tax and Cash Flow
Spreading the cost of hardware, software, implementation and renewals can protect cash and keep your tax position simple. Here's what UK limited companies need to know.
Read article
"There's No Budget for That": How to Keep the Deal Moving
Most software deals don't die because the customer doesn't want the solution. They stall because the cost lands at the wrong time. Monthly payments change that.
Read article