With so much change and pressure hitting small businesses right now, it has been heartening to see many companies stepping up to offer tangible support during the COVID-19 crisis.
But it’s hard to keep track of who is offering what, so I’ve collated a list of the COVID-19 response from SAAS providers that are popular with NZ businesses.
This is by no means a complete list and if you know of a company that is offering free monthly credits or extended pro features on their free plans (that are actually useful), please tell us about it in the comments below.
Similarly, if you try to claim any of these offers and they are no longer valid, update us to we can keep the list updated.
I’ve broken the list up into five categories:
- Companies Offering Financial Relief
- Companies Offering Pro Features On Their Free or Entry Plans
- Companies Offering Sizeable Discounts
- Companies Currently Not Offering Relief Beyond Free Resources
- Companies With No COVID-19 Info
Companies Offering Financial Relief
These guys are putting their money where their mouth is by giving their customers breathing-space and one less thing to worry about in the short term.
Adobe
You can automatically get two months credit when you go through their online cancellation process but if you contact Adobe directly, they will provide you three months credit.
https://www.adobe.com/nz/covid-19-response.html
Acuity Scheduling
There is no blanket approach published but Acuity recommends you contact them to discuss options about .
We can temporarily waive account fees for businesses affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). If this applies to you, contact us.
https://help.acuityscheduling.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Facebook: Small Business Grants
Facebook is offering USD 100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.
They are going to “begin taking applications in the coming weeks.” In the meantime, you can sign up to receive more information when it becomes available.
https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants
Google Ads
If you’ve been an active advertiser on Google Ads (formerly Google Adwords) since January 2019, then it sounds like you will receive a credit from Google.
The total amount they are crediting is US$340 million but no one knows how that will be divvied up.
The timing of the credit is also unclear:
eligible accounts will see a credit notification appear in their Google Ads account in the coming months.
All the available information we have to date, is available on this Google support page.
Loom
Through July 1, 2020, Loom will remove the recording limit on their free plan — what was 25 is now unlimited
Cut the price of Loom Pro in half — what was $10/month is now $5/month
Extend all trials of Loom Pro from 14 to 30 days
https://www.loom.com/blog/coronavirus-response
Mailchimp
if you have a paid Mailchimp (at 30 March 2020) account and under 25 employees, fill in this form and if your business qualifies, you’ll get three free months. Apply by 30 April 2020.
https://mailchi.mp/41d4d6961384/covid-19-small-business-support
Manage WP
No fees for two months.
https://managewp.com/blog/supporting-our-customers
Paypal
PayPal is waiving chargeback fees for merchants if their customer files a dispute with a credit card issuer through at least April 30, 2020. It is also extending the window in which merchants must respond to a customer dispute from 10 to 20 days through at least April 30, 2020.
It is waiving fees to instantly withdraw money from a PayPal business account to a bank account, Mastercard Debit or Visa Debit card through at least April 30, 2020.
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/covid-19-relief
Rocketspark
We’ve been told Rocketspark are offering help on a case-by-case basis, existing clients need to get in touch direct with them.
https://www.rocketspark.com/nz/support/
Squarespace
Gift cards are now included in the Website Business, Commerce Basic, and Commerce Advanced plans. They’re also available on all legacy plans that include Commerce.
They haven’t got a one-size-fits-all relief option but this comment from their website encourages you to get in touch if you need help.
If you need to put your account on hold, temporarily close your website, or get financial support for your subscription, submit a request using this form. We’ll look into options for you as quickly as possible.
Timely
We’ve been told that Timely can suspend your account which will keep your account in place but you won’t have to pay fees. No word yet as to if there is a time limit.
Xero
Although not the credit relief so many of us are hoping for, Xero have advised that they are delaying their upcoming March price rise until 1 July 2020.
https://www.xero.com/blog/2020/03/supporting-our-customers-and-community/
Companies Offering Pro Features On Their Free or Entry Plans
Calendly
Calendly Is Offering Free Zoom And GoToMeeting Integrations to Help Remote Workers Stay Connected.
https://blog.calendly.com/meeting-integration-update/
GSuite
Google has made premium features in its Hangouts Meet video-conferencing tool free until July 1 amid the escalating coronavirus outbreak.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is offering free access to our Professional plan until 1 July 2020.
https://hootsuite.com/pages/stay-connected
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has responded to COVID-19 by making its paid collaboration tool, Microsoft Teams, free for six months.
https://products.office.com/en-au/microsoft-teams/free
Shopify
Shopify has enabled Gift Cards for all plans.
If you are looking at developing a Shopify site, they’ve extended trial period to 90 days (up from 14), which provides a lot more time for you to get sorted. If you want to get a Shopify trial that never expires, you should get in touch with a Shopify partner – like us.
There are other offers such as a promised US$200 million in small business funding, but this isn’t available in NZ at this time.
https://www.shopify.co.nz/covid19
Tradegecko
They’ve opened up their B2B platform for all customers.
https://www.tradegecko.com/a-helping-hand-from-tradegecko
Webex
Up to 100 participants in each meeting (Up from 50)
Meet as long as you want (up from 40 minutes)
Zapier
Free Starter plans through the end of the year, for groups working on the front lines of tackling COVID-19 relief efforts.
https://zapier.com/blog/zapier-covid-19/
Zoom
Zoom has lifted the 40-minute meeting limit on free Basic accounts.
Alas, this doesn’t appear to be the case. 40 minute meeting limit is still in place.
Companies With Sizeable Discounts
Easy Smartphone Video
20-60% off their online video making course. https://www.facebook.com/easysmartphonevideo/videos/209632563466364/
She Owns It
This business support and community for NZ women is offering membership for just $10 a month. https://www.sheownsit.co.nz/
Companies Currently Not Offering Relief Beyond Free Resources
Adroll: https://www.adroll.com/blog/?s=covid-19
MYOB: https://www.myob.com/nz/about/news/2020/covid-19-myob
Unleashed:
Wix: https://support.wix.com/en/covid-19-and-your-site
Bonus mention:
Milanote is a very cool way to manage creative projects and they have a generous free plan.
https://milanote.com/templates/project-plans
Check out how people are using Milanote inspo page
Companies With No COVID-19 Info
As at publish date, I couldn’t find mention of COVID-19 on their websites or social.
Asana
Campaign Monitor
Drip
Dropbox
Trello
Weebly
