Choosing a partner
25 questions to ask a Zoho partner before you sign
By Harikrishnan, Founder & Chief Zoho Consultant, Flowpeak · 10+ years in Zoho · Published · Last updated
Before signing with a Zoho partner, ask about relevant experience, who will do the work, what exactly is in scope, how data and integrations are handled, what training and support follow go-live, who owns the setup at the end, and how changes are priced. Good partners answer in writing.
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Most failed Zoho projects fail in the sales conversation, when nobody wrote down what was being bought. Use these questions with every partner on your shortlist and compare the answers side by side.
Experience
- Which projects like ours have you done in the last two years?
- Can we speak to one or two of those clients?
- Which Zoho apps do you implement most often?
- Have you worked with our accounting, tax and lead sources?
- What is your Zoho partner tier, and can we verify it?
People
- Who exactly will build our system, and what is their experience?
- Will the person in this meeting be on the project?
- Who is our day-to-day contact, and what are their working hours in our time zone?
- What happens if that person leaves?
Scope and price
- Can you give us a written scope listing modules, pipelines, fields, automation and reports?
- Is the price fixed for that scope?
- How many rounds of changes are included before go-live?
- How are extra requests priced?
- Are Zoho licences included or separate?
Data and integrations
- Which systems will you migrate from, and how many records?
- Will you migrate history, notes and attachments?
- Which integrations are included, and is each one fixed price?
- Which Zoho data centre will our account be in?
- Will you sign a data processing agreement?
Training, support and ownership
- How many training sessions, and will they be recorded?
- How long is support free after go-live, and what does it cover?
- What is the support rate afterwards?
- Who owns the configuration, code and documentation?
- Will we have full admin access from day one?
- What documentation do we get at handover?
How to judge the answers
| Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|
| Written scope and fixed price | Only an hourly estimate |
| Named consultant you have met | "Our team will handle it" |
| References in your industry | No references, or only logos |
| You get admin access from day one | Partner keeps the only admin login |
| Clear support terms | Vague "we'll help whenever" |
Want help putting this into practice? Flowpeak works as a Zoho implementation services team, delivering remotely from Chennai. Book a free call to talk through your setup.
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Frequently asked questions
How many Zoho partners should I compare?
At least three, all given the same written scope.
Should I always choose the cheapest quote?
No. Compare what is included. A low quote without scope often grows with change requests.
Is a fixed price better than hourly?
For a defined scope, yes. Hourly suits ongoing changes after go-live.
Should I get admin access to my own Zoho account?
Yes, always, from day one.
What should a handover include?
Admin access, a list of automations and integrations, any code, and user and admin guides.
How do I check references?
Ask for a client in a similar industry and ask them about delivery, communication and support.
What if the partner is in another country?
Ask about time-zone overlap, response times and invoicing currency.
Can I switch Zoho partners later?
Yes, if you hold admin access and documentation.
Related
- What is a Zoho partner?
- Choosing a Zoho partner in the USA
- Choosing a Zoho partner in the UAE
- Our published prices