Question: Do we have to pay extra for updates?

No. Venture is continuously updated for you at no extra cost to you so we can incorporate the latest advancements in web standards and security.

Question: What software do we need to have or install?

Since Venture is a completely managed and hosted solution, you can access it from any browser, anywhere which means there’s no hosting hassles or software installation nightmares.

Question: Do we need to hire or have an in-house graphic designer?

No. Although most users are happy to let us step up and  take care of all your graphic design needs, you can use your own graphic designer to design on top of Venture. Add to that a mountain of point-and-click controls which allow users of all graphic design skill levels to control basic design elements such as fonts, colors, and more.

Question: What are the payment options?

Annual billing takes place on the first Monday of September. We offer annual and monthly billing options, details for both options are available on the Payment Options tab, but the best part is those opting for annual billing are only responsible for paying a prorated amount of the first year’s fee through the September annual billing date, at which point they pay the first full subscription fee. As an added layer of protection, every new subscriber receives a 30-day risk free trial period to determine if Venture is right for their organization. If not, cancel for a full refund.

Question: Can we upgrade or downgrade our plan?

Yes. Venture Platform standard users can upgrade at anytime. Upgrades are charged the prorated difference for the remainder of their subscription term and downgrades are available during annual renewals (first Monday in September). All account holders can take advantage of service upgrades or email marketing account enhancements at any time.

Question: Are there any discounts?

Yes. We offer a reward program that provides a tiered level of annual subscription fee discounts based on whether or not a user has an employee or contracts a third party provider with Venture certification. We also offer referral credits to organizations that recommend Venture to one of their peers. In this scenario, organizations earn one month of credit for each referral that subscribes to the same level plan they do. If the referral subscribes at a higher level, you earn two months of credit to your following year’s annual fee but there’s no penalty if they subscribe at a lower level! There is no limit to how much referral credits an organization can earn.

Question: What kind of support is provided?

Online support is unlimited and all questions submitted by 5:00pm CT are answered on the same day. But don’t worry, we’re never going to leave you hanging, if you have an bat-phone level emergency or are feeling overwhelmed, just write or call, we’ll be there to help and you won’t have to worry about getting nickel-and-dimed. All subscribers receive 30 days of unlimited telephone support to help you during the time when you’ll be busiest and year-round telephone support is available.

Question: Can we schedule conference calls for support issues?

Yes. We’re always happy to set up individual or conference calls to walk users through the system and depending on your telephone support plan, we can set that up within the first 30 days or anytime throughout the year. If you have and prefer to use Skype video conferencing, we can do that as well.

Question: Anything this affordable has to be too good to be true. So what’s the catch?

And in almost any other situation, we would agree with you. But every now and then we cross a threshold where advances in technology provide substantially improved products at substantially reduced costs. Look at what Henry Ford accomplished with the Model T and what Andrew Carnegie did with steel. In Venture’s case, recent advancements in open source technology and a responsible business plan that favors sustainability over blind profit margins have come together to provide a purpose built platform designed especially for arts organizations.

Question: What is the email marketing account all about?

Email marketing accounts for nonprofit uses are provided by Vertical Response and for profit and artist account users receive accounts from MailChimp. In both cases, they are yours to use however you like. Either option can be used in conjunction with an existing email marketing solution or you can use it as your primary option. For those wishing to opt out of the service, we offer a 5% discount off of the cost of your base annual subscription rate.

Question: How much do email account upgrades cost?

Venture Platform accounts receive an email marketing account with unlimited list size and 10,000 email messages per month. the initial upgrade option consists of migrating the account to a 4,000 list size maximum with the ability to send unlimited messages per month. This fee is $39.10/mo, or $469.20/yr. Upgrades are applicable via the following schedule: