I think their business benefits are real:
Small business owners are often brutal at sending out invoices. They procrastinate like everyone else. The sooner you send out an invoice, the sooner you will be paid.
Also, tracking payments provides structure to follow up with your receivables. Often a reminder is all that is needed for payment. Customers just forget, but do want to pay.
Clear invoices that are easy to understand will also have fewer questions and are less likely to be contested.
Comments
Freshbooks commit the same sin:
I don't really understand how they figure that.
I think their business benefits are real: Small business owners are often brutal at sending out invoices. They procrastinate like everyone else. The sooner you send out an invoice, the sooner you will be paid. Also, tracking payments provides structure to follow up with your receivables. Often a reminder is all that is needed for payment. Customers just forget, but do want to pay. Clear invoices that are easy to understand will also have fewer questions and are less likely to be contested.
Does Microsoft's product not do these things?
At least in their case, I think that likely refers to the ability to allow your customers to pay online with a credit card.