04/28/2017
Why are we raising prices?
In short, StartBox must raise prices in order to continue functioning as a business. Over the next few years, StartBox foresees a sharp rise in software development costs. From the beginning, all development has been handled in-house. For a variety of reasons, this business model is no longer an option, and StartBox is now faced with contracting this development work from outside sources. The former pricing system does not allow for this amount of expense.
Why is further development needed? Isn't the software already built?
Technology and software are constantly changing, and the original code that runs StartBox is now over 10 years old. What once was cutting edge is now ancient technology and over the new few years, the code base must be completely rewritten using new standards. In addition, each year the USEA, USEF, EC and FEI release new rule changes and reporting procedures that we must integrate into the StartBox system. We are dedicated to providing an up-to-date, accurate system, but staying current with these changes requires a significant amount of development work. We also strive to incorporate as many new feature requests from organizers to make the system as useful and flexible as possible. Last but not least, we strive to stay one step ahead of hackers by constantly researching and implementing new security measures.
Is StartBox in danger of closing down?
No, not with the new prices that will be fully implemented by 2018. However, if the market decides that the new prices are not worth the value received, then we will be forced to stop development and support of the StartBox software.
We truly appreciate your understanding as we go through this challenging transition. We are excited for the future as we refocus our efforts to provide a valuable, user-friendly show management solution. As always, we encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns.
