How much does a loyalty program cost?

Wondering if loyalty programs are worth it? You'll need to take into account how much investment is involved and what kind of returns you could get. 

After years of creating successful loyalty solutions, we get asked this question a lot: “How much does a loyalty program cost?”

It’s a challenging question to answer because it depends on many factors.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to how much it costs to set up a loyalty program. Every solution has different requirements. That said, this blog will give you an idea of the costs associated with building a loyalty program so you can better understand how much you need to invest upfront and the reasons why this investment will be worth it. 

Technology costs: In-house development vs loyalty technology software

Some businesses choose to build their own loyalty programs in-house. This approach often means hiring new employees and spending a large amount on technology. You'll have to hire designers, developers, and project managers to get the job done. It’s a good option if you’re already set up with all of these systems in place. 
 

However, creating a loyalty program is not simple - it requires extensive planning and execution. If you’re going to do this yourself, make sure you have the time, money and resources. 

But what if there was software that could handle all of that for you? What if there were companies out there who had spent years perfecting their system so it could take care of all the heavy lifting for you? 

Outsourcing a loyalty program is often the best choice for medium-large enterprises. This is because they require more complexity. If you need a loyalty program that works with multiple locations, for example, it’s worth investing money in a robust platform that allows you to manage all aspects of your loyalty program in one place. 
 

Furthermore, working with an experienced loyalty provider means you’ll have access to people who know what they’re doing when it comes to rewards programs. Loyalty expertise helps you develop something that really works for you and your customers. 
 

At White Label Loyalty our sole focus is, and always has been, loyalty. With no distractions, we're 100% dedicated to helping you engage and retain customers and achieve brand affinity

If you choose an external provider to develop your loyalty program, you'll have to pay for access to software and maintenance fees. The cost of these services depends on the complexity of your requirements. For example, if you have a large number of customers or want features like personalized rewards, then be prepared to pay more than if all you need is a simple rewards system. A typical modern loyalty program starts from £1,999 per month. 

Loyalty program costs: expenses to consider

Marketing costs

You’ve invested in loyalty technology - but what now? You need to have a strong marketing strategy in place to get your loyalty program in front of your customers. 
 

Remember to budget for the cost of creating marketing materials. This includes paying for advertising campaigns. If you already have an existing marketing strategy in place, then this might not be as expensive as starting from scratch. But if you don't have an existing audience, marketing will require some additional budget on top of developing the loyalty program itself.

Customer service costs

Will you have a dedicated team in charge of providing support for your loyalty members? Consider the level of support you want to offer your customers, and whether you will need to employ new team members to keep your customers happy. 
 

When you choose a loyalty software provider, you get the added benefit of technical and account management support. But you may want extra customer-facing specialists to make sure your customers’ experience is as smooth as possible. 

Other costs: improvements / developments

If you already have an established loyalty program and want to add more features or simply update it, then costs can be lower. You may only need to pay for additional development hours and features that work as ‘add-ons’ to your existing solution. 
 

Some loyalty providers offer a modular solution. This means that when it comes to the economics of loyalty programs, you only have to pay for the features you need. 

Other costs: time

One ‘cost’ that is often overlooked by companies launching a loyalty program is how much time it takes up. Opting for in-house development means most of your time will be spent on designing, building and running your loyalty program.
 

Choosing a loyalty software provider saves time by allowing you to focus on other parts of your business. Get the results you want without drowning in tech. 

So, are loyalty programs worth it?

The initial investment in a loyalty program can be pricey. But over time you are likely to see a significant return. In fact, when done right, a loyalty program can help you achieve your business goals with minimal effort.

A study by Maritz Research found that 67% of consumers are willing to spend more money with a company that has a loyalty program. When customers get rewarded, they are incentivised to spend more, spend more often, and engage with your brand. But it’s not just about rewards. It’s about building long-term customer relationships that foster emotional loyalty. 

White Label Loyalty makes it easy to build and deploy a customer loyalty and engagement program based on consumer behaviour. Create meaningful, personalised relationships with customers at scale.

How do loyalty programs benefit companies?

Loyalty programs are a great way to make your customers feel appreciated and keep them coming back. But they’re not just valuable for the customer - they can have a big impact on your bottom line, too. 

Research by McKinsey shows that loyalty programs can boost revenue by 15-25% annually, by increasing purchase frequency and basket size. Furthermore, a huge 75% of customers will favour a brand if there is a loyalty program that rewards its members. A successful rewards scheme can make your business the brand of choice, whilst improving annual profits and building better customer relationships.