Finding the right supplier for your customers can be challenging, mainly because there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Finding the right supplier depends mostly on the individual needs of your customer.

And because the energy market can be volatile, what may seem like a good match today may look very different tomorrow. But finding the right supplier and contract is an important part of keeping your customers happy.

So let’s look at five guidelines for choosing the right supplier for your customers:

1. Understand their business goals

The first and most important thing to consider is the business goals of your customer. Do they have a strict budget they need to meet every month?

Do they have a low tolerance for risk or are they willing to consider an index plan? And how do their goals fit in with the current market conditions?

Understanding their business goals will serve as a guide to finding a supplier that will be the right fit.

2. Evaluate your customer’s energy usage

In general, your customer’s rates are going to be based on their average energy usage. The supplier will assume your customer will continue to use the same amount of energy as they have up to this point.

So it’s important to accurately estimate their historical usage.

If their usage tends to fluctuate, then you’ll want to look for a supplier that is willing to offer a plan that will accommodate these fluctuations. This will ensure that your customer won’t have to deal with additional costs when their energy usage is higher than usual.

3. Consider any additional services offered

You should also look for suppliers that offer additional services that could benefit your customer. For instance, if your customer is interested in lowering their electricity costs, they may be interested in participating in a demand response program.

Or your customer may be interested in participating in an energy efficiency program or even investing in renewable energy. Each of these options could help your customers save time, money, and become more energy efficient.

4. Look at the types of business that supplier serves

Every business uses natural gas and electricity but some suppliers may be better suited to meet your customer’s needs than others. Your customer’s goals may vary greatly depending upon the business they are in and how much they spend on energy.

So look for a supplier that has experience that has experience with similar businesses and seems to understand the needs of your customer.

5. Take advantage of BOX’s EnergyEngine

At this point, you may be thinking, “Whew, that sounds like a lot of work!” And you would be right — it is a lot of work. But it’s work that is essential if you want to hang onto your current customers and develop a reputation as a trusted energy expert.

However, you can make this process easier by partnering with Broker Online Exchange. BOX is the largest retail energy network in the country with access to the top energy suppliers across all deregulated markets.

And most importantly, when you partner with BOX you’ll gain access to our EnergyEngine. The EnergyEngine provides you with accurate, up-to-date pricing every day.

It will help you streamline the process of finding the right supplier and providing personalized service to your customers. Get in touch to learn more about the benefits of partnering with BOX.