How much credit does Zoho for Startups give?
Zoho Wallet credits, not cash: Stage 1 credits when your application is approved, and Stage 2 credits if you move your business email domain to Zoho within 15 days. Both expire 360 days after Stage 1 is enabled, and applying costs nothing.
Zoho's global pages fill the credit amount in by region, so it is not in the page text. Its India registration page says startups can get “up to ₹1.86 lakhs worth of Zoho Wallet Credits” to explore 55+ Zoho products. The same page carries a second version for a special category of startups: up to ₹3 lakhs, with ₹2 lakhs in Stage 1 and ₹1 lakh of promotional credits after the first 360 days, “depending on the usage of apps”.
It is credit toward Zoho products, not funding: “Zoho and the Zoho for Startups program do not provide funding, grants, or investments to startups.” Weekday email support and a free consultation to pick the right apps come with it.
Source: Zoho for Startups FAQ (zoho.com/startups/faq.html), Zoho for Startups registration page (India) (zoho.com/en-in/startups/founders-registration.html), Zoho for Startups page (zoho.com/startups)
Who can join Zoho for Startups?
Not every startup. You need a Zoho-collaborating incubator, accelerator or similar enabler or, in India, a DPIIT certificate from Startup India, and you must be a new or free Zoho user with no paid subscription history.
A free trial does not count against you, but a new account does not reset a paid history: “If your startup has an existing paid Zoho subscription, it is not eligible, even if you apply using a new account or a different email address without payment history.” The credits are a one-time opportunity, even if several enablers you belong to work with Zoho.
Zoho excludes MSMEs: “we do not include MSMEs in the Zoho for Startups program”. A rejected application cannot be retried, because the usual reason is a current or past paying Zoho account.
Zoho's eligibility terms
- Fits the Startup India definition of a startup
- A new or free Zoho user, with no active or previous paid subscription
- No earlier Zoho One or Zoho Wallet credit benefits
- Registered with a collaborating ecosystem enabler, or (India) recognized under DPIIT
- Not an MSME, and a one-time claim only
Source: Zoho for Startups page (zoho.com/startups), Zoho for Startups FAQ (zoho.com/startups/faq.html)
Which countries is Zoho for Startups live in, including India?
Zoho lists 23 countries where the program is live with limited access, India among them. In India the open door is a DPIIT certificate from Startup India, which also covers solo founders funding the company themselves.
The countries are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Zoho says the program “continues to expand” and points to its X and LinkedIn handles for announcements.
Indian founders without a DPIIT certificate can still join through an enabler that is a registered Zoho collaborator. A DPIIT-recognized startup registers in the “self-funded/bootstrapped category”.
Source: Zoho for Startups FAQ (zoho.com/startups/faq.html)
How do I apply for Zoho for Startups and how long does it take?
Create a Zoho account with your organization's primary or admin email, then register for the credits through your enabler's link or, if DPIIT-recognized, in the self-funded category. Zoho says credits are enabled within 5 to 7 business days of you answering its confirmation email.
Use the email you want the credits on: once enabled, “credits can only be used from the account they were enabled on”, and they cannot be moved or split between admin accounts.
If your enabler does not work with Zoho yet, Zoho asks you to share its partner form with them. The registration form asks for your DPIIT number or the name of your ecosystem enabler.
Source: Zoho for Startups FAQ (zoho.com/startups/faq.html), Zoho for Startups registration page (zoho.com/startups/founders-registration.html)
Does Zoho for Startups include business email or Zoho Mail?
Indirectly. Stage 2 credits are unlocked by hosting and mapping your business email domain with Zoho within 15 days of getting Stage 1 credits, but Stage 2 credits cannot buy Zoho Workplace or Zoho Mail, and no credits buy a domain.
Stage 1 credits are yours either way, and Zoho does not extend the 15-day window. Zoho Workplace can be bought with Stage 1 credits only: “Workplace (Stage 1 only)”. An existing Zoho Mail account on its own does not qualify for Stage 2.
If you only want free business email, Zoho Mail has a free plan with no program needed (see the routes below).
Source: Zoho for Startups FAQ (zoho.com/startups/faq.html)
Can I use the credits on Zoho CRM and Zoho Books?
Yes. Credits work on all Zoho cloud products except a short list (Voice, Start, Domains, Backstage and a few more), and CRM and Books are not on it. They buy monthly or yearly subscriptions in any edition, not premium support, onboarding or training.
A yearly subscription can be bought with credits once per application, and credits cannot renew it. Zoho offers no special discounts or promotions when you renew after the credits expire, so you move to a paid plan with a payment method.
You may not need the program for these two: Zoho CRM has a free edition (Zoho's pricing page says “Forever free, for 3 users”), and Zoho Books's Free Plan is available indefinitely while revenue stays under the threshold Zoho sets.
Source: Zoho for Startups FAQ (zoho.com/startups/faq.html), Zoho CRM pricing page (zoho.com/en-us/crm/zohocrm-pricing.html), Zoho Books pricing page (zoho.com/books/pricing)
