I know, we've mentioned this just a few too many times by now, but it's amazing how few people believe us at first. We really are risk-free, with no monthly fees or minimum charges what-so-ever. Our only charge is our clearinghouse fee, which means if you aren't using the network, you aren't paying for it. No commitments, no deposits, no reason not to join.

Our network has been designed from the beginning as a digital network. As a result, you must have a computer and an internet connection in order to be a member. Fortunately, our software is very light and will operate on any computer running W98 with IE6 (and up). Dial-up is also perfectly fine for those without access to high-speed.

As part of our effort to streamline our systems and reduce costs (and pass those savings on to you), we've eliminated the process of collecting and disbursing payments by mail. Instead, we do everything through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is a safe and secure method of debiting and crediting your bank account directly (see the security questions below). As such, during the enrollment you will be required to provide your bank account information* and choose between two payment models - seamless and manual. With seamless, payments are automaticaly collected on pre-determined dates. With manual, you must approve your statement online before clearRoot can collect your payment on the same pre-determined dates. In either case, disbursments are automatically deposited to member accounts.

*We are now offering an alternative membership type within the enrollment which allows you to bypass the EFT requirements in exchange for reduced functionality on the network.

We reconcile member accounts twice a month, instead of once. This means you get paid twice as quickly for orders you've fulfilled. So how does this work exactly? We publish your statement online on the 1st and 16th of each month. On these dates you will receive an email reminding you to review your statement - a quick and easy task now that we've eliminated the need to manually reconcile orders. If you are on the manual payment model, you must approve your statement within 5 days of the statement date (the 5th and 20th respectively). We then collect from members who owe money to the network 5 days after that (on the 10th and 25th), and disburse payments to members who are owed money 5 days after that (on the 15th and ~30th).

In order to provide you with the ability to quickly and easily enroll to the network, we've created a unique credit limit system for monitoring the payment status of our members. It works like this: When you first enroll, you will instantly be able to receive incoming orders, however, your ability to send orders will be locked for a period of several days as we perform your credit check. Once your credit has been approved, we'll assign a credit limit to your account based on your score and supplier references. This credit limit will determine the maximum amount you may owe for any given billing period. Should you exceed this amount, you will receive an automatic warning asking you to login to our website and authorize an interim EFT payment in order to lower your account balance. Should you fail to authorize this payment within 1 day of exceeding your limit, outgoing orders will be disabled until either: a) the interim payment is authorized, or; b) the next automatic payment date occurs, at which point your account will be debited according to your statement and your balance reduced.

Let's face it, as a new network we're bound to have some service area gaps as we build our initial membership. Fortunately, our pay-per-use pricing model ensures that it doesn't cost you anything to be a member of rootWire, even as we work to fill these out. We're also encouraging existing members to help us overcome this issue by providing referral bonuses (fame & fortune) for each florist who joins through your recommendation. All in all, we recognize that as a new network we come with a few hiccups at first, but if you can see just a little further down the road, your membership will help us change the industry for the better.

We like to think of clearRoot as a lean, mean, networking machine. From the very beginning we've been focused on developing technology that will keep our costs at an absolute minimum. By streamlining our systems in every possible avenue (i.e. electronic funds transfers and online statements), not only do we make your life easier, we're also able to offer our services far more cost effectively than the competition.

No. You will be required to agree and sign our Credit, Electronic Funds Transfer, and Membership Agreements during the enrollment process, but none of these include any sort of fixed time commitment. You can join today, and quit tomorrow if needed. But hopefully you won't - don't forget, it doesn't cost anything to remain a member!

None, actually. But we'd be rather disappointed! Obviously we encourage you to send as many as possible, but we won't force it upon you by tacking on disgusting "low-sending fees". Instead, we'd prefer to encourage use of our network by offering better value, better tools, and a brighter future for the floral industry.

To explore which service areas are currently covered, simply click here. Of course, you can add to this list instantaneously by joining! ;)

No. Our service will be open to all retail florists. We will not limit the number of members per region, nor provide exclusivity to any particular member. Our goal is to provide the largest network possible of retail flower shops across the globe. Every additional florist adds to the likelihood that you'll receive an incoming order. You must, however, be a full-service florist with the ability to fulfill incoming orders. Outbound-only shops are not permitted on the network.

Yes and no. We are in the process of creating floral selections for rootWire, however, a printed guide has not yet been produced (nor do we have a firm date in mind for this). Frankly, if and when we choose to print this guide will depend entirely on demand from our members. If we have enough demand, then we'll be sure to make one available on an optional basis. Naturally, images of our floral selections will be made available to you at no extra cost for use on your website and in advertising.

No. We believe that florists are far better off in control of their own advertising dollars. Let's be honest anyway, do your current services really advertise YOU, or are they simply increasing their own brand awareness? Instead of going this route, we highly recommend using the savings from your rootWire membership towards local advertising that will directly benefit your shop. Become a regular in your community newspaper, sign-up for a seasonal trade show. Whatever the case may be, just get your name out there and make a conscious effort to do it.

Nope. We are a software company and have no interest collecting consumer orders. The benefits and disadvantages of this could be argued either way depending on the type of shop you are, but ultimately, we believe it's best to leave this up to you, the florist. Instead, we'll labor to provide you with the best tools to collect and efficiently manage as many orders as possible. We have lots of new projects in the pipeline that focus on increasing your business. Keep an eye on our blog for more details on these projects.

No, we do not have a printed directory. As a digital-only network, it simply isn't necessary. Our client-based platform ensures the member directory is always available on your computer without the need to access the internet.

Once you've activated your software, you'll be listed within the directory in under 30 minutes. You also have full control over your shop details by logging in to our website. Changes you make online will be updated across the network in under 60 minutes.

No, and yes. We will be implementing a program in short order, but not in the traditional sense. First and foremost, there will be NO additional cost to our members for this program, as it won't be regulated by clearRoot. We have no desire, nor the ability, to adequately police thousands of members. Instead, we'll be providing our members with a sophisticated platform for issuing ratings after an order is exchanged. Florists who continuously receive bad ratings will obviously cease receiving orders and be weeded from the network accordingly.

Yes, you can. Send them through rootWire as usual, and we'll take care of them from our office. In all honesty, this means we'll be sending your orders manually for the time being, by calling abroad directly. What we can tell you is this, as soon as we broaden our market base to include international English speaking countries, we'll allow you to exchange orders directly to these members without any international relay fees. That's right, select the exact florist you want in Timbuktu, and you get to communicate directly with them. For orders going to non-English speaking countries, a relay fee will likely always be necessary for the cost of translation, etc. Suggested minimums for international orders are displayed directly within rootWire for you.

Yes, rootWire is a digital only network. As such, you will require a computer to join and operate our software. rootWire will operate on any computer running Windows98 and Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.

An internet connection is required. Both highspeed and dial-up* will work with rootWire. For dial-up internet, rootWire has been designed to automatically initiate and disconnect the dial-up connection as needed. This only takes 60 seconds on average, and is performed at most 4 times an hour. In other words, it won't tie-up your phone line.

*With the exception of AOL dial-up. See the AOL Dial-Up Questions below for more details.

At the end of the application process, you will be prompted to download and install the rootWire software. Simply follow the instructions given and you'll be on your way.

rootWire has been designed to operate with a minimum amount of impact on your computer; in other words it's very light. There will be three rootWire processes running continuously on your computer, including: rootWire (the client); rootWireComm (order polling utility); and rootWireNotifier (taskbar warning utility). Additional services will run from time to time as needed, such as the rootWire Update Manager.

Simply provide all rootWire applications with outbound internet access when prompted to do so, and you'll be all set. This will include our install wizard, rootWire Communications, and the rootWire Updater.

We've incorporated many fail-safe warning systems within rootWire to alert you if the client is having trouble communicating with our server or the internet. In addition, should your internet go down, you still have access to everything contained within rootWire including your orders and the florist directory. If you need to send an order while your internet is offline, we've implemented a fantastic tool to take care of this. First, select a florist from the directory and call them directly. Indicate your internet is down and that you need to send an MRO (manually reported order). The receiving florist will then enter your order details directly within the MRO screen, after which rootWire will verify your account exists and display the order within their incoming list per usual. Now here's the best part, once your internet is back online, the order you called out will automatically appear in your outgoing items! How cool is that?! Still no manual reporting required!

Yes. To ensure your system is always available to receive incoming orders, your computer should be left on all of the time.

If you have questions, we naturally suggest checking the help file first. Or better yet, take a few minutes to watch our pre-recorded tutorials available online. The tutorials are by far the most time effective way to learn about rootWire. Otherwise, feel free to get in touch directly. Our online live support is an excellent tool for connecting with our team.

rootWire immediately transmits any new orders and messages you create. By default, rootWire also communicates with our server every 15 minutes to check for incoming orders and messages. However, if you prefer not to wait, you can check for new messages immediately by clicking 'File > Send/Receive', or Ctrl-R while using rootWire.

Nope, we've taken care of this for you. Our server stores all of the information you should ever need. If for some reason you need to re-install rootWire on a new machine, you can retrieve all of your existing orders directly from the server with a few clicks of the mouse. No backups required!

Here is a complete break-down of our fees, short and sweet:

  • 8% clearinghouse commission
  • optional order confirmations are $1 and $0.50 is paid to the florist
  • optional root florist-to-florist messages (unrelated to orders) are $1
  • optional also-served-by listings are free until the end of 2008
  • optional directory advertising starts at $25/month

That's everything! We should also mention that your basic (free) directory listing already includes your toll-free number, website, detailed hours of operation, custom shop notes, and much more!

Our billing cycle occurs twice each month. Therefore, statements are posted within your online account management on the 1st and 16th of every month. You will receive an email reminding you of your statement on these dates, along with a link for direct access to your statement (you may be prompted to login first).

As mentioned in the previous question, it's important to note that our billing cycle occurs twice each month. If you are on the manual payment model, you must approve your statement within 5 days of the statement date (the 5th and 20th respectively). We then collect from members who owe money to the network 5 days after that (on the 10th and 25th), and disburse payments to members who are owed money 5 days after that (on the 15th and ~30th).

No, we do not. Instead, we've implemented advanced monitoring systems to ensure members are keeping their accounts in good standing, and will lock accounts immediately upon lack of payment.

In order to offer our fantastic pricing model, we need to ensure that everything we do is efficient and cost effective. As you all know, credit cards take on average 2% of each transaction. Since our revenue model is based on an 8% clearinghouse fee, that's a whopping 25% of our potential revenues. For this reason, it's not reasonable for us to accept payment by credit card. Similarly, checks are too slow and take too long to clear. EFT (electronic funds transfer) is the most effective means for us to both collect and distribute payments to our members.

It's quite simple actually. When you enroll with rootWire, you will be assigned a credit limit specifying the maximum amount you can owe for each billing cycle. Should you exceed this amount, you will be asked to authorize an interim EFT payment to bring your account balance back below your credit limit. To authorize this payment, you simply login to our website and access your account management area. Should you fail to authorize a payment within 1 day of exceeding your limit, outgoing orders will be disabled until either: a) the interim payment is authorized, or; b) the next automatic payment date occurs (at which point your account will be automatically debited according to your statement and your balance brought down to zero). Credit limits are determined by your credit score, supplier references, and over time will be increased based on your payment history with clearRoot.

Quite simply, yes. Our systems encrypt your confidential information prior to transmission using 128 bit, secure socket layer (SSL) encryption technology. We use industry-standard security protocols and have implemented strict security measures to protect against the loss or misuse of information under our control. Only abbreviate (incomplete) payment details are made available to clearRoot personnel, as our ability to communicate directly with our payment processor eliminates the need for access to this data. Furthermore, our hardware is protected against unauthorized access by physical security means, including 24/7 monitoring. To read even more about our site security, check out our Internet Privacy Statement.

Yes. clearRoot was required to undergo a thorough and lengthy application process just to qualify for EFT services. Our payment processor, RBC Financial Group, is one of North America's largest banks and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and only extends their EFT services to reputable and qualified businesses. As part of our service agreement, clearRoot is required to pass ongoing qualification requirements and security measures. By incorporating EFT into the core functionality of our systems, we can communicate directly with the bank through encrypted transmissions, thus significantly limiting the exposure of confidential data. Although the likelihood of errors is extremely low, should an issue ever arise, both clearRoot and RBC would prompty address and correct the situation.

As a customer, you play an important role in maintaining the privacy of your information. When you become a member, you are required to create an account password. We recommend using a combination of letters and numbers to provide the best security possible. This password should be protected at all costs and never shared with anyone! Should your password ever become compromised, immediately notify clearRoot and change your password within your online account management tools. We also encourage you to change your password regularly as an additional security measure.

If for any reason you have a concern about the accuracy of your statement or the value debited from your account, we will automatically reverse the charges within 2 business days and then work with you to resolve the issue.

Unlike most independent internet providers, AOL uses a proprietary dialer to provide access to its dial-up internet services. In other words, it doesn't use the standard Windows dialer which was designed to provide software developers with a wide set of tools and customizability for software like ours. Although we've spent weeks solving as many issues as possible, those that remain are likely to be there for good. NOTE: AOL broadband (highspeed) internet works fine.

We have tested rootWire with AOL dial-up on W98 to Vista. Generally speaking, the same issues exist on all of the Windows operating systems, but are definitely more pronounced on the older platforms, including W98 and WME. Generally speaking, XP and Vista perform more reliably, but are still susceptible to the following issues:

1. Hanging Connections: Under normal circumstances, rootWire is designed to automatically initiate a dial-up connection when it needs to connect to the internet. After communicating with our server, it then automatically disconnects from the internet. If the connection fails for whatever reason, rootWire will manage the different failure types accordingly. With AOL, failed connections can result in AOL independently initiating another connection. Since this new connection was initiated by AOL, and not rootWire, it will remain connected until you disconnect it manually.
   
2. Intermittent Connections: AOL dial-up connections tend to be a little irregular. At times, AOL will connect quickly to the dial-up server, and other times it may take much longer. These varying scenarios can result in rootWire experiencing difficulties in consistently achieving an internet connection. This can result in missed orders, frequent communication alerts, and the need to pay careful attention to outgoing orders to ensure they reach the rootWire server promptly.

Yes, but it isn't recommended. If you use your computer primarily for internet access, and typically leave your AOL dial-up connection online at all times, you'll likely experience few issues. If you use your computer primarily for internet access, but tend to connect and disconnect your AOL dial-up as needed because you share the same telephone line with other systems, such as a credit card machine, AOL could randomly remain connected at unexpected times, forcing you to manually disconnect from the internet as a result. Similarly, if your computer shares the telephone line with another wire service that requires a dedicated phone line, it's possible you could run into similar shared-lined complications resulting in missed orders.

Should you choose to use rootWire with your AOL dial-up account regardless of the risks outlined above, we recommend following these steps precisely for the best results BEFORE starting the rootWire installation:

1. Right click on the AOL system tray icon (next to your clock).
2. Click on Connectivity.
3. Click on AOL Dialer Settings.
4. Set default dialer to: AOL Dialer (click appropriate button).
5. Click Save.
6. Right click on the AOL system tray icon.
7. Click on Connect with Dialer.
8. Enter your Screen Name and Password into the form.
9. Check both Save Password and Auto-Sign On.
10. Click Sign On.
11. Allow AOL to connect to the internet.
12. Once connected, right click on the AOL system tray icon.
13. Click Disconnect from Dialer.
14. Wait for AOL to disconnect.

You may now begin the rootWire installation. When asked during the install wizard if you connect using a dial-up connection, select Yes, and choose AOL Dialer from the list. Do NOT override the connection settings. Complete the remaining installation steps as desired.

Officially, no. Unofficially, a little. We'll do our best to help you get rootWire running on your computer along with AOL, but should a serious complication arise that our team is unable to solve, you're on your own. At that point, you would either need to contact AOL directly, or a local computer support company.