How to Sell Software on Commission: A Guide for Agencies, Consultants and Sales Pros

Quick answer: you sell software on commission by joining a founder's partner or reseller program, introducing the product to clients who need it, and earning an agreed percentage when they buy. It suits people buyers already trust: agencies, consultants, IT providers and independent sales professionals. Choose products your clients need now, agree the commission and lead protection in writing before you introduce anyone, and register every lead. On LicenseSaaS you join once and work with many founders, and you receive 70% of the commission agreed with each one.

You don't need to build software, hold stock or pay anything upfront. You need a network that buys software, and the judgement to recommend only what genuinely helps them.

Who sells software on commission

• Agencies whose clients ask which tools to use for marketing, websites, reporting or operations.
• Consultants and advisors who already recommend software as part of their work (see white-label software for consultants for the other route).
• IT providers and MSPs who can add software to the services they manage.
• Independent sales professionals with a pipeline in a particular market.
• Industry insiders with a strong network in one vertical, such as healthcare, real estate or construction.
• SaaS founders whose customers need tools they don't build themselves.

How software commission works

Commission is a percentage of what the buyer pays. The details vary by program, so check three things: what the rate is, which payments it applies to, and for how long.

On LicenseSaaS, the commission is agreed per product between you and the founder. One-time fees count in full; monthly or annual fees count for the first 12 months. You receive 70% of the commission and LicenseSaaS receives 30%.

Choose products you can actually sell

The product decides most of your success. Browse the software listed on LicenseSaaS and, before you take one on, check that:

• it solves a problem several of your clients have today, not one they might have later;
• you understand it well enough to explain it in two sentences;
• there's a demo or trial you can show;
• pricing and licensing terms are clear;
• the founder answers questions quickly and will support your clients;
• the founder is open about its track record, including when the product is new.

LicenseSaaS gives partners a sales kit for each product (the problem it solves, the ideal customer, pricing, your commission, demo links and the founder's stated track record) and suggests products that fit your clients, with the reasons.

Agree the terms before you introduce anyone

Get these in writing first. It protects your commission and your client relationship:

• the commission rate, and which payments it applies to;
• how a lead is registered as yours, and for how long (the attribution window);
• what happens if another partner introduces the same company;
• when and how you're paid;
• any territory or exclusivity, and who supports the client after the sale.

On LicenseSaaS, terms are agreed on the platform before you make an introduction, and the first lead registered inside its window gets the credit.

Start with buyers you already know

The fastest first deal comes from your existing network, not cold outreach. List your current and past clients, group them by industry and need, and match each group to one product. Then send a short, personal note:

Hi {name}, you mentioned {problem} last month. I've found a tool built for exactly that: {product} helps {customer type} {result}. Happy to set up a 20-minute demo with the founder if it's useful.

Recommend only what you'd use yourself. Your reputation is worth more than any single commission.

What the earnings look like

An example: a buyer licenses a product for $10,000 at a 15% commission. The commission is $1,500, and you receive 70% of it, $1,050. On a subscription, the same rate applies to each payment within the agreed period. This is an illustration, not a typical result: your earnings depend on the products, rates and buyers involved.

Common mistakes

• Taking on too many products and knowing none of them well.
• Introducing a client before the terms and lead registration are in place.
• Pitching strangers before working your existing network.
• Overpromising what a new product can do.

How to start on LicenseSaaS

Apply to become a sales partner. Once approved, complete your profile with the industries and regions you sell to, browse products and their sales kits, propose a partnership on the ones that fit, and register each lead before you introduce them. If you'd rather sell software under your own brand, read what white-label software is and how SaaS reseller programs work.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a company to sell software on commission?

No. Independent sales professionals and consultants can sell on commission. Most programs, including LicenseSaaS, ask for a website or LinkedIn profile so founders can see who you are and who you sell to.

Does it cost anything to become a software sales partner?

It shouldn't. Joining the LicenseSaaS sales partner program is free, with no monthly fee. You earn only when a buyer you introduced pays.

Can I sell the software under my own brand?

Not as a sales partner: you sell the founder's product under the founder's brand. To sell software under your own brand, license or white-label it instead.

When do I get paid?

On LicenseSaaS, once the buyer you introduced has paid through the platform and the payment is confirmed. Your share is paid to the payout account in your partner settings.