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Reseller vs Vendor

Use this page to choose the right partner model and explain differences to providers and partners.

TopicResellerVendor
OnboardingAdmin onboards the reseller. At onboarding, admin assigns a rate card or creates a reseller-specific rate card per agreed terms.Admin onboards the vendor. At onboarding, admin assigns a rate card or creates a vendor-specific rate card per agreed terms.
CurrencyCurrency assigned at onboarding — reseller sells to customers in that same currency.Currency assigned at onboarding — vendor’s customer usage is accounted in that same currency.
Billing cyclesGlobal cycles enabled by the super admin are available. Reseller cannot add or remove cycles.Same — global cycles only; vendor cannot add or remove cycles.
Packages / plansCannot create own plans. Can change existing plans assigned by the super admin for their customers.Cannot create own plans. Cannot change plans assigned by the super admin.
Package pricingCan manage pricing for customers: update prices or add margin (fixed amount or percentage) from the reseller admin dashboard after the rate card is assigned.Cannot manage own pricing for customer packages.
PortalComplete white-labeled portal on the reseller’s whitelisted URL. After onboarding, reseller prepares the domain and configures it with CMP.Vendor is another account on the provider URL. No separate white-labeled portal.
Role in CMPProvides services to customers and runs reseller → customer billing.Registers and manages customer accounts; cannot create services directly — only manages customer accounts.
Customer billingSeparate billing applies to the reseller’s customers. Reseller controls pricing and invoices.No billing directly to the vendor’s customer. System charges only the vendor based on customer usage.
Customer invoicesCustomer accounts work like regular accounts and receive invoices at reseller-set pricing.Customer accounts work like regular accounts for service management but do not receive invoices. Internal usage is tracked; no taxable invoice / invoice number for the vendor’s customer.
Balance validationCustomer create is validated against customer infra credit/balance and the reseller balance. If the customer has balance but the reseller does not → error thrown.Customer create is validated against the vendor account (for example infra credits deducted from the vendor balance).
Customer portal accessCustomers log in on the reseller’s whitelisted URL, see usage and billing, and can pay invoices.Vendor can grant customers access to manage services. If access is given, customers can see usage details (no customer invoices).
Provider → partner billingProvider bills the reseller from aggregated customer usage at provider → reseller pricing (see Reseller billing).System aggregates all customer usage and charges the vendor in a single monthly invoice (cycles of customer services summed at month end).
Vendor customer payment modeN/A (reseller customers use modes enabled for that reseller path).Vendor’s customer payment mode is compulsory Manual — no customer invoices, and to avoid disciplinary actions on those accounts.

Mental model​

Reseller
  Provider ──bills──► Reseller ──bills──► End customer
  (own white-label portal + customer invoices)

Vendor
  Provider ──bills──► Vendor ◄──usage from── End customer
  (provider portal; no invoice to end customer)

When to use which​

Choose Reseller if…Choose Vendor if…
Partner needs a branded portal and sells at their own pricesPartner only needs to manage customers on your portal
End customers must receive invoices and pay the partnerYou bill the partner only; end customers must not get taxable invoices
Partner can adjust margins on provider packagesPartner must not change package prices