[Legal note: this article is not legal advice; always have counsel review your agreement template before use.]
Why this matters for partner and legal teams
Reseller deals fall over when expectations aren’t documented — who can sell what, where, and at which price; how renewals work; who invoices the end customer; who handles L1 versus L2 support; and what happens if a shipment is delayed or a subscription lapses. A practical, product reseller agreement template keeps sales moving, reduces legal back-and-forth, and protects your brand and margin. If you need a starting point for a lighter touch motion, a simple reseller agreement template or even a simple reseller agreement template free download can work — but only if you attach exhibits for price lists, territory, and brand rules so they stay current.
Pick the right flavor for your model
- If you resell perpetual licenses or boxed software, a software reseller agreement template is your base. Point end users to your EULA, and define how keys are provisioned and replaced.
- If you run subscriptions, adapt a saas reseller agreement template — include provisioning, renewals, proration, usage-based fees, and service-level responsibilities. If you’re cost-sensitive, you can start with a saas reseller agreement template free of charge and tighten it with your counsel.
- If you sell hardware with services, choose a product reseller agreement template and add delivery terms, DOA/returns, and warranty periods in an exhibit.
- Need examples fast? A sample reseller agreement template is helpful for structure, but you still must tune definitions, pricing mechanics, and data clauses to your market.
The essentials to include (quick checklist)
- Appointment and scope — non-exclusive or exclusive, sub-reseller rules, and the exact list of products and services.
- Territory and channels — geography, verticals, account carve-outs, and whether marketplaces are permitted.
- Ordering and pricing — how POs are placed and accepted, price list reference, discount tiers, and special-bid approvals.
- Taxes and delivery — Incoterms for physical goods; electronic delivery for subscriptions.
- Payment and credit — invoice timing, due dates, late fees, credit limits, suspension rights.
- Branding and trademarks — approved uses and quick takedown for misuse.
- Support and SLAs — L1 by reseller, L2/L3 by you, with a clean escalation path.
- Compliance and data — privacy, export/sanctions, anti-corruption, and security basics.
- Warranties and liability — what you warrant, caps, exclusions.
- Termination and survival — convenience, for-cause, and what happens to renewals and open POs.
- Records and audit — reasonable window and scope to verify discounts and reporting.
Tips to keep negotiations short
- Put pricing, discounts, territory, SLAs, and brand rules in exhibits — not the body.
- Write a simple returns/DOA flow for physical goods and a clear renewal section for subscriptions.
- Be explicit about marketplaces and cross-border sales.
- Pair discount tiers with deal registration rules to prevent channel conflict.
Keep definitions tight — “Products,” “Territory,” “End Customer,” and “Effective Date” do a lot of work.
Download Reseller Agreement Template
Is this different from a distributor contract?
Yes. Distributors usually handle stocking and sub-distribution at scale. A reseller buys and resells to end customers but may not hold inventory. If you allow sub-resellers, add pass-through obligations and approval rights.
Can I convert this into a pure SaaS version?
Absolutely. Swap delivery terms for electronic provisioning, add renewal mechanics, usage fees if relevant, and point end customers to your SaaS terms. That’s the main shift from a generic sample reseller agreement template to a focused SaaS version.
Where should I put price and discount tables?
Always in an exhibit. You’ll change them more often than legal language. Exhibits let you update with notice instead of redlining the agreement.