How do people make money with Zoho?
People earn from Zoho in four main ways: as consulting or reseller partners who implement and sell Zoho, as affiliates who earn commission for referring new customers, as developers who build and sell extensions on Zoho Marketplace, and as freelance Zoho developers or admins paid by businesses. All four programmes or routes exist at the time of writing.
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The biggest route is the Zoho partner programme. Consulting partners earn mainly from service fees for implementation, customisation, integration, training and support. They can also earn commission on the Zoho subscriptions of customers who tag them as their partner. Reseller and distributor programmes exist for firms that want to resell Zoho in a region. Partners must hold Zoho certifications and meet ongoing targets to keep their status.
The Zoho Affiliate Program suits people with an audience, such as bloggers, YouTubers, agencies, hosting providers and trade associations. Affiliates share tracked links and earn a percentage of the revenue from a referred new customer's first purchase for the first 12 months. Zoho's affiliate page says it is free to join. It also says you cannot be an affiliate and a consulting or reseller partner at the same time, and affiliates do not do implementation work.
Developers can build extensions for Zoho apps and list them on Zoho Marketplace. Zoho says independent software vendors and system integrators can apply as Marketplace partners, that listings go through functional, security and content review, and that Zoho handles payment processing for paid extensions. Many consulting partners also package their repeat work as Marketplace extensions.
Freelancing is the fourth route. Businesses hire Zoho developers and admins through freelance sites, referrals and LinkedIn for Deluge scripting, Zoho Creator apps, CRM setup and fixes. This needs no Zoho approval, but clients increasingly ask for Zoho certifications as proof of skill. Earnings in all four routes vary widely, so treat any income claims you see online with caution.
Key points
- Consulting partners earn service fees plus commission on tagged customer subscriptions.
- Affiliates earn a share of a new customer's first-year revenue through tracked links.
- You cannot be a Zoho affiliate and a consulting or reseller partner at the same time.
- Developers can sell reviewed extensions on Zoho Marketplace, with Zoho handling payments.
- Freelance Zoho developers and admins are hired directly by businesses; certifications help win work.
Common questions
Can I earn money by referring people to Zoho?
Yes, through the Zoho Affiliate Program. It is free to join, and you earn commission on qualified first purchases by new customers who sign up through your link.
Can a Zoho partner also be a Zoho affiliate?
No. Zoho says the two programmes are independent, and an existing consulting, reseller or platform partner cannot join the affiliate programme.
Do I need to be a partner to work as a Zoho freelancer?
No. Freelancers can work directly for businesses without joining any Zoho programme. Zoho certifications help show clients you know the products.
How do I sell an app on Zoho Marketplace?
Apply to become a Marketplace partner, build your extension with Zoho's developer tools, then submit it through the Partner Console. Zoho reviews it for function, security and content before it goes live.
Sources and further reading
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Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question