Cloud Marketplaces are Not Only for Enterprises

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Can a small MSP really run a cloud marketplace? Yes, and it might just be your biggest growth opportunity.  

‍

The idea of launching your own cloud marketplace might sound out of reach if you’re a small or mid-sized MSP. After all, you’re not a hyperscaler or a global distributor or tech aggregator, so the infrastructure and setup costs alone must make this out of reach. Isn’t this something only the biggest players can afford?

‍

Not anymore.

‍

Thanks to modern cloud marketplace and ecosystem orchestration platforms built with partners in mind, even small MSPs can create a fully branded marketplace, automate provisioning and billing, and grow recurring revenue—without massive overhead or technical debt.

‍

What Exactly Is a Reseller Cloud Marketplace?

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At its core, a reseller cloud marketplace is a digital storefront where you can offer cloud and SaaS services to your customers or your own resellers under your own brand. These services might include hyperscaler infrastructure (like Azure or AWS or GCP), business software (like Microsoft 365 or backup tools), or even your own managed services.

‍

Unlike traditional cloud reseller models, a cloud marketplace gives you a centralized platform to:

• Let customers browse, buy, and manage subscriptions themselves

• Automate provisioning, fulfillment, and billing

• Bundle services together

• Provide a seamless, self-service experience, allowing you to scale your sales without heavy new investment in growing your sales team.

‍

4 Common Myths About MSP Cloud Marketplaces (and Why They're Wrong)

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1. “We don’t have a technical team to support a marketplace."

‍

You don’t need one. Many platforms (like Apptium’s Cloud Commerce Platform) are low-code or no-code, with drag-and-drop design, built-in integrations, templates, and easy admin tools. This reduces the technical and resource overhead needed to set up a marketplace, reducing time-to and cost-of launch.  

‍

2. “It’s too expensive."

‍

Some marketplace platforms provide smaller platform fees for smaller businesses (tiered pricing), reducing the barriers to entry. Other marketplace platforms are often pay-as-you-grow, with flexible pricing models. Cloud Commerce Platform, for example, offers transaction-based pricing, meaning you only pay if you are making money, and keeping the entire marketplace profitable. You don’t need a six-figure investment to get started.

‍

3. "We don’t have a big enough catalog."

‍

Start small. Offer the 5–10 services your customers ask for most. Most platforms let you scale your catalog as you grow. Depending on your cloud marketplace platform vendor, you may be able to gain access to their entire catalog of vendors and partners, allowing you to scale your offerings just by signing up.  

‍

4. "We can't offer multi-cloud or third-party bundles. It’s too complex and requires manual sales involvement"

‍

Wrong again. The right marketplace platform lets you mix and match vendor services from multiple vendors with your own offerings, creating curated solutions for your buyers.

‍

‍What You Really Need to Launch Your Own Reseller Cloud Marketplace

‍

You don’t need to reinvent your business, just enable it. Here’s what you really need:

• A cloud commerce platform that supports white-label storefronts and multi-tier setup

• A curated catalog of services to start

• Basic configuration of pricing, billing, and roles

• Branding (your logo, your domain, your voice)

‍

Optional but helpful:

• A few bundles or packaged offers to test

• Partner support or onboarding help from your vendor

‍

Step-by-Step: How Small MSPs Can Get Started

1. Choose a partner-friendly platform with multi-cloud, multi-vendor, and reseller support. (Again, here’s a guide to choosing a platform vendor.)

2. Brand your storefront and configure your catalog.

3. Offer what you know sells: security, backup, productivity tools.

4. Automate billing and provisioning to reduce manual effort.

5. Market your marketplace to existing customers as a new value-added offering. They can now browse, compare, discover, and purchase products on their own.

‍

The Right Cloud Marketplace Platform Levels the Playing Field for MSPs

‍

You don’t need to be a global giant to launch a cloud marketplace. You just need the right tools.

‍

Modern platforms make it easy for MSPs of any size to offer cloud services, build recurring revenue, and stay competitive. Start small, grow fast, and position yourself as the go-to provider for your customers’ digital needs.

‍

Want to see how MSPs like you are building cloud marketplaces without the overhead? Schedule a demo with Apptium today.

‍

Cloud Marketplaces are Not Only for Enterprises

‍

Can a small MSP really run a cloud marketplace? Yes, and it might just be your biggest growth opportunity.  

‍

The idea of launching your own cloud marketplace might sound out of reach if you’re a small or mid-sized MSP. After all, you’re not a hyperscaler or a global distributor or tech aggregator, so the infrastructure and setup costs alone must make this out of reach. Isn’t this something only the biggest players can afford?

‍

Not anymore.

‍

Thanks to modern cloud marketplace and ecosystem orchestration platforms built with partners in mind, even small MSPs can create a fully branded marketplace, automate provisioning and billing, and grow recurring revenue—without massive overhead or technical debt.

‍

What Exactly Is a Reseller Cloud Marketplace?

‍

At its core, a reseller cloud marketplace is a digital storefront where you can offer cloud and SaaS services to your customers or your own resellers under your own brand. These services might include hyperscaler infrastructure (like Azure or AWS or GCP), business software (like Microsoft 365 or backup tools), or even your own managed services.

‍

Unlike traditional cloud reseller models, a cloud marketplace gives you a centralized platform to:

• Let customers browse, buy, and manage subscriptions themselves

• Automate provisioning, fulfillment, and billing

• Bundle services together

• Provide a seamless, self-service experience, allowing you to scale your sales without heavy new investment in growing your sales team.

‍

4 Common Myths About MSP Cloud Marketplaces (and Why They're Wrong)

‍

1. “We don’t have a technical team to support a marketplace."

‍

You don’t need one. Many platforms (like Apptium’s Cloud Commerce Platform) are low-code or no-code, with drag-and-drop design, built-in integrations, templates, and easy admin tools. This reduces the technical and resource overhead needed to set up a marketplace, reducing time-to and cost-of launch.  

‍

2. “It’s too expensive."

‍

Some marketplace platforms provide smaller platform fees for smaller businesses (tiered pricing), reducing the barriers to entry. Other marketplace platforms are often pay-as-you-grow, with flexible pricing models. Cloud Commerce Platform, for example, offers transaction-based pricing, meaning you only pay if you are making money, and keeping the entire marketplace profitable. You don’t need a six-figure investment to get started.

‍

3. "We don’t have a big enough catalog."

‍

Start small. Offer the 5–10 services your customers ask for most. Most platforms let you scale your catalog as you grow. Depending on your cloud marketplace platform vendor, you may be able to gain access to their entire catalog of vendors and partners, allowing you to scale your offerings just by signing up.  

‍

4. "We can't offer multi-cloud or third-party bundles. It’s too complex and requires manual sales involvement"

‍

Wrong again. The right marketplace platform lets you mix and match vendor services from multiple vendors with your own offerings, creating curated solutions for your buyers.

‍

‍What You Really Need to Launch Your Own Reseller Cloud Marketplace

‍

You don’t need to reinvent your business, just enable it. Here’s what you really need:

• A cloud commerce platform that supports white-label storefronts and multi-tier setup

• A curated catalog of services to start

• Basic configuration of pricing, billing, and roles

• Branding (your logo, your domain, your voice)

‍

Optional but helpful:

• A few bundles or packaged offers to test

• Partner support or onboarding help from your vendor

‍

Step-by-Step: How Small MSPs Can Get Started

1. Choose a partner-friendly platform with multi-cloud, multi-vendor, and reseller support. (Again, here’s a guide to choosing a platform vendor.)

2. Brand your storefront and configure your catalog.

3. Offer what you know sells: security, backup, productivity tools.

4. Automate billing and provisioning to reduce manual effort.

5. Market your marketplace to existing customers as a new value-added offering. They can now browse, compare, discover, and purchase products on their own.

‍

The Right Cloud Marketplace Platform Levels the Playing Field for MSPs

‍

You don’t need to be a global giant to launch a cloud marketplace. You just need the right tools.

‍

Modern platforms make it easy for MSPs of any size to offer cloud services, build recurring revenue, and stay competitive. Start small, grow fast, and position yourself as the go-to provider for your customers’ digital needs.

‍

Want to see how MSPs like you are building cloud marketplaces without the overhead? Schedule a demo with Apptium today.

‍