When people have some money, not much, and would like to go into a business, but they don’t have any ideas, they focus on franchising. It’s a good way for those that would like to invest into a business that is proved to be working, where you get access to know-how. But this is mainly for those that want to make an investment into something material.

But what would be the similar way of going into an online proven business with minimum or even no investments? Here is where the idea of white (private) label affiliate or co-branded affiliate comes into action.

A white label affiliate program or co-branding affiliate program is acting on the same principle of any other affiliate program (you get paid for your performance), but the visitors you have remain on your website and complete the sale order, it’s not necessary to go the affiliate partner website. Also, as a white label you get to use your own logo or brand. The visitor will know that he/she orders something from you, not from someone else through you. It’s like having your own online store, but without the logistics of processing orders and delivering the product / service. This would be your partner’s concerns.

There are 3 ways in my opinion of white label programs: customized landing page, APIs, the use of XML feeds.

The customized landing page is a page or a complete website, hosted by the affiliate partner, but with your own logo / brand. In this case the investment is really low: usually just the web domain, forwarded to the landing website when the partner offers you a complete re-branded website solution. In the case the partners offer only a landing page, you will also need a hosting account where you have your website, with all your content, and link to the landing page only when someone will want to place an order. In the case you would also like to get some published content, different than what is already on the landing website you’ll also need a hosting account where to have your website. In such case you will use the landing website just as a landing page.

APIs solutions are another method of co-branding. APIs are some applications you get to install on your website, just like some scripts or iFrames. APIs will act just like a landing page, but this will be in the content of your own website. Your visitors will literally never leave your website, having access from ordering the product / service to paying. This is a quite simple method to use for offering re-branded services / products. Your investment in this case would resume to a web domain and a hosting account where to host your website.

XML feeds, the last method, most complicated solution, that would require some small web programming knowledge, is the same time the most customizable. If you need to integrate perfectly the products or services you would like to resell this is the way: there is no feel with your affiliate partner on the front end of your site. Needless to say, your investment is at least the web domain and the hosting plan.

The investment to be made, as stated above, are at the minimum level. Mainly web domain or web domain + web hosting - to see the best providers in this category please check Top web hosting providers article. But having a product / service to resell, a website, but not enough traffic, might attract some other costs if you need to succeed, such as for marketing. If you also decide to go ahead with this you can read this article about “Making effective online advertising”.

These kind of white label or private label solutions are offered mainly by web hosting providers and travel services providers, but many other online merchants from other industries have started to use these kind of solutions as an alternative to affiliate programs.

I have compiled a list of such providers from various markets, some of them even tested personally, that you could browse and test, or eventually use to start your online business with minimum costs. Check the white label affiliate programs list here.

If you know any other solutions not listed there that in your opinion worth used, please contact me using the Contact form or just leave a comment to this article. I will review it and add it to the list so others can take advantage of these good business opportunities.