If you’ve ever worked in software as a customer or as an insider, you probably know how much white-label software has grown. In fact, it’s become increasingly common for businesses to launch with white-label software. But what is white-label software, and why would you want to use it to launch your own business? Here are the ABCs of launching your company with white label software.
What is white-label software?
White label software is software that is branded for a specific company, but it is not built from scratch. That’s why it’s also known as “off-the-shelf software.” The idea is that one business, or one product, could sell to many different companies. You could think of it as software you buy “in bulk” from one vendor. If you’ve ever worked in software, you know that building products from scratch is a lengthy process. The idea behind white label software is that software companies can build one product and then customize it for a wide variety of clients. It’s a common practice in industries like HR, payroll, sales, order management, and customer service. And, white label software is becoming more and more common in other industries, like marketing and eCommerce.
Why would you use white-label software to launch your business?
- You can get a product quickly to market. When you buy an off-the-shelf product, it’s already been through the design and testing process. That means that you can get your product to market much faster than if you built it from scratch. In fact, many businesses launch their operations while they’re building their original software. That’s because white label software can be operational right away. - You can scale up faster. It’s also easier to scale up if you have white label software. That’s because someone else has done all the work of building the software. You don’t have to hire a development team, or have your engineers do the extra work. That’s especially important if you’re launching a business with limited capital. And, if you’re building your own software from scratch, you won’t be able to scale up as quickly. - You know what you’re getting. You know what you’re getting with white label software. There’s no guesswork. You know how it’s been tested. You know how it works. You know how much it costs. And, you know what sources you’ll need to run the software. That makes it easier to plan your budget and timelines. - You can avoid big mistakes that cost you time and money. When you build software from scratch, you risk making mistakes that could cost you a lot of time and money. There’s always a chance that you don’t have the right expertise. And even if you do have experience, you might make a mistake anyway. That’s why even if you have the best engineers in the world, they might make a mistake that could cost your company millions.
How does white-label software help you launch your business?
- You can start with a proven technology that has a strong customer base. Many of the vendors in the white label space have been around for a long time. And, they’ve built strong relationships with their clients. In many cases, those clients are happy to recommend the products. That’s because they’ve already seen the value. You can also look at the customer base to see what kinds of companies are using the software. That gives you an idea of the types of customers you might want to target. - Your product probably won’t be your differentiator. One of the big advantages of white label software is that you don’t want to focus on the product. That’s because your customers might not want to buy from you because of the product. They might want to buy from you because of their relationship with you. That’s much easier to do if you’re not tied to a specific product. - You have more options when you partner with a vendor. When you work with a vendor, you have more options. There are decisions that you have to make as a business owner. You might have to decide whether to buy the product as is, or whether to have it customized. You also have to decide whether you want to build the product from scratch, or buy it as a white label product.
How to find the right white-label software for your business?
- Look at the vendor’s customer base. One of the best ways to evaluate white label software is to look at its customer base. Find out how the customers use the software, and how they benefit from it. You can also talk to the vendor to get more information about the customer base. That will give you a better idea of how the software could work for you. - Choose a vendor that has a flexible product. You want to find a vendor that has a flexible product. You don’t want to be locked into a rigid product that doesn’t meet your needs. Some vendors will be more flexible than others, so you need to do the research. - Get recommendations. You can also ask your network for recommendations. There are lots of places you can do this, including LinkedIn. You could also talk to your accountant and lawyer. - Understand your budget. You also need to understand your budget. You can’t just pick any product and decide to buy it. You need to get enough value from your software to make your investment worthwhile. - Consider your timeline. You also need to consider your timeline. You may want to buy a product that will be ready to deploy in six months. Or, you may want to buy a product that you can start using right away.
The risks of using White Label Software to launch a business.
- You might not get the results you want. You may not get the results you want if you don’t understand your customer base. You may also fall behind if you don’t have the right team in place to make decisions. - You might have to re-brand the software. You may have to re-brand the software if you decide to switch vendors. You may also have to re-engineer the product if you want to make major changes. - The vendor may change the product. If you buy a white label product, the vendor may decide to change the product. In a worst-case scenario, the vendor could shut down and take the product with them. That could leave you with no product to use and no way to get it again. - You may not be able to scale the product the way you want. You may not be able to scale the product the way you want if you buy a white label product. In some cases, it’s very hard or nearly impossible to make changes. - You may lose control of your brand. You could also lose control of your brand if you don’t have a strong contract. Your vendor may have the right to re-brand the software, or change the name. - You won’t have the same level of support. You also won’t have the same level of support that you would get if you built the product yourself. That can be a big disadvantage if you have issues, or if you have to scale up quickly.
Conclusion
White label software is a great way to launch your business. It’s quicker and easier than building your own software. It’s also cheaper, and it’s less risky. You can also find an off-the-shelf solution that fits your needs perfectly. You just have to do the research to find the right vendor.