To become a Salesforce partner, sign up through the Salesforce Partner Community and choose a track. Firms that implement Salesforce for customers join the Consulting Track. Companies that build and sell apps or AI agents on the platform join the ISV track and distribute through AgentExchange. Salesforce doesn't run a public affiliate program on the page we list, so if you only want to refer, this isn't really the program for you.
That last point matters. A lot of people search "Salesforce partnership" hoping for a referral link and a commission. Salesforce partnership is about building or implementing on the platform. It's a bigger commitment, and it can be a much bigger business.
PartnersWatch isn't affiliated with Salesforce. What follows comes from Salesforce's "become a partner" page as listed in our directory, last checked October 2026. Salesforce doesn't publish tier criteria or margins there, so we don't quote any.
The two Salesforce partner tracks
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce | Integrator / MSP, Agency | On request | — |
| Consulting Track | ISV track | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Firms that implement Salesforce for customers | Companies building apps and agents on Salesforce |
| What you sell | Services: implementation, integration, managed services | Your own product, listed on AgentExchange |
| How you earn | Project fees and retainers | Subscriptions to your app or agent |
| What Salesforce gives you | Consulting Track tools and resources | AgentExchange distribution |
| Where you join | Partner Community | Partner Community |
Both tracks get access to Salesforce's customer base and partner benefits. The full listing is on the Salesforce Partner Program page.
The Consulting Track (implementation partners)
This is the "Salesforce consulting partner" path. You're a firm, from a two-person boutique to a global systems integrator, that customers hire to set up, customize and run Salesforce.
What to prepare before you apply
- Certified people. Salesforce consulting runs on certifications. Clients ask for them and so does Salesforce. Get your consultants certified before you apply; it's the first thing anyone checks.
- A specialism. Generalist Salesforce shops compete on price against huge firms. Pick a cloud, an industry or a problem (nonprofit fundraising, manufacturing CPQ, healthcare service) and own it.
- Delivery evidence. Projects you've delivered, even as a subcontractor, with outcomes the client will vouch for.
- A plan for where clients come from. Partner status helps, but early-stage consulting partners still win most work through their own network and other partners.
How the money really works
Consulting partners make money on services. Salesforce licenses are sold by Salesforce or its resellers, and your margin is your billable work. Partner benefits help you win and deliver that work. They don't replace it.
A pattern that works for small firms: subcontract for a larger partner for a while. You get delivery experience, certifications on live projects and references, without spending on sales before you have a name.
The ISV track (building on the platform)
If you build software, the ISV track gets your app or AI agent onto AgentExchange, where Salesforce customers look for add-ons. Distribution is the main benefit, and it's a serious one. Salesforce customers already have budget and an admin who installs things.
Before committing, check:
- Fit with how Salesforce customers buy. Enterprise buyers expect security reviews, admin-friendly setup and support.
- Your build and review timeline. Getting listed takes engineering and review time. Plan for it.
- Whether you need Salesforce at all. If your product works just as well as a standalone SaaS with a CRM integration, look at whether a technology partnership with several CRMs gets you further than a single platform.
Applying, step by step
- Decide your track first. Services firm or software company. If you're both, start with the side that brings in revenue today and add the other later.
- Create your Partner Community account from the signup link on the listing. Use a company domain email, not a personal one.
- Complete the company profile in full. Specialisms, industries, regions and team size. Customers and Salesforce's partner team both read it.
- Get certifications moving in parallel. Don't wait for approval to start training. Certified people are what make a consulting practice credible.
- Line up your first references. A delivered project, a subcontracting engagement or a pilot with a friendly customer. You'll want them the moment someone from Salesforce asks what you've done.
- For ISVs, scope the listing work early. Security review, packaging and support documentation take longer than the product demo suggests.
None of this needs a big budget. It needs a specialism and people who can deliver, and both take time to build.
No affiliate program? Here's what to do instead
If you write about CRMs and want commission, Salesforce's partner program isn't built for you. Other CRM vendors in our directory do pay referrals:
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipedrive | Affiliate | 20% revenue share for first 12 months (Rising); 30% (Growth, 2-5 sales/month for 6 months); custom (Power, 6+ sales/month) | Recurring |
| Close | Affiliate, Agency, Integrator / MSP | 30% of first-year revenue | Revenue share |
| HubSpot | Affiliate | 30% recurring commission for up to one year (up to $1,000+ per sale); custom commission at Elite tier | Recurring |
| Zoho | Reseller, Distributor, Integrator / MSP | On request | — |
| Freshworks | Reseller, Integrator / MSP, Affiliate | On request | — |
| Keap | Agency, Affiliate, Referral partner | Up to 30% recurring for certified partners | Recurring |
- HubSpot pays 30% recurring for up to one year (up to $1,000+ per sale), with a 180-day cookie. See how to become a HubSpot partner.
- Pipedrive pays 20% of a customer's first 12 months at its entry tier and 30% at its Growth tier, with a 90-day cookie.
- Close pays 30% of first-year revenue.
- Zoho runs six tracks, including an affiliate track for publishers, agencies and hosting providers.
- Freshworks has reseller, technology, strategic and affiliate partnerships.
Other platforms Salesforce consultancies add
Most Salesforce firms end up working across the stack, because their clients do. These programs come up often alongside Salesforce work:
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlassian | Integrator / MSP, Reseller, Agency | On request | — |
| Zendesk | Reseller, Referral partner, Integrator / MSP | Recurring resale revenue with partner discounts; rewards for referrals (amounts not listed) | Revenue share |
| Intercom | Agency, Integrator / MSP, Referral partner | Commission on referred clients (rate not stated) | — |
| Twilio | Integrator / MSP, Agency | On request | — |
| MongoDB | Integrator / MSP, Reseller | On request | — |
| Google Cloud | Reseller, Integrator / MSP, Agency | On request | — |
Zendesk offers recurring resale revenue with partner discounts. Intercom pays commission on referred clients and asks for an application, intro call and signed agreement. Atlassian has Solution and Marketplace partner paths. For a broader comparison of service-partner programs, see agency partner programs and SaaS reseller programs.
Mistakes Salesforce partners make
- Applying before anyone is certified. It slows everything down and weakens your first impression.
- Being "a Salesforce partner" with no specialism. Customers hire for a problem, not a logo.
- Expecting leads to arrive. Partner status makes you credible. It doesn't fill your pipeline.
- Building an ISV app that's really a feature. If Salesforce or a large ISV can ship it next quarter, think again.
For the basics of getting accepted into any partner program, read how to join a partner program.
FAQ
How do I become a Salesforce partner?
Sign up through the Salesforce Partner Community and choose a track. Implementation firms join the Consulting Track, and companies building apps or agents join the ISV track and list on AgentExchange.
What is a Salesforce consulting partner?
It's a firm on Salesforce's Consulting Track that implements, customizes and supports Salesforce for customers. It earns from its own services and uses Salesforce's consulting tools and resources.
Does Salesforce have an affiliate program?
Salesforce's partner page, as listed in our directory, covers the ISV and Consulting tracks and no public affiliate track. For CRM referral commission, look at HubSpot, Pipedrive, Close or Zoho.
What is the Salesforce ISV partner program?
It's the track for companies that build apps and AI agents on Salesforce and sell them through AgentExchange to Salesforce customers.
How much does it cost to become a Salesforce partner?
Salesforce doesn't publish partner fees on the page we list. Check the Partner Community at signup. The bigger costs are certifications and, for ISVs, engineering and review time.
What is AgentExchange?
It's Salesforce's marketplace where ISV partners distribute apps and AI agents to Salesforce customers.
Is a Salesforce partnership worth it for a small agency?
Yes, if you specialize and get certified. Many small firms start by subcontracting for larger partners to build experience and references before selling directly.