Indirect channel partner program
Target the intermediaries (accountants, agencies, consultants) who influence your end users' buying decisions instead of selling directly to end users.
Why this can grow a startup
Most SaaS founders default to selling directly to the person who uses the product. But in many industries, a trusted intermediary (accountant, agency, consultant) controls the buying decision. By making that intermediary your distribution partner with mutual incentives, you tap into their existing client base at near-zero CAC. The partner gets a better tool to recommend, and you get a pre-sold customer who trusts the recommendation.
Source-backed example
Xero targeted accountants and bookkeepers with a partner program instead of marketing to small business owners directly, and this channel accounted for over 90% of paid memberships in New Zealand and Australia by 2016.
Source-reported evidence
Source: madx.digital · Browse madx.digital tactics
90% of paid memberships in New Zealand and
Attributed to the cited source; GrowthDex has not independently verified it. Use this as context, not as a forecast, benchmark, or recommended target.
Evidence scope: claims and metrics are attributed to the linked source; GrowthDex has not independently replicated the reported result. Check the original context and validate fit before applying it. Read the evidence methodology.
Source discovered: March 20, 2026
When to use it
Use this when Partnerships is relevant to 0-100, 100-1K and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.
When not to use it
Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.
How to do it
- Choose one target segment and define the exact next action this tactic should prompt.
- Adapt the tactic to Partnerships, using evidence from madx.digital as context—not as a promised result.
- Record a baseline for: Partner-referred users who reach the activation milestone. Set a guardrail that would make you pause the test.
- Run a narrow pilot and choose a test window that fits the normal decision or use cycle; do not scale before you have observed the full cycle.
- Compare the signal with its baseline. Scale only if the intended action improves without crossing the guardrail; otherwise revise one variable or stop and record what you learned.
Compare a stack for your situation
Compare source-backed tactics against your product, stage, budget and channel strengths, then choose one experiment to test.
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Apply this with an operator
Choose the first market, local proof, partners, and distribution sequence with operator context.
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