Reseller, dropshipping, affiliate or wholesale: which platform should you actually build?
The four models differ in who holds stock, who sets the selling price, who talks to the customer and who gets paid when. Here is a plain comparison from the platform owner's side, and what each one needs in software.
- Reseller model: master catalog
- Reseller model: own selling price
- Dropshipping model: branded stores
- Dropshipping model: blind shipping
- Affiliate model: fixed commission
A reseller sells a supplier's products at their own price without buying stock, a dropshipper runs a store where the supplier ships directly to the customer, an affiliate only refers buyers for a fixed commission, and a wholesale buyer pays upfront for bulk stock. In Bangladesh, reseller and dropshipping platforms usually work the same way: the platform owner holds stock, resellers sell, and the owner ships cash on delivery. EOMS BD builds reseller, dropshipping and wholesale (B2B) platforms for Bangladeshi importers, wholesalers and entrepreneurs, with the right order, pricing and payout rules for each model.
রিসেলার, ড্রপশিপিং ও পাইকারি ব্যবসার পার্থক্য
রিসেলার স্টক না কিনে সাপ্লায়ারের পণ্য নিজের দামে বিক্রি করেন, ড্রপশিপারের অর্ডার সাপ্লায়ার সরাসরি কাস্টমারকে পাঠায়, অ্যাফিলিয়েট শুধু রেফার করে নির্দিষ্ট কমিশন পান, আর পাইকারি ক্রেতা আগে টাকা দিয়ে একসাথে বেশি পণ্য কেনেন। বাংলাদেশে রিসেলার ও ড্রপশিপিং প্ল্যাটফর্ম সাধারণত একইভাবে চলে। EOMS BD প্রতিটি মডেলের জন্য আলাদা নিয়মসহ প্ল্যাটফর্ম তৈরি করে। ড্রপশিপিং ও রিসেলিং কী, তা বিস্তারিত জানতে আমাদের বাংলা গাইড দেখুন।
Where platform owners mix up the models
Most confusion is not about words but about money flow. If you pick the wrong model, you build the wrong checkout, the wrong price rules and the wrong payout system.
Reseller and dropshipper used as one word
In Bangladesh the two terms are used almost interchangeably. Globally, a dropshipper owns a store and pays the supplier per order; locally, a reseller usually never pays anything until profit is credited.
Affiliate links mistaken for reselling
An affiliate shares a link and earns a fixed commission set by you. A reseller sets their own price and owns the customer conversation. The software for each is different.
Wholesale treated like retail
Wholesale buyers want tier pricing, minimum order quantity, advance payment and invoices. A retail-style store with one price per product does not serve them.
Distributor rights confused with reselling
A distributor usually holds stock for a brand in a territory and supplies shops. A reseller does not need territory rights, which changes your contracts and pricing.
See how one reseller order moves
Watch the five steps of a typical Bangladeshi reseller or dropshipping order: the reseller receives an order, it is sent to the admin, the admin packs it and books a courier, profit is credited after delivery, and the reseller withdraws it. Data in the demo is sample only.
- Reseller model: master catalog
- Reseller model: own selling price
- Dropshipping model: branded stores
- Dropshipping model: blind shipping
Both the reseller and the admin see every step in their panel.
Everything your website will do
Reseller model: master catalog
You upload verified products once; resellers add them to their own store in one click, with stock and base price kept in sync.
Reseller model: own selling price
Each reseller sets a selling price above your base price, and the platform calculates their profit per order automatically.
Dropshipping model: branded stores
Every seller gets a branded store on a subdomain or custom domain, with their own orders and customers kept private from others.
Dropshipping model: blind shipping
You pack and send parcels in the seller's store name through Steadfast, Pathao, CarryBee or other couriers via API, with tracking and COD.
Affiliate model: fixed commission
Referral links and coupon codes track sales, and you set the commission per product or category. The affiliate never touches pricing.
Wholesale model: tier pricing
Price slabs by quantity, minimum order quantity, approved-buyer accounts and invoices suit shops and retailers buying in bulk.
Wallet and payouts
Reseller profit or affiliate commission is credited after successful delivery and withdrawn through bKash, Nagad or bank, with full history.
One report for every model
See sales, revenue, dues, returns and profit by reseller, affiliate or wholesale buyer, and export to Excel.
From first call to launch in 5 steps
Choose the model
In a free consultation we map your stock, suppliers and buyers to reseller, dropshipping, affiliate, wholesale or a mix of them.
Define money rules
We write down base prices, margin limits, delivery charges, return charges and when profit or commission becomes withdrawable.
Build the platform
We build the catalog, stores, order flow, courier and payment integrations on Laravel and Next.js, with an optional Android and iOS app.
Test with real orders
We run sample orders through every step, including returns and withdrawals, then train your team to manage resellers and buyers.
Launch and support
We go live on your domain and hosting, then give 6 months of free support and 1 year of free bug fixing.
Reseller vs dropshipping vs wholesale at a glance
| Question | Reseller / dropshipper (Bangladesh style) | Wholesale buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the stock? | Platform owner or supplier | The buyer, after paying |
| Money needed to start selling | Usually none for stock; time and ad spend still needed | Advance payment for bulk stock |
| Who sets the retail price? | The reseller, above the base price | The buyer, in their own shop |
| Who ships to the end customer? | Platform owner via courier, often COD | The buyer ships or sells over the counter |
| When is the seller paid? | Profit credited after successful delivery | Profit made when the stock is resold |
| Platform the owner needs | Reseller or dropshipping platform with wallet | B2B wholesale portal with tier pricing |
Frequently asked questions
A reseller sells someone else's products under their own price and usually their own page or store, while a dropshipper runs a store where the supplier ships each order directly to the customer. In Bangladesh the two usually work the same way: the reseller collects the order, the platform owner ships it cash on delivery, and profit is credited after delivery. The difference matters mostly for how payment flows, which EOMS BD sets up for your model.
Offer affiliate if you want people to promote your own store at your fixed price for a commission. Offer reselling if you want people to run their own stores and set their own prices. Many platforms offer both. Affiliate is simpler to manage; reselling usually gives sellers more reason to put in effort because they control their margin.
Neither is better in general. Wholesale gives you advance payment and larger orders but fewer buyers. Dropshipping or reselling gives you many small sellers and retail-size orders, but you handle packing, courier, COD and returns. Many importers run both from one platform, with separate price lists for resellers and wholesale buyers.
A distributor usually buys stock, has territory or brand rights and supplies shops, so you need contracts and credit terms. A reseller does not buy stock and does not need exclusive rights. A reseller platform is software-led; a distributor network is more about stock allocation and dues tracking, which EOMS BD can also build.
EOMS BD has a separate Bangla guide on the dropshipping and reseller business in Bangladesh at eomsbd.com/dropshipping-reseller-business-bangladesh. This page focuses on comparing the models and choosing which platform to build.
A reseller, dropshipping or wholesale platform typically takes 4 to 8 weeks, depending on modules such as a supplier panel, mobile app, team commission or multiple price lists. We confirm the timeline after the discovery meeting.
Yes, 100%. The domain, hosting, source code and database belong to you. You can move or extend the platform with any developer later.
Build the complete system
Not sure which model fits your stock?
Book a free consultation with EOMS BD. Tell us what you sell and who your buyers are, and we will suggest the model and show a free demo. Call or WhatsApp +880 1784-222255.
+880 1784-222255info@eomsbd.com · Dhaka, Bangladesh