Thread

Hello!  I’m looking to build a business based on a Software as a Service model. I’m researching my options and I’m impressed with what EE offers. I realize you’re commercial and not open source so there are limitations. My plan is to provide a multi-site CMS to the customer, custom configured to their needs. Is this something I would be able to pursue within the bounds of your license?  I would not be changing the source code as all configuration would be done via plugins/modules and the default admin UI and all branding for EE would be left intact.

Each customer would have a unique, licensed installation of EE- though multiple sites for the given customer might be run off of their installation- correct?

If that’s the case, it sounds like EE would be a great fit.

What wouldn’t fit our license is to run multiple customers off of a single installation.  That’s more in line with the prohibited ‘hosted blog service’ idea.

Does that help?

Exactly, each customer would purchase a unique license and if they’re running multiple sites it would require the multi-site plugin you provide.

To simplify the process for the customer we would probably want to purchase the licenses on their behalf and then pass on the cost so hopefully there are no problems there?

Is there any potential for a volume discount?

Hi, bcamp - that’s fine, and many of our Pro Network members do similar.

Each software purchase you make on the same expressionengine.com account is logged so that as you meet milestones as indicated below you will automatically receive the discount. The discount plan is cumulative, allowing you to purchase what you need today and still receive a discount when you meet any of the milestones at a later date. Please note that the volume discount plan only applies to ExpressionEngine and ExpressionEngine module purchases. It does not apply to installation services or 30-day demo sign-ups.

Volume Discount Milestones:

3+ purchases, 10% off
6+ purchases, 15% off
10+ purchases, 20% off
15+ purchases, 25% off
20+ purchases, 30% off
30+ purchases, 40% off
40+ purchases, 50% off

Yes- EE has a pretty nice volume discount setup- you’ll see a link to it on the purchase page.  Let’s see if I can paste w/out mucking the format:

3+ copies     10% off
6+ copies     15% off
10+ copies     20% off
15+ copies     25% off
20+ copies     30% off
30+ copies     40% off
40+ copies     50% off

You can purchase and then transfer the license to your client.  Other folks prefer to hang on to it.  Others prefer to have the client make the purchase themself.  Pros/cons to the different approaches.  But yep- one company I work with does everything from setup to hosting to data entry- I don’t think the clients even know they’re using EE, because they only ever see the frontend.  (Of course- branding must remain in the backend- but they don’t have backend access.)  Lots of variety in how EE is used!

Excellent! Thank you both for your time, it’s been very helpful!

(Of course- branding must remain in the backend- but they don’t have backend access.)  Lots of variety in how EE is used!

Do you sell a version that does allow white-labeling the backend?

(Of course- branding must remain in the backend- but they don’t have backend access.)  Lots of variety in how EE is used!

Do you sell a version that does allow white-labeling the backend?

No. We’re very firm on this. EE cannot be white-labeled, private labeled, etc… This is our intellectual property and we have zero interest in letting third parties pass it off as theirs.