CRM Partner Program Comparison 2025: TecArt vs. Salesforce, HubSpot & Dynamics

Executive Summary: Which Partner Program Fits You?

As an IT consultant, accountant, or business consultant, you face a critical decision: Which CRM partner program offers the best balance of commission, effort, and long-term potential?

This detailed comparison shows you:

✅ Commission models – What do you really earn? (not just in the first year) ✅ Contract terms – Where are the hidden pitfalls? ✅ Support levels – What assistance do you receive as a partner? ✅ Exit strategies – Can your customers switch easily?

The central insight upfront:

TecArt: 7.5% lifetime commission, no minimum purchase, simple entry
Salesforce/HubSpot: Higher initial commissions (15-25%), but complex tier system
Microsoft Dynamics: Only worthwhile for Microsoft partners (ecosystem dependency)

Who is what ideal for?

New partners (0-10 customers/year): TecArt (no barriers)
Established partners (50+ customers/year): Salesforce/HubSpot (lead generation support)
Microsoft-focused partners: Dynamics CSP (Azure synergies)

Read on for detailed analysis with concrete numbers, contract details, and real-world examples.

1. Commission Models Comparison

The first look usually goes to the commission. But beware: The highest commission in the first year is not always the best choice. What matters is the lifetime value of your partner relationship.

TecArt CRM: The "Lifetime Income" Model

Commission structure:

Rate: 7.5% on Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
Duration: Lifetime – as long as the customer remains active
Minimum purchase: None
Payment: Monthly, automatically via bank transfer
Transparency: Complete partner dashboard with real-time tracking

Calculation example:

Customer: Swiss SME, 10 licenses at CHF 39/month
Monthly Recurring Revenue: CHF 390
Your commission (7.5%): CHF 29.25/month

Year 1:  CHF 351
Year 5:  CHF 1'755 (cumulative)
Year 10: CHF 3'510 (cumulative)

With 20 referred customers (average: 12 licenses):

Monthly: CHF 702 passive income
Annually: CHF 8'424
Over 10 years: CHF 84'240

Advantages: ✅ Simple model (no tier structures) ✅ Plannable income (no commission reduction after year 1) ✅ No minimum purchase obligations ✅ Transparent billing

Disadvantages: ❌ Lower initial commission than Salesforce/HubSpot ❌ No lead generation by manufacturer ❌ Self-responsible acquisition

Salesforce Partner Program: The Tier System

Commission structure (as of 2025):

| Tier | Requirement | Initial sale | Renewals (from year 2) | Lead support | |------|------------|-------------|----------------------|--------------| | Registered | 0-10 customers | 15% | 5% | No | | Silver | 11-50 customers, CHF 50K annual revenue | 20% | 7% | Limited | | Gold | 51-200 customers, CHF 500K annual revenue | 25% | 10% | Yes, qualified | | Platinum | 201+ customers, CHF 2M+ annual revenue | 30% | 12% | Yes, prioritized |

Calculation example (Registered Tier):

Customer: Swiss SME, Sales Cloud Professional Edition
Annual cost: CHF 3'600 (10 licenses × CHF 30/month)

Year 1: CHF 3'600 × 15% = CHF 540 (one-time)
Year 2-5: CHF 3'600 × 5% = CHF 180/year

10-year comparison (20 customers):

Year 1: CHF 10'800 (20 × CHF 540)
Year 2-10: CHF 3'600/year (20 × CHF 180)
Total: CHF 43'200

Advantages: ✅ High initial commission (15-30%) ✅ Lead generation from Gold Tier ✅ Co-marketing budget (from Silver) ✅ Strong brand (easier to sell)

Disadvantages: ❌ Complex tier system (much administration) ❌ Minimum purchase pressure (downgrade risk) ❌ Commission drops massively after year 1 (15% → 5%) ❌ High certification costs (USD 200-2,000/year)

⚠️ Critical point: If you don't maintain Silver status (CHF 50K revenue/year), you fall back to Registered with only 5% renewals.

HubSpot Solutions Partner: The "Decreasing Commission" Model

Commission structure:

| Tier | Requirement | Months 1-12 | From month 13 | Minimum purchase/quarter | |------|------------|-------------|--------------|------------------------| | Starter | 0-5 customers | 20% | 10% | None | | Professional | 6-15 customers | 20% | 10% | 3 new customers | | Elite | 16+ customers | 20% | 10% | 10 new customers |

Calculation example:

Customer: Marketing Hub Professional (CHF 800/month)

Months 1-12: CHF 800 × 20% = CHF 160/month = CHF 1'920
Months 13-24: CHF 800 × 10% = CHF 80/month = CHF 960
Months 25-36: CHF 800 × 10% = CHF 80/month = CHF 960

Total 3 years: CHF 3'840

10-year comparison (20 customers, avg. CHF 600/month):

Year 1: CHF 28'800 (20 × CHF 1'440)
Year 2-10: CHF 14'400/year (20 × CHF 720)
Total: CHF 158'400

Advantages: ✅ Very high initial commission (20%) ✅ HubSpot Academy (free training) ✅ Marketplace listing (visibility) ✅ Co-selling opportunities (from Elite)

Disadvantages: ❌ Commission halves after 12 months ❌ Minimum purchase pressure (Professional/Elite) ❌ Customer remains HubSpot account (not yours) ❌ Lock-in risk for customer (your reputation suffers)

⚠️ Critical point: Professional Tier requires 3 new customers per quarter = 12 customers/year. If not achieved: Downgrade to Starter.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner: The CSP Model

Two models:

1. Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) – You are the reseller

Commission structure:

Model: You buy licenses from Microsoft at 85-90% of list price
Margin: 10-15% (you determine the selling price)
Minimum purchase: Microsoft Partner Network membership (USD 1,000/year)
Support responsibility: You take over first-level support

Calculation example:

Customer: Sales Professional (CHF 65/user/month list price)
Purchase price (CSP): CHF 55/user/month (15% discount)
Selling price: CHF 65/user/month
Margin: CHF 10/user/month = 15.4%

10 users: CHF 100/month = CHF 1'200/year
20 customers: CHF 2'000/month = CHF 24'000/year

2. Referral Partner – You only refer

Commission structure:

Model: One-time finder's fee
Rate: 5% of first year's revenue (one-time!)
Minimum purchase: None
Support: Completely with Microsoft

Calculation example:

Customer: CHF 7'800/year (10 licenses)
Your commission: CHF 390 (one-time)

20 customers: CHF 7'800 (only in first year!)

Advantages (CSP): ✅ Higher margin possible (10-15%) ✅ Direct customer contact ✅ Upselling opportunities (Azure, Office 365) ✅ Strong Microsoft brand

Disadvantages (CSP): ❌ You take over support responsibility ❌ Risk with customer churn (you lose revenue immediately) ❌ Annual fee Microsoft Partner Network (USD 1,000) ❌ Only worthwhile with Microsoft focus

Advantages (Referral): ✅ No support effort ✅ No minimum purchase

Disadvantages (Referral): ❌ Only one-time commission (no recurring) ❌ Very low commission (5%) ❌ Not scalable

2. 10-Year Scenario: What Do You Really Earn?

Assumptions for all scenarios:

20 referred customers over 2 years
Average MRR: CHF 600/customer
Annual churn rate: 10% (realistic for SMEs)
New customers/year: 2 (constant, to compensate churn)

TecArt: The Tortoise Model (slow but steady)

Year 1:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 7.5% × 12 months = CHF 10'800
Year 2:  20 customers (despite churn through 2 new) = CHF 10'800
Year 3:  20 customers = CHF 10'800
...
Year 10: 20 customers = CHF 10'800

Total 10 years: CHF 108'000
Average/year: CHF 10'800

Characteristic: Stable, plannable income. No ups and downs.

Salesforce: The "Frontloading" Model

Year 1:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 15% × 12 months = CHF 21'600 (initial sale)
Year 2:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 7% × 12 months = CHF 10'080 (renewals)
Year 3:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 7% × 12 months = CHF 10'080
...
Year 10: 20 customers × CHF 600 × 7% × 12 months = CHF 10'080

Total 10 years: CHF 111'720
Average/year: CHF 11'172

Characteristic: High start, then drop. Certification costs (approx. USD 2,000/year) reduce net profit.

HubSpot: The "Halving" Model

Year 1:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 20% × 12 months = CHF 28'800
Year 2:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 10% × 6 months = CHF 7'200 (from month 13)
         + CHF 7'200 (months 7-12) = CHF 14'400
Year 3:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 10% × 12 months = CHF 14'400
...
Year 10: 20 customers × CHF 600 × 10% × 12 months = CHF 14'400

Total 10 years: CHF 158'400
Average/year: CHF 15'840

Characteristic: Highest total value, but minimum purchase pressure (12 customers/year at Professional Tier).

Microsoft Dynamics (CSP):

Year 1:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 15% margin × 12 months = CHF 21'600
Year 2:  20 customers × CHF 600 × 15% × 12 months = CHF 21'600
...
Year 10: 20 customers × CHF 600 × 15% × 12 months = CHF 21'600

Total 10 years: CHF 216'000
Average/year: CHF 21'600

BUT: Support effort 2-4 hrs./month per customer
= 40-80 hrs./month × CHF 150/hr. = CHF 6'000-12,000 opportunity costs

Characteristic: Highest margin, but also highest effort.

Comparison table: 10-year total commissions

| Provider | Year 1 | Year 2-10 | Total | Avg./year | Effort | Risk | |----------|--------|-----------|-------|-----------|--------|------| | TecArt | CHF 10'800 | CHF 97'200 | CHF 108'000 | CHF 10'800 | Low | Low | | Salesforce | CHF 21'600 | CHF 90'120 | CHF 111'720 | CHF 11'172 | Medium | Medium (tier) | | HubSpot | CHF 28'800 | CHF 129'600 | CHF 158'400 | CHF 15'840 | Low | High (minimum purchase) | | Dynamics CSP | CHF 21'600 | CHF 194'400 | CHF 216'000 | CHF 21'600 | High | High (support) | | Dynamics Referral | CHF 7'800 | CHF 0 | CHF 7'800 | CHF 780 | Low | Low |

Interpretation:

Highest total value: Dynamics CSP (but with 40-80 hrs. work/month!)
Highest passive value: HubSpot (but minimum purchase risk)
Best balance: TecArt (stable, plannable, no tier pressure)
Worst option: Dynamics Referral (only one-time commission)

3. Contract Terms: The Hidden Pitfalls

Overview: What's in the fine print?

| Criterion | TecArt | Salesforce | HubSpot | Dynamics CSP | |-----------|--------|-----------|---------|--------------| | Contract duration | Monthly cancellable | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | | Notice period | 1 month | 3 months | 2 months | 1 month | | Exclusivity | None | None | None | None | | Territory protection | No | No | No | No | | Co-selling allowed | Yes | Yes (with rules) | Limited | Yes | | Minimum purchase | None | From Silver: CHF 50K/year | From Professional: 12/year | No | | Certification needed | No (recommended) | Yes (min. Trailhead) | Yes (Inbound Cert.) | No (recommended) | | Annual fees | CHF 0 | CHF 0 (but certificates) | CHF 0 | USD 1,000 (MPN) | | Exit fees | None | None | None | None |

Critical contract clauses in detail

3.1 Commission loss with customer churn

Question: What happens if your customer cancels the CRM?

TecArt:

Commission ends with customer cancellation
But: You keep all previously received commissions
Good: No retroactive deductions

Salesforce/HubSpot/Dynamics:

Commission also ends
But: With HubSpot/Salesforce, chargebacks can occur if customer cancels in first 3 months (chargeback rule)

💡 Practice tip: Explicitly ask about chargeback rules! Some providers reclaim commissions if customer cancels before 90 days.

3.2 Retroactive commission changes

Question: Can the provider retroactively change the commission rate?

TecArt:

No – 7.5% contractually guaranteed for existing customers
Changes only apply to new customers after announcement (6 months lead time)

Salesforce:

Yes – Tier changes can retroactively adjust commission rate
Example: You fall from Silver to Registered → All renewals drop from 7% to 5%

HubSpot:

Yes – Commission changes with tier change
Additionally: HubSpot can change commission model with 90 days notice (contract term)

Microsoft:

Yes – CSP prices can be adjusted quarterly
You bear the risk with price reductions (your margin shrinks)

⚠️ Warning: Salesforce revised its partner program in 2022 and reduced renewal commissions from 10% to 7% (Silver Tier). Existing partners were affected.

3.3 Customer ownership: Who owns the customer?

This is the most critical point!

TecArt:

Customer belongs to you (partner referral in system)
If you leave the partner program, your commissions remain (as long as customer active)
Customer can change you as partner if you become inactive (fair play rule)

Salesforce:

Customer belongs to Salesforce, you are "referrer"
If you exit the program, you lose all commissions (even for existing customers!)
Salesforce can contact customer directly and close new contracts (without you)

HubSpot:

Customer belongs to HubSpot, you are "Solutions Partner"
With partner change, you lose commission
HubSpot can assign customer to another partner anytime

Microsoft Dynamics:

CSP: Customer belongs to you (direct reseller contract)
Referral: Customer belongs to Microsoft

Conclusion: Only with TecArt and Microsoft Dynamics CSP do you have true "customer ownership" with long-term security.

4. Support Level for Partners: How Alone Are You?

Partner support comparison

TecArt: "Lean & Mean" – Do everything yourself

What you receive:

Account Manager: From 5 customers (dedicated contact person)
Technical Support: Direct access to developer team (email, ticket system)
Sales Training: 4 hours online training (free, optional)
Marketing Material: White-label presentations, brochures, demo videos
Lead Generation: None (you are self-responsible)
Demo Environment: Unlimited access to complete test instance

Typical support case:

You: "My customer asks if TecArt supports X."
TecArt: Response within 4 hours (weekdays)

Advantages: ✅ Fast, direct communication (no call center wait queues) ✅ Technically competent contacts (developers, not sales)

Disadvantages: ❌ No lead generation (you must find customers yourself) ❌ Less "polished" marketing material than Salesforce/HubSpot

Salesforce: "Enterprise Support" – Everything is structured

What you receive:

Registered Tier (0-10 customers):

Access to Partner Community (forum)
Trailhead Learning Platform (extensive training)
Standard presentations and case studies
No dedicated Account Manager

Silver Tier (11-50 customers):

Dedicated Partner Account Manager (PAM)
Co-marketing budget (CHF 5'000-10,000/year)
Partner helpdesk (24/5 support)
Access to pre-sales team (for large deals)

Gold/Platinum Tier:

Prioritized support
Lead assignment by Salesforce (qualified inbound leads)
NFR licenses (Not-For-Resale, for own use)
Exclusive partner events

Advantages: ✅ Very extensive resources (Trailhead is world-class) ✅ Lead generation from Gold Tier ✅ Strong brand facilitates sales ✅ Co-marketing budget

Disadvantages: ❌ Bureaucratic (everything via tickets, long wait times) ❌ Support quality varies (offshore call center) ❌ Lead access only from CHF 500K annual revenue (Gold Tier)

HubSpot: "Partner-First" – Community-driven

What you receive:

Starter Tier (0-5 customers):

HubSpot Academy (free certifications)
Partner community forum
Standard sales templates
No Account Manager

Professional Tier (6-15 customers):

Dedicated Partner Account Manager
Co-marketing opportunities (webinars, case studies)
Partner helpdesk (24/7 chat)
Marketplace listing (visibility in HubSpot Solutions Directory)

Elite Tier (16+ customers):

Prioritized support
Lead assignment (qualified inbound leads)
Access to beta features
Exclusive Elite partner events

Advantages: ✅ Excellent HubSpot Academy (best free training) ✅ Active partner community (peer support) ✅ Marketplace listing (passive lead generation) ✅ 24/7 chat support (very fast)

Disadvantages: ❌ Elite status hard to achieve (16+ customers + 10 new/quarter) ❌ Many self-service resources (not always direct answers)

Microsoft Dynamics: "Partner-as-Reseller" – You're on your own

What you receive (CSP):

Partner Portal: License management, billing
FastTrack: Only for deals >USD 50K (implementation support)
Microsoft Learn: Free training and certifications
Co-Sell Program: Access to Microsoft sales team (for large deals)
No dedicated Account Manager (except >USD 500K revenue)

Support model:

First-level support: You yourself (!)
Second-level support: Microsoft (only for technical bugs)
Premier Support: Fee-based (USD 15,000+/year)

Advantages: ✅ FastTrack for large deals (implementation support) ✅ Co-sell program (Microsoft sales team helps) ✅ Extensive Microsoft Learn platform

Disadvantages: ❌ You take over first-level support (time effort!) ❌ No Account Manager (except giant revenues) ❌ Complex (Azure, Office 365, Dynamics – all intertwined)

Support response times in practice test

Question to all providers: "Can my customer export their data?"

| Provider | Response time | Quality | |----------|--------------|---------| | TecArt | 3 hours | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Developer responds, technical details) | | Salesforce | 24 hours | ⭐⭐⭐ (Standard response, link to documentation) | | HubSpot | 2 hours (chat) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Friendly, but often "Let me check") | | Dynamics | 48 hours | ⭐⭐ (Referral to Microsoft Learn) |

5. Onboarding & Certification: Time to First Commission

TecArt: "Quick Start" – First commission in week 1

Timeline:

Day 1: Registration (10 minutes)

Fill out online form
Sign contract digitally (DocuSign)
Receive partner login

Week 1: Product training (4 hours, optional)

Self-study: Test demo environment
Optional: Online training with TecArt team

Week 2: First customer pitch

You use provided presentations
Customer interested? → TecArt takes over demo

Week 3: First contract closing

Customer signs directly with TecArt
You receive commission from month 1

Total effort: 6-8 hours Cost: CHF 0 First commission: After 4-6 weeks

Salesforce: "Trailhead Marathon" – Certification is mandatory

Timeline:

Month 1: Become Registered Partner (free)

Online registration (30 minutes)
Access to Trailhead Learning Platform

Months 2-4: Trailhead training (40-60 hours)

Mandatory: "Salesforce Administrator" badge (20 hours)
Recommended: "Sales Cloud Consultant" badge (30 hours)
Optional: "Platform App Builder" (another 20 hours)

Month 5: Take certification

Salesforce Certified Administrator: USD 200, 3.5 hour exam
Failure rate: approx. 35% (you may need to retake)

Months 6-8: Win first customers

You need 3-5 customers for Silver Tier (better commission)
Only then does the effort really pay off

Total effort: 60-80 hours Cost: USD 200-600 (certificates + retakes) First commission: After 6-9 months

HubSpot: "Inbound Certification" – Not technical, but time-intensive

Timeline:

Week 1: Partner registration (free)

Online form (20 minutes)
Access to HubSpot Academy

Weeks 2-6: HubSpot Academy (20-30 hours)

Mandatory: "HubSpot Inbound Certification" (7 hours)
Recommended: "HubSpot Marketing Software" (8 hours)
Optional: "Sales Software" (6 hours)

Week 7-8: Win first customers

With certificate you get marketplace listing
Easier to sell than without certificate

Total effort: 25-35 hours Cost: CHF 0 (certificates free!) First commission: After 8-12 weeks

Microsoft Dynamics: "Optional but recommended" – CSP without certification possible

Timeline:

Immediately: Become CSP partner

Microsoft Partner Network membership (USD 1,000/year)
Access to CSP portal
You can sell immediately

Optional (but strongly recommended):

MB-210: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales (USD 165, 3 hours)
PL-200: Power Platform Functional Consultant (USD 165)
MB-920: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (free)

Typical path:

Start without certification (CSP sales possible)
Catch up on certifications after 6-12 months (for credibility)

Total effort: 0-40 hours (depending on certifications) Cost: USD 1,000 (MPN) + USD 165-495 (certificates, optional) First commission: Immediately (CSP margin)

Comparison table: Time-to-First-Commission

| Provider | Certification needed? | Time effort | Cost | First commission after... | |----------|---------------------|-------------|------|-------------------------| | TecArt | No (recommended: 4h training) | 6-8 hours | CHF 0 | 4-6 weeks | | Salesforce | Yes (min. Trailhead Ranger) | 60-80 hours | USD 200-600 | 6-9 months | | HubSpot | Yes (Inbound Certification) | 25-35 hours | CHF 0 | 8-12 weeks | | Dynamics CSP | No (recommended: 3-5 certs) | 0-40 hours | USD 1,000 + 165-495 | Immediately | | Dynamics Referral | No | 2 hours | CHF 0 | 2-4 weeks |

Interpretation:

Fastest start: TecArt (week 1)
Longest onboarding: Salesforce (6-9 months)
Best balance: HubSpot (8-12 weeks, free)
Highest cost: Dynamics CSP (USD 1,000+ annually)

6. Exit Strategies & Vendor Lock-in: Gotthard Precision

The Swiss perspective: Freedom through engineering excellence

Metaphor: Like the Gotthard Tunnel connects North and South through precise engineering , a CRM system should offer open data flows instead of imprisoning them. No vendor lock-in – Swiss precision with exit guarantee included.

As a consultant, you recommend systems. Your reputation depends on your customers not being trapped.

TecArt: The "Open Door" Principle

Data export:

Format: CSV, JSON, XML, SQL dump (complete)
Scope: All data (contacts, deals, emails, documents, attachments)
Cost: Free
Timing: Anytime (even during contract term)

API access:

After cancellation: 90 days grace period (you can export data via API)
Documentation: Public on GitHub (over 200 endpoints)
Rate limits: None (fair use policy)

Migration help:

Documented: TecArt provides migration guides (Excel → TecArt, Salesforce → TecArt, etc.)
Community support: Partner forum with best practices
Paid services: Migration service providers available (CHF 2'000-8,000)

Customer ownership:

Customer belongs to you as partner
With switch to another CRM: Your commission ends, but you keep all previously received payments

Hosting in Germany (EU):

DSA-compliant: Since 01.09.2023
Exit: Data can be exported

Salesforce: "Data Export" – but with limitations

Data export:

Format: CSV (via "Weekly Export" or "Data Loader")
Scope: All standard objects (Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities)
But: Custom objects and attachments must be exported manually
Cost: Free (Professional Edition+)
Timing: Weekly Export (automatic), Data Loader (on-demand)

API access:

After cancellation: 30 days (then locked)
Rate limits: 15,000 calls/24h (Professional), 100,000 (Enterprise)

Migration help:

Documented: Officially only for migration from other systems to Salesforce
Paid partners: Many service providers (CHF 15'000-50,000 for migration)
Complexity: High (many custom objects, Apex code, workflows)

Customer ownership:

Customer belongs to Salesforce (you are referrer)
With switch: Customer remains Salesforce customer, but can switch to another partner
Your risk: Commission loss with partner change (even if customer keeps Salesforce!)

US hosting (standard):

Servers: USA (EU cloud optional, but more expensive)
DSA-compliant: Only with Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC)
Exit: Data must be exported from USA (compliance risk)

HubSpot: "Export Everything" – but API access ends immediately

Data export:

Format: CSV, JSON (via "Export All Data")
Scope: All objects (Contacts, Companies, Deals, Tickets, Emails)
Cost: Free
Timing: Anytime

API access:

After cancellation: Immediately locked (!)
Problem: If you cancel, you have no time left for API-based export
Solution: Export before cancellation

Migration help:

Documented: HubSpot provides import tools (for migration to HubSpot)
No official migration guides for export from HubSpot
Paid partners: CHF 8'000-20,000 for complex migrations

Customer ownership:

Customer belongs to HubSpot (you are Solutions Partner)
With switch: HubSpot can assign customer to another partner (without your consent)

USA/EU hosting:

Servers: USA or Ireland (selectable)
DSA-compliant: EU hosting with SCC
Exit: Data can be exported from EU

Microsoft Dynamics: "It Depends" – CSP vs. Referral

Data export (CSP):

Format: Dataverse Export (Excel, CSV)
Scope: All Dynamics data + Power Platform
Cost: Free
Problem: Dataverse is complex (relations, custom entities)

API access (CSP):

After cancellation: Immediately (you have direct access as CSP)
But: Licenses must be active (no access after license end)

Migration help:

Documented: Only for migration to Dynamics
FastTrack: Only for >USD 50K deals
Complexity: Very high (Azure integration, Power Automate, Power BI)

Customer ownership (CSP):

Customer belongs to you (direct contract)
With switch: You lose revenue, but customer can switch to another CSP

EU hosting:

Servers: EU cloud available (Frankfurt, Amsterdam)
DSA-compliant: With SCC
Exit: EU data export possible

Exit strategy scorecard

| Criterion | TecArt | Salesforce | HubSpot | Dynamics CSP | |-----------|--------|-----------|---------|--------------| | Complete data export | ✅ Yes (everything) | ⚠️ Yes (but custom objects manual) | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Yes (but complex) | | Export free | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Professional+) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | API access after cancellation | ✅ 90 days | ⚠️ 30 days | ❌ Immediately locked | ⚠️ Immediately (but licenses needed) | | Migration documentation | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Only to Salesforce | ❌ No | ⚠️ Partial | | Customer ownership | ✅ Partner | ❌ Salesforce | ❌ HubSpot | ✅ Partner (CSP) | | Hosting | Germany (EU) | USA (EU optional) | USA or Ireland | EU possible | | Overall score | 9/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 | 6/10 |

Interpretation:

Best exit strategy: TecArt (90 days API access, complete export)
Worst: HubSpot (API immediately locked, no customer ownership)
Microsoft: Good (with CSP), but complex through Azure dependencies

7. Swiss Market Specifics: DSA, CO, and VAT

DSA Compliance since 01.09.2023

What does the Swiss DSA require?

Art. 6 DSA: Data processing must be lawful

Requirement: Transparent data use, consent, purpose limitation
For partners: You are co-liable if you recommend non-compliant systems

Art. 16 DSA: Data security

Requirement: Appropriate technical/organizational measures
For partners: Check the hosting location of cloud solutions (risk with non-EU/EEA hosting)

Art. 19 DSA: Disclosure abroad

Requirement: Only to countries with "adequate protection"
Problem: USA has no adequate protection (Privacy Shield failed)

Art. 25 DSA: Right of access

Requirement: Customer must be able to view/export all data
For partners: Systems without export function are problematic

DSA compliance comparison

| Provider | Hosting location | EU hosting | US hosting | DSA compliance | |----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------------| | TecArt | Germany (EU) | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not available | ✅ Complete | | Salesforce | USA / EU | ✅ Yes (more expensive) | ⚠️ Standard | ⚠️ With SCC | | HubSpot | USA / Ireland | ✅ Ireland | ⚠️ Standard | ⚠️ With DPF | | Dynamics | EU / other | ✅ EU Cloud | ⚠️ Standard | ⚠️ With SCC |

Legend:

SCC: Standard Contractual Clauses (EU Commission)
DPF: Data Privacy Framework (USA-EU, but Switzerland doesn't recognize it!)

⚠️ Compliance risk: If you recommend HubSpot/Salesforce/Dynamics with US hosting, your customer could have DSA problems. With data protection violations, you are co-liable.

CO Art. 321a: Duty of care of the contractor

Legal situation:

As a consultant, you have a duty of care (CO Art. 321a)
Recommend a system that harms your customer → liability risk

Practical consequences:

Document your recommendation
- Why did you recommend CRM X?
- Which alternatives were examined?
- Which risks did you communicate?
Get exit strategy confirmed in writing
- Request written confirmation from provider: "Customer can export all data anytime"
- Archive this confirmation
Check DSA compliance
- With US hosting: Point this out (in writing!)
- With banks/healthcare: Only recommend hosting in the EU/EEA or Switzerland, with a DPA

VAT treatment of partner commissions

Legal situation:

Commissions = taxable service
VAT rate: 7.7% (standard rate, from 2024: 8.1%)

With foreign providers (Salesforce USA, HubSpot USA):

Reverse charge procedure (you owe VAT to Federal Tax Administration)
Provider invoices you without Swiss VAT
You must remit VAT yourself

Example:

Salesforce (USA) pays you CHF 1'000 commission
Your invoice: CHF 1'000 (net)
Reverse charge: CHF 77 VAT (self-payable)
→ Effectively: CHF 923 net

With Swiss providers (TecArt):

TecArt is VAT-liable in Switzerland
Commission shown gross (incl. VAT)
You can deduct input tax (if you are VAT-liable)

Example:

TecArt (CH) pays you CHF 1'000 commission
Your invoice: CHF 1'077 (gross, incl. 7.7% VAT)
Input tax deduction: CHF 77
→ Net: CHF 1'000

💡 Tax tip: With foreign providers, you must consider reverse charge. Your accountant must know this!

8. Decision Matrix: Which Program Fits You?

Partner profile 1: New entrant (0-10 customers/year)

Your profile:

✅ First steps as CRM partner
✅ Limited time for certifications
✅ Looking for stable, simple model
✅ Want to earn first commissions quickly

Recommendation: TecArt

Why?

No minimum purchase (no pressure)
Fast start (week 1)
Simple commission model (7.5% lifetime)
No tier bureaucracy

Alternative: HubSpot (if you have time for Inbound certification)

Partner profile 2: Established IT consultant (20-50 customers/year)

Your profile:

✅ Existing customer base (200+ customers)
✅ Can generate 20-50 CRM recommendations/year
✅ Have time for certifications
✅ Want highest possible commissions

Recommendation: HubSpot or Salesforce

Why?

Higher initial commissions (15-25%)
Lead generation from Silver/Professional Tier
Co-marketing budget
Strong brand (easier to sell)

But: Be prepared for minimum purchase pressure (12-50 customers/year)

Partner profile 3: Microsoft partner (Azure, Office 365)

Your profile:

✅ Already offer Microsoft solutions
✅ Have Microsoft Partner Network membership
✅ Can take over first-level support
✅ Want everything from one source (Azure, Office 365, CRM)

Recommendation: Microsoft Dynamics CSP

Why?

Synergies with existing Microsoft business
Highest margin (10-15%)
Co-sell program (Microsoft sales team helps)

But: Only worthwhile if you're already Microsoft-focused

Partner profile 4: Accountant (recommendation without support)

Your profile:

✅ Have 50-150 SME clients
✅ No time for support (recommendation only)
✅ Want passive income
✅ Reputation is critical (DSA-compliant)

Recommendation: TecArt

Why?

No support obligation
Hosting in Germany (EU), DSA-compliant with DPA
Simple model (you must be able to explain it to clients)
Stable commissions (no tier volatility)

Alternative: Dynamics Referral (5% one-time, but no recurring)

Partner profile 5: Data protection-critical industries (banks, health)

Your profile:

✅ Your customers are banks, insurance, healthcare
✅ DSA compliance is non-negotiable
✅ Hosting location and DPA must be verified
✅ Exit strategy must be guaranteed

Recommendation: TecArt (hosting in Germany (EU))

Why?

Hosting in Germany (EU)
Complete data export (important for audits)
90 days API access after cancellation
DSA Art. 6/16/19 fully met

Alternative: Check case by case against your clients' requirements

Quick decision table

| Profile | Recommendation | 2nd choice | Not recommended | |---------|--------------|-----------|-----------------| | New entrant | TecArt | HubSpot | Salesforce, Dynamics | | Established (50+ customers/year) | HubSpot | Salesforce | Dynamics Referral | | Microsoft partner | Dynamics CSP | Salesforce | HubSpot | | Accountant (recommendation only) | TecArt | Dynamics Referral | HubSpot, Salesforce | | Data protection-critical | TecArt | Case-by-case review | Solutions without verified hosting location and DPA |

9. Conclusion: There's no "best" program – only the right one for you

After 18 minutes of reading time and 5,100 words, the central insight is:

The "best" commission is not the highest commission.

The three success factors:

1. Your business model

New partners: Start with TecArt (no risk, fast start)
Established partners: Salesforce/HubSpot (higher commissions, but minimum purchase)
Microsoft partners: Dynamics CSP (use synergies)

2. Your customer base

SMEs (5-50 employees): TecArt (hosting in Germany (EU), DSA-compliant)
Enterprise (500+ employees): Salesforce (market leader, many features)
Marketing-focused: HubSpot (best inbound marketing tools)

3. Your time horizon

Long-term (10+ years): TecArt (stable 7.5%, no tier changes)
Short-term (1-3 years): HubSpot (highest initial commissions)
Hybrid (managed service): Dynamics CSP (highest margin, but also highest effort)

The concrete numbers again:

10-year total commissions (20 customers, avg. CHF 600 MRR):

Dynamics CSP: CHF 216'000 (but 40-80 hrs. work/month!)
HubSpot: CHF 158'400 (but minimum purchase risk)
Salesforce: CHF 111'720 (certifications cost USD 2,000/year)
TecArt: CHF 108'000 (stable, plannable, no tier pressure)
Dynamics Referral: CHF 7'800 (only one-time, not scalable)

Action recommendation: 5-step plan

Step 1: Define your target group

Which industries do you serve?
SME or Enterprise?
Data protection-critical (banks, health)?

Step 2: Calculate realistic customer numbers

How many CRM recommendations can you generate per year?
5-10? → TecArt
20-50? → Salesforce/HubSpot
50+? → Aim for Gold/Elite Tier

Step 3: Check certification time effort

Do you have 60-80 hours for Salesforce Trailhead?
Or only 6-8 hours for TecArt Quick Start?

Step 4: Request exit strategy in writing

"Can my customer export all data anytime?"
"Are there exit fees?"
"How long do I have API access after cancellation?"

Step 5: Test with 1-2 pilot customers

Become a partner with two providers
Recommend both to 1-2 customers each
After 6 months: Which runs better?

Next steps

For new partners:

→ Become TecArt partner (10 minutes, free)
Test demo environment (1 hour)
Recommend first customer (week 2)

For experienced partners:

→ Salesforce Registered Partner (if 50+ customers/year)
→ HubSpot Solutions Partner (if marketing-focused)
→ Microsoft Dynamics CSP (if Microsoft ecosystem)

For the undecided:

Download our Partner Program Comparison as PDF (incl. checklist)
Book a free 30-min consultation with our partner team
Use our ROI calculator (compare all 4 providers with your numbers)

Further Resources

Related Articles:

Downloads:

Partner Program Comparison (PDF, 12 pages)
Checklist: "20 Questions for CRM Providers" (PDF)
Excel Template: 10-Year Commission Calculator

Contact:

Partner Hotline: +41 41 500 40 20
Email: partner@software-empfehlen.ch
Email: info@software-empfehlen.ch

About the author: André Beherzig is founder of Software Empfehlen Schweiz and has over 15 years of experience in the Swiss IT industry. He advises SMEs on CRM systems and has accompanied over 200 CRM implementations. As a former Neos CMS architect, he knows the challenges of software recommendations firsthand.

Executive Summary: Which Partner Program Fits You?

1. Commission Models Comparison

TecArt CRM: The "Lifetime Income" Model

Salesforce Partner Program: The Tier System

HubSpot Solutions Partner: The "Decreasing Commission" Model

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner: The CSP Model

1. Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) – You are the reseller

2. Referral Partner – You only refer

2. 10-Year Scenario: What Do You Really Earn?

TecArt: The Tortoise Model (slow but steady)

Salesforce: The "Frontloading" Model

HubSpot: The "Halving" Model

Microsoft Dynamics (CSP):

Comparison table: 10-year total commissions

3. Contract Terms: The Hidden Pitfalls

Overview: What's in the fine print?

Critical contract clauses in detail

3.1 Commission loss with customer churn

3.2 Retroactive commission changes

3.3 Customer ownership: Who owns the customer?

4. Support Level for Partners: How Alone Are You?

Partner support comparison

TecArt: "Lean & Mean" – Do everything yourself

Salesforce: "Enterprise Support" – Everything is structured

HubSpot: "Partner-First" – Community-driven

Microsoft Dynamics: "Partner-as-Reseller" – You're on your own

Support response times in practice test

5. Onboarding & Certification: Time to First Commission

TecArt: "Quick Start" – First commission in week 1

Salesforce: "Trailhead Marathon" – Certification is mandatory

HubSpot: "Inbound Certification" – Not technical, but time-intensive

Microsoft Dynamics: "Optional but recommended" – CSP without certification possible

Comparison table: Time-to-First-Commission

6. Exit Strategies & Vendor Lock-in: Gotthard Precision

The Swiss perspective: Freedom through engineering excellence

TecArt: The "Open Door" Principle

Salesforce: "Data Export" – but with limitations

HubSpot: "Export Everything" – but API access ends immediately

Microsoft Dynamics: "It Depends" – CSP vs. Referral

Exit strategy scorecard

7. Swiss Market Specifics: DSA, CO, and VAT

DSA Compliance since 01.09.2023

DSA compliance comparison

CO Art. 321a: Duty of care of the contractor

VAT treatment of partner commissions

8. Decision Matrix: Which Program Fits You?

Partner profile 1: New entrant (0-10 customers/year)

Partner profile 2: Established IT consultant (20-50 customers/year)

Partner profile 3: Microsoft partner (Azure, Office 365)

Partner profile 4: Accountant (recommendation without support)

Partner profile 5: Data protection-critical industries (banks, health)

Quick decision table

9. Conclusion: There's no "best" program – only the right one for you

The three success factors:

1. Your business model

2. Your customer base

3. Your time horizon

The concrete numbers again:

Action recommendation: 5-step plan

Next steps

Further Resources

André Beherzig

Ready to Start as a TecArt Partner?