Hosted PBX Reseller Guide for MSPs and ITSPs
Tom Reed · Updated 14 November 2026
A hosted PBX reseller is an MSP, ITSP, VoIP provider or IT reseller that sells a cloud phone system to its own customers, sets its own price and bills them directly, while a platform provider supplies the PBX software. With SessionPBX, partners can run the platform themselves as a multi-tenant PBX on their own servers, or SessionTalk can host it for them. Either way, the reseller owns the customer, and the customer's users call from the SessionTalk softphone apps.
This guide is for MSPs, ITSPs and IT resellers who are deciding whether to add a phone system to what they sell. It explains what the role involves, how it differs from a plain VoIP reseller, who does what between you, the platform and the carrier, and the two ways to run SessionPBX. It stays practical: roles, models and a short list of steps.
What is a hosted PBX reseller?
A hosted PBX reseller sells a business phone system that runs off-site, rather than on a box in the customer's cupboard. The customer's people use apps and desk phones for calls, and an administrator manages extensions, call routing and users from a web portal. The reseller puts its own name on the relationship: it finds the customer, agrees the contract, sets the price, sends the invoice and answers the first support call.
The platform provider builds and maintains the PBX software, and a carrier supplies the SIP trunk that connects the system to the outside world. The reseller sits in the middle and owns the customer. That is the whole idea: you do not have to build a phone system to sell one, but you do keep the customer relationship and the billing.
If you have heard the phrase "VoIP reseller program", it usually means the commercial terms a platform offers to resellers like you. We cover how to compare those in how to choose a VoIP reseller program.
Hosted PBX reseller vs VoIP reseller: what's the difference?
The two terms overlap, and many businesses do both. The difference is what you put in front of the customer.
A VoIP reseller, in the narrow sense, sells the calling service: the SIP trunk, the numbers and the call charges. A hosted PBX reseller sells the phone system on top: extensions, call routing, voicemail, team chat and the apps people use every day. A hosted VoIP reseller often sells both, with the customer's SIP trunk underneath and the PBX seats above it.
Reselling is also different from referring. A reseller owns the customer and the billing. A referral agent passes the lead on and the platform deals with the customer directly. If you are weighing the two, read VoIP reseller vs referral agent models.
Who does what? Reseller, platform and carrier
Three parties share the work. The table below shows how SessionPBX divides it, so you can see what lands on your side before you apply.
| Task | Reseller (you) | SessionPBX platform | Carrier (SIP trunk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer relationship, sales and contract | Yes | ||
| Price and invoicing to the end customer | Yes, you set the price and invoice your customer | ||
| Where the PBX runs | Your own servers if self-hosted, or you choose SessionTalk hosting | Software for both options; hosted in London, New York or Singapore | |
| Extensions, seats, permissions and call flows | Configure for each customer | Central management portal | |
| Users' apps | Invite users by email, QR code or setup link | The softphone apps your customers' users run on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android | |
| Numbers and external calls | Choose the carrier | Connects to any SIP-compliant trunk | Supplies numbers and bills for calls |
| First-line support to customers | Yes |
Notice that the carrier relationship stays a choice you make. SessionPBX is bring-your-own SIP trunk: you connect a trunk from any SIP-compliant carrier, and internal calls between your customer's own users are included.
Should you self-host the platform or have SessionTalk host it?
There are two models, and you can use either.
Self-hosted, multi-tenant. Approved partners can run SessionPBX on their own server and serve many customers from it, with each customer kept separate. Self-hosted is for approved partners only and is billed as annual licences. The server, hosting and network costs are yours. This is the usual route for a reseller that wants the system on its own infrastructure and plans to grow a customer base on it. Our guides on self-hosted PBX for VoIP resellers and multi-tenant PBX for MSPs cover where it runs and how tenancy works.
Hosted by SessionTalk. SessionTalk runs and maintains the platform for you, in London, New York or Singapore. Each customer is its own SessionPBX project under your partner account. You create it, you own it, and you manage its extensions, numbers, SIP trunk and call flows. Nothing to install and no server to look after, which suits smaller customers or a first pilot.
You do not need your own servers to start. Many resellers begin hosted and move to self-hosting later if it fits their business. Either way you set your own price and invoice your own customer.
What do you resell? SessionPBX plans in plain terms
SessionPBX comes in two plans. Teams Phone and Teams Business are SessionPBX plan names, not Microsoft Teams.
- Teams Phone covers everyday calling and chat: voice and video calling, hold and transfer, team chat and presence with direct and group messages, file sharing and read receipts, voicemail in the portal and by email, missed-call notifications, forwarding and caller ID for each member, a team directory and shared address book, and call history.
- Teams Business adds call handling on top: a visual call flow designer, auto-attendant and IVR, business-hours routing, ring groups, call queues, call recording, supervision with listen, whisper and barge, and reports.
All plans include central management of extensions, seats and permissions, push notifications for incoming calls, and setup by email, QR code or setup link. For ideas on putting these into customer offers, see packaging hosted PBX for MSPs and telecom resellers.
How do you become a hosted PBX reseller?
If you are asking how to become a VoIP reseller with a hosted PBX, the route is short. This is the outline; the full playbook is in starting a VoIP business as an MSP or ITSP.
- Apply to the partner programme. Applications are reviewed by hand, and you do not need a portal account to apply.
- Choose self-hosted or hosted by SessionTalk.
- Connect a SIP trunk from any SIP-compliant carrier.
- Set up your first customer, then invite users by email, QR code or setup link. Our note on provisioning users by QR code shows how that works for the apps.
- Set your price and invoice your customer.
Comparing several platforms first is sensible. Our guide to choosing a VoIP reseller program was written for exactly that.
Can you put your brand on it?
Yes. SessionPBX supports app logo branding: your logo and in-app product name on the SessionTalk softphone apps. You set them once in the portal, and each team member's app picks them up the next time they sign in or scan their QR code. Setup emails go out with the same branding.
The branding is applied inside the standard SessionTalk app, so there is no app-store wait. App logo branding is included on Teams Business and is an add-on on Teams Phone. Read app logo branding for hosted PBX resellers for how it looks in practice.
Reseller readiness checklist
Answer these before you start selling. They also make a good agenda for your first customer conversation.
- Which customers will you start with, and how many users does each have?
- Will you run SessionPBX on your own servers, or have SessionTalk host it?
- Which SIP-compliant carrier will supply numbers and calls?
- Which plan fits each customer: Teams Phone or Teams Business?
- Who handles first-line support and onboarding on your side?
- How will you price and invoice, for example per seat plus carrier usage? See VoIP billing for resellers.
- Do you want your logo on the apps, using app logo branding?
FAQ
Do I need my own servers to resell SessionPBX?
No. Running it multi-tenant on your own servers is the usual route for approved partners, and the server, hosting and network costs are yours. But SessionTalk can host it for you in London, New York or Singapore, with each customer as its own project under your partner account, so you can start with nothing to install.
Can I set my own prices?
Yes. Partners set their own price and invoice their own customers, on their own terms. SessionTalk bills your partner organisation for each customer subscription, and you decide what your customer pays. Pricing for the programme is shown on the partners page rather than in this guide, so check it there before you plan your offer.
Do I need my own SIP trunk?
Yes. SessionPBX is bring-your-own SIP trunk, so you connect a trunk from any SIP-compliant carrier, using IP or credential authentication. The carrier supplies numbers and bills for external calls. Calls between users on the same SessionPBX system are internal and included, so only calls to outside numbers use the trunk.
Can I resell under my own brand?
Yes, through app logo branding. Your logo and in-app product name appear on the SessionTalk softphone apps, and setup emails carry your branding too. It is included on Teams Business and available as an add-on on Teams Phone. The branding is applied inside the standard app at runtime, so there is no app-store review to wait for.
What apps do my customers' users get?
They use SessionTalk softphones on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, with voice and video calling and team chat in the same app. You invite people by email, QR code or setup link, and the apps pick up your logo branding if you use it. Push notifications help incoming calls reach mobile users when the app is closed.
Is hosted PBX reselling the same as being a referral agent?
No. A reseller owns the customer, sets the price and sends the invoice. A referral agent introduces the customer and the platform handles the relationship. Choose reselling if you want control over pricing, branding and first-line support.
Ready to sell a hosted PBX under your own brand? Apply to the SessionPBX Partner Programme, or see SessionPBX features.
