Questions to ask before joining an airtime reseller programme in South Africa

There are good reseller programmes in South Africa and bad ones, and from the outside they can look alike. These six questions take ten minutes and can save you money and embarrassment. We have answered each for Ukutel so you can see what a straight answer looks like.

1. What do I have to pay before I earn anything? Look for joining fees, starter kits, a float or a minimum stock order. *Ukutel: nothing for the programme itself. You have your own phone line, from R80 (about $4.86) a month, which you use.*

2. What exactly do I earn, in rands? Ask for the amount per customer, not a percentage of an unnamed figure. *Ukutel: 5% of the airtime in a team member's package, which is R2.50, R5 or R7.50 (about $0.15, $0.30 or $0.46) a month, and 2.5% of their top-ups.*

3. When and how am I paid? *Ukutel: worked out daily, paid to your bank account on Fridays once you have R50 (about $3.04) or more.*

4. Do I handle money or stock? If you collect cash or hold stock, you carry the risk. *Ukutel: no. Customers pay Ukutel directly. You share a link.*

5. What happens if I stop? Ask whether there are targets, penalties or stock you are left with. *Ukutel: no targets and no stock. Your line carries on as a phone line.*

6. What does a typical person actually earn? This is the question that matters, and the one most programmes avoid. *Ukutel: alone, little. Our own example is about 31 people after two years of weekly effort, roughly enough to cover your line. More only comes when your team also refers.*

If a programme cannot answer these plainly, in writing, treat that as your answer.

Compare several before you choose. A vendor app may suit you better if you have a shop and passing customers. A referral programme suits people with a circle and patience.