Getting started: set up your affiliate program
Set up your affiliate program in four steps: create your brand org, connect Stripe billing, install the Shopify app and run the self-test, then set commission and publish.
To set up your affiliate program, you create a brand org, connect a Stripe Customer for billing, install the Shopify app and pass its self-test, then set commission and publish. Three of those steps make up the readiness gate. Once all three pass, your program can go live and start crediting sales.
You pay only when an athlete drives a real attributed sale: the commission you set, plus a 20% platform fee on top, billed to you. No subscription, no setup fee.
The four steps
| Step | What you do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create your brand org | Sign up through Clerk; your org is your account. | Holds your team, programs, and billing. |
| 2. Connect Stripe billing | We create a Stripe Customer and you accept net-30 terms. | This is how we invoice you monthly. |
| 3. Install Shopify + self-test | Install the app, run the self-test. | Confirms attribution is wired before you go live. |
| 4. Set commission + publish | Choose a flat $ or %, then publish the program. | Makes the program live for athletes to apply. |
Step 1: create your brand org
Sign up through Clerk and create your brand org. The org is your account: it holds your team members, your programs, and your billing details. You can invite teammates later, so one person can set everything up first.
Step 2: connect a Stripe Customer for billing
When you accept billing terms, we create a Stripe Customer linked to your org. This is the account we invoice each month.
We invoice you monthly via Stripe Billing, net-30, on the 1st of the following month: the commission your athletes earned plus the 20% platform fee. Athletes are paid from the cleared commission once your invoice clears. No subscription, no setup fee, no commission bond.
The fee is on top, not a cut
You set the commission. Say $50 per sale. Your athlete receives the full $50. We add a 20% platform fee, $10, on top, billed to you. Your total cost is $60. The fee is charged only when an athlete drives a real attributed sale. See how our fee works.
Step 3: install the Shopify app and run the self-test
The app installs as an unlisted custom app through a direct-install link, so there is no App Store approval to wait on. Once installed, it does two things:
- Registers an orders/create webhook so we see each new order.
- Writes the ?ref= value into the cart note attribute so the order is matched to the right athlete server-side.
This is first-party, server-side attribution through your Shopify store. When someone clicks an athlete's tracking link and buys, the order is credited automatically. There is no discount code for the customer to enter and nothing for them to remember. Credit holds for the attribution window even if they come back and buy a few days later.
Before you go live, run the self-test: it places a test order and confirms the cart note attribute and webhook are both working. Step-by-step instructions are in installing the Shopify app.
Step 4: set commission and publish your program
Set the commission for the program: a flat dollar amount per sale or a flat percentage of the order. You decide the amount, per program. There is no platform-wide rate.
The commission setter shows you the math before you publish, including the 20% platform fee on top:
$50athlete commission $1020% platform fee (on top) $60your total cost per saleFor the full walkthrough, see setting commission for a program and program setup.
The readiness gate: what has to pass before you go live
Your program can go live only after the readiness gate passes. The dashboard shows it as a three-item checklist:
- Shopify store connected. The app is installed and the self-test has passed.
- Billing terms reviewed. You have accepted net-30 invoicing and a Stripe Customer is connected.
- First program published. At least one program is set up and published.
You can stage work before the gate passes
You can create a program in draft and fill in the details before the first two checks are done. The program stays in draft until the Shopify self-test passes and billing terms are accepted. Then you can publish it and it goes live.
What happens after you go live
Once the program is live, athletes apply and you approve them (it is a two-way approval, so they accept the program too). From there, attribution and payouts run automatically:
- Sales are credited server-side through your Shopify store, no discount code involved.
- Payouts run through Stripe Connect. Once your monthly invoice clears, athletes are paid daily, with a $25 minimum; smaller balances roll forward. On December 15 we pay out any remaining balance regardless of the minimum.
- 1099-NEC forms are issued automatically at year-end for athletes who clear the IRS threshold. Stripe handles their ID and bank details; we never see them.
FAQ
How long does setup take?
Most brands finish in under an hour: create your org, connect a Stripe Customer for billing, install the Shopify app and pass the self-test, then set commission and publish. The slowest step is usually the Shopify self-test, which takes a few minutes.
Do I need Shopify Plus?
No. The app installs as an unlisted custom app on any Shopify plan. It registers an orders/create webhook and writes the ?ref= value into the cart note attribute, so attribution is matched server-side regardless of your plan.
What does it cost to run a program here?
There is no subscription, setup fee, or commission bond. You pay only when an athlete drives a real attributed sale: the commission you set, plus a 20% platform fee on top, billed to you. We invoice you monthly via Stripe Billing, net-30, on the 1st of the following month.