| name | affiliate-terms |
| description | Creates affiliate program terms and conditions with commission rules, prohibited methods, and termination clauses. Use when launching or documenting an affiliate program. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Affiliate Terms
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Create terms and conditions for an affiliate or referral program
- Define commission structures, payment rules, and prohibited methods
- Establish brand guidelines and promotional restrictions
- Document cookie windows, attribution, and tracking policies
DO NOT use this skill for influencer contracts (use influencer-campaign-brief), sales commission plans (use commission-structure), or general partnership agreements. This is for affiliate program terms.
Core Principle
AFFILIATE TERMS PROTECT YOUR BRAND AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE — CLEAR RULES PREVENT FRAUD, BRAND DAMAGE, AND COMMISSION DISPUTES BEFORE THEY START.
Phase 1: Program Details
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Product/service | "What product or service will affiliates promote?" | No default — must be provided |
| Commission rate | "What percentage or flat fee per sale/lead?" | No default — must be provided |
| Cookie window | "How long does attribution last after a click? (30, 60, 90 days)" | 30 days |
| Payment threshold | "Minimum payout amount?" | $50 |
| Payment frequency | "How often do you pay? (monthly, bi-weekly)" | Monthly |
| Approval process | "Auto-approve affiliates or manual review?" | Manual approval |
GATE: Do not proceed without product, commission rate, and cookie window.
Phase 2: Terms Document
## [Product/Company Name] Affiliate Program Terms and Conditions
**Effective Date:** [Date]
**Last Updated:** [Date]
### 1. Program Overview
The [Company Name] Affiliate Program allows approved participants
("Affiliates") to earn commissions by referring customers to
[Product/Service] through unique tracking links.
### 2. Enrollment and Approval
- Applications are reviewed within [3-5] business days
- [Company] reserves the right to accept or reject any application
without explanation
- Affiliates must be [18+] years of age
- Affiliates must have an active website, social media presence,
or email list
- [Company] may terminate any affiliate account at any time
### 3. Commission Structure
| Action | Commission | Notes |
|--------|-----------|-------|
| [Sale / Signup / Lead] | [X]% or $[X] flat | [Per transaction] |
| Recurring commission | [Yes: X% for X months / No] | [If applicable] |
**Commission rules:**
- Commissions are earned when a referred customer completes a
[qualifying purchase / signup / action]
- Self-referrals are prohibited and will result in commission reversal
and account termination
- Commission is voided if the customer requests a refund within
[30] days
- [Company] reserves the right to adjust commission rates with
[30] days notice
### 4. Tracking and Attribution
- Attribution uses [cookies / last-click / first-click] tracking
- Cookie duration: [30] days from the referral click
- If a customer clears cookies or uses a different device, the
referral may not be tracked
- [Company] is not responsible for technical issues that prevent
proper tracking
- Affiliates must use only the tracking links provided through
the affiliate dashboard
### 5. Payment Terms
| Detail | Terms |
|--------|-------|
| Minimum payout | $[50] |
| Payment schedule | [Monthly, on the 15th] |
| Payment methods | [PayPal / ACH / wire / check] |
| Commission hold period | [30] days after sale (for refund window) |
| Tax requirements | W-9 (US) or W-8BEN (international) required before first payout |
### 6. Permitted Promotional Methods
Affiliates MAY promote using:
- Personal website or blog content
- Email marketing to their own opted-in list
- Social media posts (organic)
- YouTube or podcast content
- Online communities where they are active members (with disclosure)
### 7. Prohibited Methods
Affiliates shall NOT:
- Bid on [Company] branded keywords or variations in paid search
- Use cookie stuffing, click fraud, or other deceptive tracking methods
- Send unsolicited email (spam) using affiliate links
- Make false or misleading claims about the product
- Create websites or domains that impersonate [Company]
- Use pop-ups, pop-unders, or forced redirects
- Offer unauthorized discounts or coupon codes
- Promote on adult, violent, or hate-speech content
- Use the affiliate link for their own purchases
- Sub-affiliate or assign their affiliate account to others
### 8. Brand Guidelines
- Use only approved logos, images, and promotional materials
- Do not modify [Company] trademarks, logos, or branding
- All promotional content must be truthful and not misleading
- Affiliates must include FTC-required disclosure in all content:
"This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if
you make a purchase through my link."
### 9. Relationship
Affiliates are independent contractors. This agreement does not create
an employment, agency, or partnership relationship. Affiliates are
responsible for their own taxes and compliance.
### 10. Termination
Either party may terminate at any time with [7] days written notice.
[Company] may terminate immediately for:
- Violation of these terms
- Fraudulent activity
- Brand misrepresentation
- Inactivity for [6] months
Upon termination, unpaid commissions above the minimum threshold
will be paid in the next payment cycle. Pending commissions below
the minimum threshold are forfeited.
### 11. Modifications
[Company] may modify these terms with [30] days notice via email.
Continued participation after the notice period constitutes acceptance.
### 12. Limitation of Liability
[Company]'s total liability to any Affiliate shall not exceed the
total commissions paid in the [12] months preceding the claim.
Phase 3: Program Setup Checklist
## Affiliate Program Launch Checklist
- [ ] Terms and conditions published on website
- [ ] Affiliate signup page created
- [ ] Tracking system configured (affiliate software or platform)
- [ ] Unique link generation working
- [ ] Commission tracking and attribution tested
- [ ] Payment processing set up (PayPal, bank transfers)
- [ ] Affiliate dashboard accessible (links, stats, payouts)
- [ ] Brand assets and promotional materials uploaded
- [ ] Welcome email template created for new affiliates
- [ ] Tax forms collection process ready (W-9/W-8BEN)
Phase 4: Delivery
Output the complete affiliate terms document ready for publication on the website and provide the program setup checklist.
Example: Online Course Affiliate Program
Commission: 30% per sale ($59.10 on a $197 course). Cookie: 60 days. Recurring: No (one-time purchase). Minimum payout: $100. Prohibited: Bidding on brand name in Google Ads, coupon sites, email spam. Refund policy: Commission reversed if refund within 30 days.
Anti-Patterns
- No branded keyword restriction — affiliates bidding on your brand name in Google Ads costs you money on traffic you would have gotten organically
- No refund clawback — without a refund window hold, affiliates can drive low-quality traffic and collect commissions on purchases that get refunded
- Vague prohibited methods — be specific about what is not allowed. "No spam" is not enough — define spam, cookie stuffing, and brand impersonation.
- No FTC disclosure requirement — affiliates must disclose their financial relationship. If they do not, your brand is at risk.
- Auto-approving everyone — manual review prevents coupon sites, spam sites, and brand-damaging affiliates from joining.
Recovery
- Affiliate violating terms: Document the violation, suspend their account, reverse any fraudulent commissions, and notify them in writing.
- Coupon/deal sites scraping your codes: Add a clause prohibiting unauthorized coupon distribution. Monitor and send cease and desist notices.
- Commission dispute: Refer to the tracking data in the affiliate dashboard. The terms should state that your tracking system is the final authority.
- Need to change commission rates: Provide 30 days notice. Honor existing rates for sales in the pipeline. Consider grandfathering top affiliates.
