Write the affiliate rules before sharing the first link.

Decide what earns a commission

Specify the eligible order state, commission base and exclusions. Does the rate apply before or after discounts? Is shipping excluded? What happens when an order is refunded? A clear answer prevents a spreadsheet dispute later.

Avoid treating a referral click as earned money. A program needs a defined path from referral to eligible order to approved commission to payout.

Use a worked order to agree on the rule

Take a $100 merchandise order with a $10 discount and $8 shipping. A 10% commission on discounted merchandise is $9. A commission on the full collected amount would be different. Write the chosen base plainly in the program terms.

Then test a partial refund and a cancelled order. The ledger should show the adjustment rather than silently rewriting history. Keep payout references so a paid balance can be reconciled.

• Define self-referral and duplicate-credit rules.
• Specify review and payout timing.
• Explain how coupon and link attribution interact.
• Provide a route for an affiliate to question an entry.

Match the program to the workload

Start with rules the team can review consistently. More incentive types add more edge cases and communication work; they are valuable only when they serve an actual partner strategy.

Torva Growth includes standard affiliate tools; Command adds advanced controls. Compare the workflow and limits against your proposed program rather than choosing from the headline alone.