Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Affiliate Contract

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Affiliate Program Agreement

This Agreement contains the complete terms and conditions that apply to your participation as an affiliate in the Affiliate Program of , and the establishment of Links from your Affiliate website to our website, "xxxxx.com."

1. Enrollment in the Affiliate Program

A. To begin the enrollment process you, the Affiliate will submit the enclosed Affiliate Program Application. We the Merchant will evaluate your application in good faith and will notify you of your acceptance or rejection in a timely manner. We the Merchant may reject your application if we determine, in our sole discretion, that your site is unsuitable for our Affiliate Program for any reason.

B. If we, the Merchant, reject your application, you the prospective Affiliate are welcome to reapply to the Affiliate Program at any time.

2. Promotion of our Affiliate Relationship

As an affiliate site, we the Merchant will make available to you the Affiliate a variety of graphic and text links which, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, you may display as often and in as many areas on your site as you desire. The links will serve to identify your site as a member of our Affiliate Program and will establish a link from your Affiliate site to our Merchant site.

3. Responsibility of

We , the Merchant will be responsible for providing all information necessary to allow you to make appropriate links from your Affiliate site to our Merchant site. We, the Merchant will be solely responsible for processing every order placed by a customer following the special link from your site, for tracking the volume and amount of sales generated by your site, and for providing information to Affiliates regarding sales statistics. We, the Merchant will be responsible for order entry and processing, payment processing, cancellations and related customer service.

4. Responsibility of the Affiliate Site

The Affiliate will, at its sole cost and expense, design, develop and maintain the Affiliate's site.

5. Rights and Permissions

Each party hereby grants to the other the non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable right during the term of this agreement to use (i.e. to copy, transmit, distribute, display and perform both privately and publicly) the links and icons, their respective names and site names and any other related textual and graphic materials that are provided by such party to the other for the express purpose of inclusion on the other’s site, but only for the specific purposes authorized in this agreement. Each party authorizes the other to refer in its advertising and promotion to the fact that each site is accessible through the other so long as any such statement:

A. Does not state, suggest or imply in anyway that either party sponsors, authorizes, and/or is the source or origin of the other’s site; and

B. Does not disparage the other party, its products, its services or affiliates.

All use of the other party’s rights, property or materials will inure to the benefit of the other party and no such use will create any right, title or interest in them for the user.

6. Obligations between Affiliate and Merchant Non-Exclusivity: The relationships specified in this agreement are non-exclusive. Affiliate shall been titled to display links to sites of other merchants on the Affiliate's site and Merchant shall be entitled to make the Merchant's site available through online and other services other than that of the Affiliate.

7. Commission Determination

A. , the Merchant will pay the Affiliate a commission of percent ( %) of every order that will have been generated by the Affiliate website using the link to the Merchant website and using the Order online function of “xxxxx.com.”

B. The Affiliate will deem to have earned the commission if the order is placed online pursuant to a referral:

 whether the visitor placed the order using the Affiliate’s link to “xxxxx.com”;

 or placed the order directly on Merchant’s website, but only if order occurs within a period of days starting from the visitor’s first referral and as long as the visitor has not been referred to “xxxxx.com” by another Affiliate in the meantime.

It is agreed that the client cannot be a previous client of .

C. The commission which will be paid by to the Affiliate is based upon the lease or sales price of the (type of product) actually paid by the client.

D. It is agreed that charge backs, applicable sales, use or other similar taxes and delivery and drop-off charges, when applicable, are not subject to a commission.

E. Although special equipment and accessories such as (types of products) must be ordered at the time of reservation, they are not subject to a commission.

F. It is agreed that any permanent or temporary offer on Merchant’s website, other than the (Name of Company) program is not commissionable. This clause applies in particular (but not exclusively), to any offer regarding the outright purchase of (type of product) .

8. Commission Payments

A. The Affiliate will deem to have earned the commission once the leased (type of product) has been picked up by the customer.

B. When the total commissions due to the Affiliate exceed $ dollars, the Merchant will send a commission check for the applicable commission (less any taxes required to be withheld under applicable law). Should the Affiliate's commission payments require the Merchant to file any tax forms, the Affiliate agrees to provide the Merchant with all information necessary (such as the Affiliate's social security or tax I.D. number) upon request. The Merchant has the right to discontinue the Affiliate's participation in the Affiliate Program and withhold any moneys payable should the Affiliate fail to provide this information upon request

C. With each commission payment, will provide reports that will contain all necessary information as required to calculate the commission fees to the Affiliate.

9. Auditing

No more than twice in any twelve month period, the Affiliate shall have the right, at its expense, upon thirty (30) business days written notice to inspect and audit the directly relevant books and records of Merchant for the purpose of verifying any reports, information or payments due to Affiliate under this agreement. Any such audit shall be conducted by a firm of independent certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to Merchant. In the event of any short fall and payment to the Affiliate is found which exceeds ( %) of the total due the Affiliate for the reporting and auditing, Merchant shall reimburse the Affiliate for the reasonable fees of the accountants conducting the audit.

10. Governing Law

A. This agreement is made in, governed by and will be construed solely in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of . This will occur notwithstanding and without reference to rules governing choice of laws. The Affiliate may not assign this agreement by operation of law or otherwise, without the Merchant's prior written consent. Subject to that restriction, this agreement will be binding on, inure to the benefit of, and enforceable against the parties and their respective successors and assigns. The Merchant's failure to enforce the Affiliate's strict performance of any provision of this agreement will not constitute a waiver of the Merchant's right to subsequently enforce such a provision or any other provision of this agreement.

B. This agreement supersedes all prior communications or understandings between Affiliate and Merchant, and constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, with respect to the matters herein. This agreement cannot be changed in any way except by writing signed by the party against which the enforcement of the charge is sought.

11. Independent Contractors

The Affiliate and Merchant are deemed to be independent contractors under this agreement and nothing herein shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship between the Affiliate and Merchant. Neither party has the authority to enter into agreements of any kind on behalf of the other party.

12. Policies and Pricing

Customers who lease or purchase a (type of product) from through the Affiliate program will be deemed to be customers of .

Accordingly, all of our rules, policies and operating procedures concerning customer orders, customer service, and product and service will apply to those customers. We may change our pricing, policies and operating procedures at anytime.

13. Obligations between Affiliate and Merchant

A. Each party owns and shall retain all rights, title and interest in its names, logos, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, copyrights and proprietary technology, including, without limitation, those names, logos, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, copyrights and proprietary technology currently used or which may be developed and/or by it in the future.

B. grants Affiliate a revocable, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce and transmit, the name, logos, trademarks, service marks, trade dress and proprietary technology on Affiliate's site solely for the purpose of creating links from Affiliate's site to ’s site. Except as expressly set forth in this agreement or permitted by applicable law, Affiliate may not copy, distribute, modify, reverse engineer, or create derivative works from the same. Affiliate may not sublicense, assign or transfer any such licenses for the use of the same and any attempt at such sublicense, assignment is void.

C. Affiliate grants a non-exclusive, worldwide royalty-free license to use, reproduce and transmit any graphic or banner ad submitted by Affiliate solely for co-branding purposes or as a return link from ’s site to Affiliate's site. will remove such graphic or banner ad upon Affiliate's request.

14. Obligations Regarding Your Site

We disclaim all liability for all materials and information on your site. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from all claims, damages, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees) relating to the development, operation, maintenance and contents of your site.

15. Disclaimers

We, will not be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages, or any loss of revenue, profits or data, arising with connection with this agreement of the Affiliate or Affiliate Program, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Further, our aggregate liability arising with respect to this agreement and the Affiliate Program will not exceed the total commissions paid or payable to you under this agreement.

16. Term and Termination

A. This agreement is an agreement at will. It begins as of the date approves affiliate into its affiliate program and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, by either party on no less than thirty (30) days written notice.

B. The Affiliate will place the Merchant's links discussed above on the Affiliate's site as soon as practical, after receiving approval notification from .

(Name of Company)

By:

Date:

(Name of Applicant)

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What an Affiliate Contract Is and when it matters

An Affiliate Contract is a written agreement between a merchant and an individual or entity that will promote products or services in exchange for compensation, typically commissions or referral fees. The contract defines the parties, commission structure, payment schedule, reporting obligations, permitted marketing channels, territory, term, confidentiality, and termination rights. It also allocates responsibility for tax reporting, intellectual property use, and compliance with advertising rules. Clear, complete Affiliate Contracts reduce payment disputes, protect brand reputation, and document the commercial relationship for tax and audit purposes.

Why a clear Affiliate Contract matters for both parties

A precise Affiliate Contract sets expectations for compensation, timelines, and acceptable marketing behavior, which reduces disputes and regulatory risk while clarifying tax reporting responsibilities.

Why a clear Affiliate Contract matters for both parties

Who commonly completes or signs an Affiliate Contract

Organizations and individuals use Affiliate Contracts to formalize referral relationships and protect financial and IP interests.

  • E-commerce merchants and platform operators who manage commission programs and need documented payout rules.
  • Affiliate managers or network operators responsible for onboarding, tracking, and reconciling partner activity.
  • Independent marketers, influencers, and publishers who require clear payment terms and attribution rules.

Use a written contract whenever money, ongoing access, or brand representation is involved to reduce future friction.

Typical signer roles and responsibilities

Affiliate Manager

An internal manager who configures program rules, approves affiliates, and reconciles payments; responsible for enforcing contract terms and maintaining records for tax and audit purposes.

Independent Affiliate

A third-party individual or entity that promotes products, tracks conversions, and expects timely payment according to the contract; must provide valid taxpayer information for reporting and withholding.

Core elements to include in a professional Affiliate Contract

A complete Affiliate Contract combines commercial terms, operational mechanics, and legal protections so both parties understand performance metrics, payments, and rights.

Parties

Legal names and business types for the merchant and the affiliate, including taxpayer identification and billing addresses.

Compensation

Precise commission rates, tiers, calculation method, chargebacks, and whether commissions are gross or net of taxes and fees.

Payment Schedule

Payment frequency, minimum payout thresholds, reconciliation windows, and dispute resolution timelines for withheld amounts.

Performance Metrics

How conversions, leads, and attributable sales are measured, tracking methods, fraud detection, and reversal rules.

Term and Termination

Initial term, auto‑renewal conditions, notice periods, and post‑termination payment or clawback obligations.

Compliance and IP

Marketing restrictions, brand usage guidelines, confidentiality, indemnities, and representations about lawful marketing practices.

Step-by-step: completing and executing the Affiliate Contract

Use this sequence to prepare, review, and finalize the agreement efficiently while keeping records for payments and tax reporting.

  • 01
    Prepare Draft: Populate parties, rates, territory, and payment terms and attach tracking exhibits.
  • 02
    Review Internally: Legal and finance confirm tax, IP, and payment controls before sending to affiliate.
  • 03
    Obtain Signatures: Send to all parties for signature; record consent to electronic records where required.
  • 04
    Store and Monitor: Archive the executed contract, monitor performance, and reconcile payments per the schedule.

How e-signing an Affiliate Contract typically flows

This high-level workflow explains the common sequence when completing an Affiliate Contract electronically.

  • Upload Document: Sender uploads final contract PDF or DOCX into the eSignature platform.
  • Place Fields: Add signature, date, and any conditional fields or attachments for tax forms like W-9.
  • Send to Signers: Add signer email addresses and set authentication method (email link, SMS code, or stronger).
  • Completion and Archive: Signed copies and an audit trail are stored for each party and available for download.

Configuring a secure signing workflow for Affiliate Contracts

Set up these workflow settings to balance signer convenience and authentication strength for commission agreements.

Table Header: Field | Configuration Settings Field | Configuration
Authentication Method and Strength Settings Email link | Optional SMS code or KBA
Bulk Send and Batch Options Bulk send | Business Premium tier
Conditional Fields and Logic Conditional fields | Use for different commission tiers
Audit Trail and Certificate Options Audit trail | Full signer IP, timestamp

Technical considerations for digital completion and delivery

Ensure your chosen eSignature platform supports required authentication, storage, and integrations before sending contracts.

  • Authentication Options: Email, SMS, or KBA available.
  • Integration Ecosystem: Connects to CRM, ERP, and cloud storage.
  • Document Formats: Supports PDF, DOCX, HTML, and Excel.

Confirm integrations (CRM, accounting, storage) and audit-trail capabilities to ensure reliable reconciliation and record retention.

Representative eSignature vendor comparison for executing Affiliate Contracts

Basic vendor comparisons focus on starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trails, HIPAA support, and envelope/document caps; signNow appears first for parity in feature checks.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7-day trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes (premium tiers) Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Security and compliance facts to consider when eSigning

Encryption In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3
Encryption At Rest: AES-256
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001
HIPAA Support: BAA available where required
Audit Trail: Full signer IP and timestamp
Regulatory Compliance: ESIGN and UETA adherence

Common legal and financial risks from an incomplete or incorrect contract

Contract Invalidity: Ambiguity may render terms unenforceable
Payment Disputes: Unclear calculations lead to costly reconciliations
Tax Withholding: Missing TINs can trigger backup withholding
IRS Penalties: Incorrect reporting can produce fines
Breach Liability: Third-party claims and indemnity exposure
Termination Exposure: Poorly defined notice periods create disputes

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing an Affiliate Contract

  • Using vague compensation language such as 'reasonable commission' without formulas, which leads to disputes and accounting disagreement.
  • Failing to collect accurate taxpayer identification (W-9) from affiliates, risking backup withholding and IRS penalties.
  • Omitting marketing restrictions that prevent trademark misuse, deceptive claims, or prohibited ad channels that harm brand reputation.
  • Neglecting to define chargebacks, refund reversals, and the timing for reversing previously paid commissions.

Key timelines and deadlines related to Affiliate Contracts and reporting

Track payment, termination, and tax reporting dates to avoid late payments and compliance penalties.

Affiliate Payment Schedule and Reconciliation Deadlines:

Define payment frequency (e.g., monthly) and reconciliation window (e.g., 30–45 days).

Termination Notice Period Requirement:

Specify notice period, e.g., 30 or 60 days, for nonrenewal or termination.

Provide W-9 Upon Request:

Affiliates must supply a W-9 when requested to avoid backup withholding.

Form 1099-NEC Reporting Deadline:

Issue 1099-NEC to recipients and file with IRS by January 31 each year.

Record Retention and Audit Window:

Maintain records at least through relevant tax and audit retention periods.

Real-world examples of contracts executed with digital workflows

These short examples show how organizations use digital signing to streamline affiliate onboarding and contract execution.

Optica Ventures — Brian Fitzgibbons

The team adopted digital contracts to speed onboarding and reduce manual steps, improving customer experience.

  • The interface was easy for customers and staff to use.
  • By standardizing templates and using electronic signatures they reduced turnaround time and administrative overhead while maintaining an auditable signing record for disputes and tax reporting.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

A small business used electronic contracts to execute multiple partner agreements remotely.

  • They processed documents online with compliant security measures.
  • The result was faster execution, reliable storage of signed agreements, and consistent application of payment and termination terms across affiliate relationships.

Frequently asked questions about Affiliate Contracts and e-signatures

Answers to common questions about enforceability, notarization, amendments, and recordkeeping when using electronic workflows.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users