# Affiliate program agreement template and checklist

> Use this educational checklist to draft program terms, then obtain advice for your business and jurisdiction. It is not legal advice.

Published: 2026-07-14 · Last reviewed: 2026-07-14

## Educational template

Identify the merchant, affiliate, effective date, eligible channels, approval process, and right to update or end participation. Define exactly which conversion earns commission and which events are excluded.

- Permitted claims, brand use, email, paid search, coupon, and self-referral rules.
- Commission base, rate, currency, hold, threshold, and payout method.
- Refund, cancellation, chargeback, fraud, and clawback treatment.
- Clear affiliate disclosure and content approval duties.
- Tax responsibility, records, termination, dispute process, and version notice.

## Suggested fill-ins

Replace every bracketed policy choice with an operational answer: [eligible products], [commission basis], [hold length], [prohibited channels], [disclosure wording], [payment threshold], [change notice], and [governing law]. Do not leave a clause that your actual tracking or payout workflow cannot follow.

## Not legal advice

This page is educational and is not a contract for your business. Ask qualified counsel to review consumer, advertising, privacy, tax, employment, and platform obligations that apply to your jurisdiction and promotion channels.

## Frequently asked

### Does this template replace a lawyer?

No. It is an educational issue checklist, not legal advice or a jurisdiction-specific agreement.

## Primary sources

- [FTC: Endorsement Guides Q&A](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking) · checked 2026-07-14

## Next steps

- [FTC disclosure glossary](/wiki/ftc-affiliate-disclosure)
- [Commission framework](/learn/affiliate-commission-rate-framework)
- [Pricing](/pricing)