The Spark! Affiliate Program ("Program") enables content creators, influencers, bloggers, and businesses ("Affiliates") to earn commissions by promoting Chargezen products to their audience. These Affiliate Program Terms ("Terms") govern your participation.

By applying to or participating in the Program, you agree to be bound by these Terms, the Chargezen Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, and the FTC Affiliate Disclosure Guidelines.

Spark! is Chargezen's affiliate marketing platform that powers both this affiliate program and enables Chargezen customers to run their own affiliate programs.

To participate in the Program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have an active website, blog, social media presence, or email list
• Provide accurate registration information
• Comply with all applicable laws, including FTC Endorsement Guides
• Not be located in a restricted jurisdiction
• Not have been previously terminated from the Program

Prohibited Affiliates:

• Sites promoting illegal activities, violence, or hate speech
• Sites with primarily adult content
• Sites engaging in spam or deceptive practices
• Coupon or deal sites without prior approval
• PPC/paid search affiliates bidding on Chargezen trademarks

Chargezen reserves the right to accept or reject any application at its sole discretion.

3.1 Standard Commission:

• 20% of the referred customer's first-year subscription fees
• Commission paid on net revenue (after refunds and chargebacks)
• No commission on add-ons, one-time fees, or overages

3.2 Tiered Commissions: Higher-volume affiliates may qualify for increased commission rates. Tier status is evaluated monthly based on trailing 30-day referred revenue.

3.3 Commission Attribution:

• First-click attribution model
• Cookie duration varies by tier (30-90 days)
• Commission earned when referred customer completes first paid month
• No commission for customers who cancel within 30-day refund period

3.4 Commission Caps: Maximum commission per customer is $5,000 (prevents gaming with enterprise deals). Commissions above this require written approval.

4.1 Payment Schedule:

• Commissions calculated monthly
• 60-day hold period for new affiliates (reduced to 30 days after 3 months good standing)
• Payments processed by the 15th of each month
• Minimum payout threshold varies by tier ($50 standard, $0 for Gold)

4.2 Payment Methods:

• PayPal (default)
• ACH bank transfer (U.S. affiliates, minimum $200)
• Wire transfer (international, minimum $500, fees may apply)

4.3 Tax Information:

• U.S. affiliates: W-9 required; 1099-NEC issued for earnings over $600
• International affiliates: W-8BEN required; may be subject to withholding
• You are responsible for all applicable taxes on commissions earned

5.1 Permitted Promotion Methods:

• Blog posts, articles, and reviews
• Social media posts (with proper disclosure)
• YouTube videos and podcasts
• Email marketing to your own opt-in subscribers
• Display advertising on your own properties

5.2 Prohibited Promotion Methods:

• Spam or unsolicited communications
• Paid search ads bidding on "Chargezen" or similar terms
• Cookie stuffing or forced clicks
• Incentivized clicks (pay-to-click)
• False or misleading claims about Chargezen
• Trademark infringement or brand impersonation
• Adult, violent, or illegal content

CRITICAL: You must disclose your affiliate relationship in ALL promotional content.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections. Failure to comply may result in FTC enforcement action against you AND program termination.

6.1 Disclosure Requirements:

• Disclosure must be clear, conspicuous, and close to the affiliate link
• Use clear language: "affiliate link," "#ad," "I earn commission," "paid partnership"
• Disclosure must be in the same language as the content
• On video, verbal disclosure within first 30 seconds PLUS written disclosure
• On social media, disclosure in the same post (not just bio)

6.2 Platform-Specific Requirements:

• Instagram: Use Paid Partnership label + #ad in caption
• YouTube: Enable "Includes paid promotion" + verbal disclosure
• TikTok: Use Ad label + #ad in caption
• Blog: Clear disclosure at top of post, before first affiliate link
• Email: Disclosure before affiliate link

For complete guidelines, see our FTC Affiliate Disclosure Guidelines.

7.1 Accurate Representation: You must accurately represent Chargezen products. Do not:

• Make false or misleading claims about features or pricing
• Guarantee specific results or earnings
• Create urgency with fake deadlines or limited availability
• Claim endorsements that don't exist
• Use unauthorized testimonials

7.2 Pre-Approved Content: Chargezen provides pre-approved marketing materials in the affiliate dashboard. Using these materials reduces compliance risk.

7.3 Custom Content: Custom promotional content must be reviewed upon request. Chargezen may require removal of non-compliant content.

7.4 Testimonials: If sharing your own experience, it must be truthful and reflect your actual experience. Results claims must be typical or clearly disclosed as exceptional.

8.1 License Grant: Chargezen grants you a limited, non-exclusive, revocable license to use Chargezen trademarks and marketing materials solely for promoting Chargezen through the Program.

8.2 Restrictions:

• Use only approved logos and materials from the affiliate dashboard
• Do not modify Chargezen trademarks
• Do not register domains containing "Chargezen" or variations
• Do not create social accounts impersonating Chargezen
• Do not use Chargezen marks in paid advertising

8.3 Your Content: You retain ownership of your promotional content. You grant Chargezen a license to feature your content in our affiliate showcase (with attribution).

9.1 Chargezen Monitoring: Chargezen monitors affiliate activity for compliance. We may:

• Review promotional content for FTC compliance
• Monitor for trademark violations
• Track click and conversion patterns for fraud
• Audit commission payouts

9.2 Compliance Tools: The Spark! platform includes automated compliance scanning to help you stay compliant:

• Disclosure detection in content
• Link validation and tracking
• Compliance score and alerts

9.3 Violation Response:

• First Violation: Warning with 48-hour cure period
• Second Violation: Commission hold pending review
• Third Violation: Account suspension or termination
• Severe Violations: Immediate termination, commission forfeiture

10.1 Term: These Terms remain in effect until terminated by either party.

10.2 Termination by You: You may terminate at any time by notifying affiliates@chargezen.com. Pending commissions paid per normal schedule.

10.3 Termination by Chargezen: We may terminate your participation:

• Immediately for violation of these Terms, FTC requirements, or applicable law
• Immediately for fraud, including click fraud, self-referrals, or commission manipulation
• With 30 days' notice for any reason

10.4 Effect of Termination:

• Affiliate links deactivated
• Pending commissions (above minimum threshold) paid within 60 days unless forfeited for cause
• Must remove all Chargezen promotional materials within 30 days
• May not re-apply for 12 months after termination for cause

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Chargezen's total liability under these Terms is limited to commissions actually paid to you in the 12 months preceding the claim
• Chargezen is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Chargezen makes no guarantees regarding commission earnings
• The Program is provided "as is" without warranty

Chargezen may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email and posted to the affiliate dashboard. Continued participation after changes constitutes acceptance.

Commission rate changes require 30 days' notice except where increases benefit affiliates.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Wilmington, Delaware, in accordance with the arbitration provisions in our main Terms of Service.