The short answer: decide what you can afford to pay per sale, set your commission and cookie window, pick an app that gives each partner a link and code, open a signup page, invite your first 20 partners from your own customers and fans, and pay them on a regular schedule after the return window. You can launch in a week.
Step 1: Work out what you can pay
Start from margin, not from what others pay. Take your average order value, subtract product cost, shipping, payment fees and the discount the partner's code gives. What is left is the most you could pay before an order loses money. Pick a commission well inside that. Our guide to affiliate commission rates walks through the math, and the commission calculator does it for you.
Step 2: Set your terms
| Term | What to decide | A common starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Percentage or flat amount per order | A percentage you can afford on every order |
| Cookie window | How long after a click a sale still counts | 30 days |
| Discount code | Whether partners get a code for their audience, and how big | A modest first-order discount |
| Return window | How long before a commission is approved | Your refund window |
| Payout schedule | How often you pay, and the minimum | Monthly |
| Rules | No bidding on your brand name, no coupon-site posting, disclosure required | Write them on the signup page |
Step 3: Links, codes or both
Affiliate links track a click to a sale within the cookie window. Discount codes give the shopper a reason to buy and are easy to say in a video. Most programs give partners both. In Spark!, each partner gets a tracking link (with a custom slug, landing page and UTM tags if you want them) and you can set up discount codes, and Spark! credits the sale when the shopper arrives through the partner's link. See creating links and discount codes. We compare the two in affiliate links vs discount codes and explain the mechanics in how affiliate tracking works.
Step 4: Pick an app
- Shopify Collabs: Free to install on all plans except Starter and Retail; a 2.9% processing fee on automatic commission payments (checked October 19, 2026). See Collabs alternatives.
- A low-cost affiliate app: UpPromote and Refersion charge a subscription plus a percentage of affiliate sales on paid plans.
- Affiliate and creator software: Spark! runs affiliates and creators together for $199 a month, with no fee on partner sales.
- An affiliate network: If you want publishers and coupon sites quickly. See network vs software.
Step 5: Open a signup page
- Say who the program is for, what partners earn, and how often you pay.
- Ask a few questions: where they post, audience size, why they like the brand.
- Decide whether to approve everyone or review each application. Reviewing keeps coupon sites and spammers out.
- Link the page from your footer, your account page and your post-purchase emails. See email marketing for Shopify.
Step 6: Recruit your first 20 partners
- Customers: Email your repeat buyers and best reviewers a personal invite.
- Fans: Message people who’ve tagged you or comment often.
- Creators in your niche: Search by the words your customers use. See how to find influencers.
- Bloggers and newsletters: Writers who review products like yours.
Give each new partner a welcome email with their link, code, a few product photos and the three things to say about the product.
Step 7: Disclosure
Not legal advice. The FTC's Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers (checked October 19, 2026) says partners should disclose any financial relationship with a brand, place the disclosure where it's hard to miss (in the video itself for video), and use clear words like "ad" or "sponsored" rather than vague ones like "sp" or "collab". Put this in your partner terms. See affiliate disclosure.
Step 8: Pay partners on time
- Approve commissions after your return window, so refunded orders don’t get paid.
- Pay on the schedule you promised; late payouts lose partners fast.
- Collect tax forms before the first payout where required.
- Keep a record of every payment for your books.
In Spark!, refunded orders take their commission back, and you pay commissions from a balance you fund. See refunds and clawbacks and funding payouts.
Common launch mistakes
- Launching with no partners: A signup page alone rarely fills up. Line up your first ten partners before you announce it.
- Approving everyone: Coupon sites can join and catch shoppers who were already buying. Review applications.
- A code with no link: Give partners a link as well, so sales through their content are credited even when the shopper forgets the code.
- No welcome kit: Partners who get photos, key messages and a sample post start sooner.
- Going quiet: Send partners a short monthly update: new products, best posts, top earners.
Your first 90 days
| Period | Focus | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–30 | Launch and invite 20 partners | How many post, and how many make a first sale |
| Days 31–60 | Coach active partners, invite 20 more | Sales per active partner, refund rate |
| Days 61–90 | Reward top partners with a higher tier | Revenue from the program vs commissions paid |
Spark! supports affiliate tiers, so top partners can move up automatically. If you sell subscriptions, partners can also earn on renewals. Spark! is $199 a month or $1,990 a year, with no fee on your partners' sales. See Spark! and pricing.
Get started with the Spark! quick start, or read how to build an affiliate program. Glossary: affiliate partner, cookie duration and affiliate payout. Read next: affiliate vs influencer vs ambassador.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an affiliate program on Shopify?
To start an affiliate program on Shopify, work out what you can pay per sale, set your commission, cookie window and payout terms, install an affiliate app, open a signup page, invite your first partners from your customers and fans, and pay them after your return window.
Does Shopify have a built-in affiliate program?
Shopify offers Collabs, a free app for gifting, codes and creator commissions, on all plans except Starter and Retail. Many brands use a separate affiliate app for more control.
How long should my affiliate cookie window be?
Thirty days is a common starting point for an affiliate cookie window. Shorter windows cost less but can feel unfair to partners whose audiences take time to decide; match it to how long your customers usually take to buy.
Written by
Mason Reed
Creator Economy Writer, Chargezen
Mason Reed covers the technology transforming the creator economy and influencer marketing. He explores how AI is helping brands discover creators, manage partnerships, measure campaign performance, and turn audience engagement into revenue. His work examines affiliate platforms, creator monetization, campaign automation, and the emerging tools connecting brands, influencers, and their audiences.
