Affiliate FAQ

Every question we've ever been asked about commissions, cookies, holds, refunds, payouts, and the FTC rules — answered in plain English.

How much do I earn per referral?+
50% of net revenue, recurring for as long as the customer stays subscribed. Rich Off Travel AI is $9.99/month, so you earn approximately $4.99 per referred customer, every month. Net means after refunds, chargebacks, processor fees, and taxes.
Commissions
Is the commission one-time or lifetime?+
Recurring for the life of the subscription. If your referral stays 12 months, you earn 12 monthly commissions. If they cancel, commissions stop on the next billing cycle.
Commissions
Can the 50% rate change?+
Yes, but only with 30 days' written notice. Any change applies to new referrals only — existing referrals stay at the rate they were referred under until they cancel.
Commissions
How long does my referral cookie last?+
Lifetime — 10 years, first-click. Once someone clicks your link, you're credited for any purchase they make from that moment on, even if it's months or years later. If they click another affiliate's link afterward, you still win — first affiliate always wins.
Cookies & Attribution
What if two affiliates refer the same person?+
The first affiliate whose link was clicked gets the commission — forever. Our tracking records are final on attribution disputes.
Cookies & Attribution
Can I refer myself, my spouse, or another account I own?+
No. Self-referrals, household members, and multi-account schemes are prohibited. Commissions from self-referrals are voided and can result in immediate termination.
Cookies & Attribution
Why is my commission 'pending' for 30 days?+
Every commission has a 30-day hold from the payment date. This protects both sides against refunds and chargebacks. After 30 days with no refund, the commission becomes available and is included in your next Friday payout run.
Holds & Refunds
What happens if my referral refunds or charges back?+
The commission is voided. If it was already paid out to you, the amount is clawed back from future earnings. If your balance goes negative, it stays negative until you earn it back. We do not send invoices for clawbacks.
Holds & Refunds
Do I still earn on prorated or partial refunds?+
The commission is prorated in the same way. If the customer keeps half a billing cycle, you keep half the commission.
Holds & Refunds
When do I get paid?+
Every Friday, automatically, through Stripe Connect Express. The run pulls every commission that has cleared its 30-day hold since the last payout. You'll see the transfer in your Stripe account the same day and in your bank 1–2 business days later.
Payouts
Is there a minimum payout amount?+
Yes — $50 USD. Anything below rolls to the next Friday. This keeps Stripe's per-transfer fees from eating your earnings.
Payouts
How do I set up payouts?+
Go to your affiliate dashboard and click Connect Stripe. Stripe collects your ID, bank/debit info, and tax form. Until this is finished, we cannot send you any money — even if your balance is over $50.
Payouts
What if a payout fails?+
Failed transfers are automatically retried on the next Friday. Recurring failures (bad bank info, restricted account) pause your affiliate account until you fix the issue in Stripe. We're notified of every failure and will email you if action is required.
Payouts
Am I an employee?+
No. You are an independent contractor. You handle your own taxes, deductions, and any local business registration.
Taxes
Will I get a 1099?+
If you're in the U.S. and earn $600 or more in a calendar year, Stripe will issue you a Form 1099-NEC. Non-U.S. affiliates provide equivalent tax info during Stripe onboarding.
Taxes
Do you withhold taxes from my payouts?+
No. You receive gross commissions and are responsible for your own tax obligations.
Taxes
Do I have to disclose that I'm an affiliate?+
Yes — every time. FTC rules require a clear disclosure like #ad, "affiliate link," or "I earn a commission if you buy through this link." Put it near the link, not buried at the bottom.
FTC & Conduct
What promotional methods are banned?+
- Unsolicited email or SMS (spam)
- Bidding on our brand terms or domains in paid ads
- Income, medical, or outcome guarantees
- Implying celebrity or third-party endorsement
- Bots, incentivized clicks, cookie stuffing, or fake traffic
- Adult, hate, or illegal content placements
FTC & Conduct
Can I run paid ads for the product?+
Yes — organic and paid social, blog, YouTube, and SEO content are all welcome, as long as you follow FTC rules and don't bid on our brand terms or domains.
FTC & Conduct
How do I apply?+
Head to the application page, pick a code, tell us about your audience, and accept the terms. Most applications are reviewed within 2 business days.
Account
Why was my application rejected?+
The most common reasons are: no visible platform/audience, past chargeback or refund abuse, an audience that doesn't fit travel/creator content, or vague answers to the audience question. You may re-apply after 90 days.
Account
Can I have more than one affiliate link?+
You get one primary code, but you can add UTM parameters to track different campaigns (e.g. ?utm_source=youtube).
Account
How do I quit or delete my affiliate account?+
Email affiliates@empireexperience.org from your account email. Any commissions that have cleared their hold at the time of your final Friday run will be paid out; anything still pending is forfeit after 90 days.
Account
Where do I read the full legal terms?+
Full terms live at /affiliate-terms. A signed receipt of the version you accepted was emailed to you on application.
Account

Still have a question?

Email affiliates@empireexperience.org and we'll respond within 2 business days.

Apply now Read full terms