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    How to Use the Build the Drop Affiliate Program

    Step-by-step guide to joining the affiliate program, setting up your Stripe account, sharing your referral link, tracking your commissions, and understanding the tier system that lets you earn up to 30%.

    1. 1

      Open the Affiliate section

      Log in to your Build the Drop account and click 'Affiliate' in the left sidebar. If you have never registered, you will see the registration form.

    2. 2

      Fill in your legal details

      Enter your legal name (or company name), tax ID / VAT number, and full billing address. These are required by Stripe for compliance and to issue correct payouts. Click 'Create affiliate account & connect with Stripe'.

    3. 3

      Complete Stripe Connect onboarding

      You will be redirected to Stripe's Express onboarding flow. Fill in your personal or business details, bank account information, and identity verification. This process typically takes 5–10 minutes. You must complete it before any commissions are transferred to you.

    4. 4

      Copy your referral link

      Once back in the dashboard, your unique referral link is shown in the 'Your referral link' card. Click the copy button to copy it to your clipboard. Your link looks like: https://buildthedrop.com?ref=btd_xxxxxxxx

    5. 5

      Share your link

      Share your referral link anywhere — blog posts, YouTube descriptions, social media, newsletters, or direct messages. When someone clicks the link, a 30-day cookie is set in their browser. If they sign up within those 30 days, the referral is attributed to you automatically.

    6. 6

      Customise your referral code (optional)

      By default your code is a random 8-character hex string like btd_a1b2c3d4. You can change it to something memorable (minimum 4 characters) by clicking 'Change referral code' in the Affiliate dashboard. Update your links everywhere after changing the code.

    7. 7

      Track your commissions

      The commission history table at the bottom of the Affiliate page shows every commission earned: the date, the gross sale amount, your commission amount, and the current status (Pending, Transferred, or Failed). The top of the page also shows your current tier, how many active referrals you have, and a progress bar toward your next tier. You can page through the history if you have many entries.

    8. 8

      Grow your tier to earn more

      Build the Drop has four commission tiers based on your active paid referrals (free accounts don't count): • Standard (up to 100 paid referrals): 15% • Pro (101–500): 20% • Expert (501–2,000): 25% • Elite (2,000+): 30% Your tier is recalculated dynamically each time a referred merchant's paid invoice is processed. Growing your referral network of paying merchants directly increases your earnings with no manual action needed. Track your progress in the tier bar at the top of the Affiliate dashboard.

    9. 9

      Understand commission statuses

      Transferred means the commission has been paid to your Stripe account and follows Stripe's normal payout schedule (2–7 business days). Pending means your Stripe account is not yet active — complete onboarding to unlock transfers. Failed means the Stripe transfer failed; contact support if you see this. Note: the commission percentage shown reflects the tier active at the moment the invoice was paid, not your current tier.

    Related guides

    How to Complete Your Stripe Affiliate OnboardingA step-by-step guide to all the information Stripe asks for when you set up your affiliate payout account — and what happens after you submit it.Read guide How Affiliate Commissions Are Calculated and PaidUnderstand exactly how Build the Drop calculates your commission on every referral payment, how the money reaches your bank account, and what each commission status means — no technical knowledge required.Read guide

    FAQ

    Related FAQ

    What is the Build the Drop affiliate program?
    The affiliate program lets you earn a 15% commission on every subscription paid by merchants you refer. You share your unique referral link and get paid automatically via Stripe whenever someone signs up and pays.
    How do I join the affiliate program?
    Go to your dashboard and click 'Affiliate' in the sidebar. Fill in your legal name, tax ID, and address, then click 'Create affiliate account'. You will be redirected to Stripe to complete your payout setup. Once your Stripe account is active, you will start receiving commissions automatically.
    How much commission do I earn?
    Your commission rate grows with you. You start at 15% and can reach up to 30% based on the number of active referred merchants with a paid subscription. Only paid plans (not free accounts) count toward your tier. The tiers are: Standard (up to 100 paid referrals) → 15%, Pro (101–500) → 20%, Expert (501–2,000) → 25%, Elite (2,000+) → 30%. The rate is calculated dynamically each time a referred merchant's invoice is paid.
    When and how do I get paid?
    Commissions are transferred to your Stripe account automatically when a referred merchant's invoice is paid. Payouts follow Stripe's standard transfer schedule (usually 2–7 business days). You must complete Stripe Connect onboarding before any transfers are made.
    How does the referral link work?
    Your referral link adds a ?ref=btd_xxxxxxxx parameter to the Build the Drop homepage. When someone visits via your link, their browser stores a cookie valid for 30 days. If they sign up within those 30 days, the referral is attributed to you automatically.
    View all FAQs →