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Affiliate agreement Format & Template
Affiliate agreement is a guided template for recording relevant details and terms in writing. Review the document-specific execution and legal requirements before relying on a final PDF.
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What you can set in this draft
- Guided legal questionnaire
- Structured clauses and sections
- Review and completion checklist
- review-ready wording
- PDF checkout output
About this Affiliate agreement
An affiliate agreement is a commercial contract between a business and a person or entity that promotes the business's products or services in return for commission or other agreed compensation. In India, this type of arrangement is widely used by e-commerce brands, SaaS businesses, training platforms, agencies, content creators, and service providers that want performance-based marketing without appointing full-time employees or traditional distributors.
The agreement is valuable because affiliate relationships often begin informally but can create real disputes over commission entitlement, use of brand assets, marketing methods, and payment timelines. A written contract helps define what counts as a valid referral, when commission becomes payable, whether refunds or cancellations affect payouts, and what promotional practices are prohibited. This is especially relevant where affiliates use websites, social media, messaging platforms, or paid campaigns to drive customer traffic.
Indian businesses also use affiliate agreements to manage reputational and compliance risk. The brand may want to control misleading claims, unauthorised discounting, spam-based marketing, trademark misuse, or non-compliant advertising. The affiliate, on the other hand, usually wants clarity on tracking links, attribution windows, reporting, termination rights, and how disputes will be handled if leads are rejected or commissions are withheld. A good agreement balances these interests clearly.
Because affiliate arrangements are driven by performance data and online conduct, the contract should be practical, operational, and easy to administer. It should match the real business model being used rather than relying on generic marketing language.
Your next step
Start the guided draft
- 1. Answer the guided questions.
- 2. Review the watermarked draft.
- 3. See available checkout and signing options.
- Format
- Signing
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Advantages of using this affiliate agreement
- Clarifies commission structure and payment conditions
- Sets rules for permitted marketing activities
- Protects the brand from misuse and misleading promotions
- Helps prevent disputes over referrals and attribution
- Supports scalable partner-led growth
What this document covers
- Identify the business and the affiliate clearly
- Define the products or services being promoted
- Set out how referrals are tracked and when they qualify
- Specify commission rates, payout timing, and deductions if any
- Include brand usage rules for names, logos, and marketing material
- Restrict prohibited conduct such as false claims, spam, or trademark bidding if relevant
- State the term, suspension, and termination rights
- Add confidentiality, tax, and dispute resolution clauses
Applicable laws
Affiliate agreements in India are generally governed by the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Depending on the business model, related issues such as online communications, electronic records, and digital acceptance may also intersect with the Information Technology Act, 2000. If the arrangement involves advertising claims, consumer-facing conduct should also remain consistent with general consumer protection principles and advertising standards. Such agreements are usually executed on plain paper or appropriate stamp paper depending on the state and transaction value. Notarisation is not typically mandatory, and registration is generally not required for a standard affiliate contract. Businesses should, however, consider proper GST and invoicing treatment for commission payments.
You can reuse this template for different affiliate channels, but the commission logic, attribution rules, and compliance restrictions should be customised to the specific platform and campaign model.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Affiliate agreement used for?
An affiliate agreement is a commercial contract between a business and a person or entity that promotes the business's products or services in return for commission or other agreed compensation. In India, this type of arrangement is widely used by e-commerce brands, SaaS businesses, training platforms, agencies, content creators, and service providers that want performance-based marketing without appointing full-time employees or traditional distributors.
What does a Affiliate agreement typically cover?
A Affiliate agreement typically covers Identify the business and the affiliate clearly, Define the products or services being promoted, Set out how referrals are tracked and when they qualify, Specify commission rates, payout timing, and deductions if any, Include brand usage rules for names, logos, and marketing material, Restrict prohibited conduct such as false claims, spam, or trademark bidding if relevant, State the term, suspension, and termination rights, and Add confidentiality, tax, and dispute resolution clauses.
What formalities apply to a Affiliate agreement?
Affiliate agreements in India are generally governed by the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Depending on the business model, related issues such as online communications, electronic records, and digital acceptance may also intersect with the Information Technology Act, 2000. If the arrangement involves advertising claims, consumer-facing conduct should also remain consistent with general consumer protection principles and advertising standards. Such agreements are usually executed on plain paper or appropriate stamp paper depending on the state and transaction value. Notarisation is not typically mandatory, and registration is generally not required for a standard affiliate contract. Businesses should, however, consider proper GST and invoicing treatment for commission payments.
How long does a Affiliate agreement take to complete?
The guided draft is estimated to take Time varies. Allow additional time to review the completed document and confirm any execution formalities.