Skip to content
Docs

Legal Considerations

This page outlines common legal considerations when working with referral partners.

Partner Agreements

Section titled “Partner Agreements”

We strongly recommend having written agreements with partners covering:

Revenue Share Terms

Section titled “Revenue Share Terms”
  • Percentage of revenue per attributed purchase
  • Revenue types included (subscriptions, one-time purchases, renewals)
  • When earnings are calculated (at purchase, after refund period)

Payment Terms

Section titled “Payment Terms”
  • Minimum payout threshold (e.g., $5, $25, $100)
  • Payout frequency (daily, weekly, monthly)
  • Currency and conversion if applicable

Duration and Termination

Section titled “Duration and Termination”
  • Agreement term (indefinite, fixed period)
  • How either party can terminate
  • What happens to pending earnings on termination

Tax Considerations

Section titled “Tax Considerations”

United States

Section titled “United States”
  • Stripe collects W-9 forms from US partners
  • 1099 forms are generated for partners earning over $600/year
  • Partners are responsible for reporting earnings as income

Canada

Section titled “Canada”
  • Partners report affiliate income on their T1 tax return
  • If earning over $30,000 CAD annually, GST/HST registration may be required
  • Business expenses related to promotion may be deductible

For You (the App Owner)

Section titled “For You (the App Owner)”
  • Partner payments are typically business expenses
  • Keep records of all payments for tax purposes
  • Consult your accountant about deductibility

For Partners

Section titled “For Partners”
  • Partners are responsible for reporting their earnings
  • Stripe provides them with tax documentation where applicable
  • International partners may have withholding requirements

Intellectual Property

Section titled “Intellectual Property”

Consider addressing:

  • Use of your app’s name and branding
  • Approved marketing materials
  • Prohibited claims or representations
  • Ownership of promotional content

Compliance

Section titled “Compliance”

For Affiliate Marketing

Section titled “For Affiliate Marketing”

Many jurisdictions require disclosure:

  • FTC guidelines in the US require clear disclosure of affiliate relationships
  • Partners should disclose they earn from referrals

For App Store Compliance

Section titled “For App Store Compliance”
  • Apple and Google have policies on affiliate programs
  • Ensure your program doesn’t violate app store terms

Sample Agreement Topics

Section titled “Sample Agreement Topics”

A comprehensive partner agreement might include:

  1. Definitions — Partner, Referral, Attribution, etc.
  2. Commission Structure — How earnings are calculated
  3. Payment Terms — When and how payments are made
  4. Partner Obligations — Promotional guidelines
  5. Prohibited Activities — Fraud, spam, misrepresentation
  6. Termination — How to end the relationship
  7. Liability — Limitation of liability
  8. Governing Law — Which jurisdiction applies
Section titled “Recommended Practices”

Document Everything

Section titled “Document Everything”
  • Keep signed agreements on file
  • Document payout history (BitEasy provides this)
  • Record any special terms or negotiations

Clear Communication

Section titled “Clear Communication”
  • Set expectations upfront about earnings
  • Be transparent about payout schedules
  • Notify partners of program changes

Regular Review

Section titled “Regular Review”
  • Review partner performance periodically
  • Update agreements if terms change
  • Address underperforming or problematic partners

Resources

Section titled “Resources”

United States

Section titled “United States”

Canada

Section titled “Canada”

General

Section titled “General”

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”