Keep your program
moving.

01 / GET STARTED

Set up your program

1. Open Referlane from Apps in your Shopify admin. Review the subscription terms in Shopify, then approve Standard.
2. First-run setup walks you through your commission rate, customer discount, holding period, minimum payout, program contact email, and program terms. Change any of these later in Settings.
3. Publish your program, then invite an affiliate or share your store’s application link.
4. Approve the affiliate and confirm their Shopify discount code is ready.
5. Place a test order with that code to check the referral and commission flow.

For optional visit data, enable Referlane tracking in your theme’s App embeds. It waits for Shopify to allow marketing tracking.

02 / CHECK THE ORDER

Understand a commission

A commission comes from an eligible paid order linked to an approved affiliate’s active discount code or, when enabled, a verified referral link. A visit alone does not create a commission.

If a commission is missing, check the order’s payment state, the exact discount code, and the affiliate’s approval status. In Commissions, open the linked order to inspect it in Shopify.

Refunds and cancellations can change the amount owed. An adjustment after a completed payout can require manual recovery; inspect the commission record before making another payment.

03 / REVIEW, THEN PAY

Complete a manual payout

1. In Payouts, review eligible approved balances and each affiliate’s payment details.
2. Build and approve the payout, then export the payout file.
3. Pay your affiliates outside Referlane, using the payment options you chose in Settings — bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, crypto, store credit, or however you already pay them. Affiliates can only pick what you offer.
4. Mark the payout as paid in Referlane and enter the payment reference.

Approving a payout or exporting a file does not send money. Mark a payout as paid only after payment is complete.

FOR AFFILIATES

Use your store’s portal

Open the portal link supplied by the store whose program you joined. Each store has a separate portal. Use that portal to apply, sign in, accept terms, find your referral link, and review earnings.

For approval, commission, payment, or program-term questions, contact the store running your program. The store chooses its terms and makes affiliate payments.

MERCHANT SUBSCRIPTIONS

Manage your plan in Shopify

Open Settings in Referlane to view your subscription and reach Shopify’s plan page. Shopify shows the price and trial terms before you approve.

After cancellation, normal app access ends when Shopify no longer reports an active subscription. Existing records remain, and authenticated access to billing and manual payout exports stays available.