Referral Program Terms & Conditions

1. Program Overview

The Coward to Cowboy Referral Program ("Program") allows eligible members to earn monthly commissions by referring new subscribers to our platform. This document outlines the terms, conditions, and requirements for participation in the Program.

2. Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Referral Program, you must:

• Be an active subscriber to either the Cowhand ($50/month) or Tophand ($100/month) membership tier
• Maintain your subscription in good standing (no failed payments or disputes)
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Provide valid tax information for commission payments (W-9 for U.S. residents)
• Set up a Stripe Connect payout account to receive payments
• Have a valid email address and be able to receive program communications

Members on the free tier or Greenhorn ($25/month) tier are not eligible to participate in the Referral Program.

3. Commission Structure

Commissions are calculated based on the subscription tier of your referred members. This is a 2-tier program: you earn from people you directly refer (Tier 1) AND from people they refer (Tier 2).

3.1 How 2-Tier Commissions Work

• Tier 1 (Direct Referrals): You earn full commissions from anyone who signs up using YOUR referral code
• Tier 2 (Indirect Referrals): You earn smaller commissions when your direct referrals bring in new members
• Example: You refer User B → User B refers User C → You earn Tier 2 from User C
• Maximum depth: 2 tiers. You do NOT earn anything from User C's referrals (User D, etc.)

3.2 Commission Calculation

• Commissions are calculated at the beginning of each calendar month for the previous month's activity
• You earn commissions only for referred members who have active, paid subscriptions
• If a referred member upgrades their plan, your commission adjusts to the new tier starting the following billing cycle
• If a referred member downgrades to Greenhorn ($25) or the free tier, you will no longer earn commissions from that referral
• There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make at either tier

3.3 Two-Tier Limit

4. How Referrals Are Tracked

4.1 Your Unique Referral Code

Upon qualifying for the Program (subscribing to Cowhand or Tophand), you will receive a unique referral code. This code is displayed on your member dashboard and can be shared via:

• Referral Link: A URL in the format cowardtocowboy.com?ref=YOURCODE
• Direct Code Entry: New subscribers can enter your code during signup

4.2 Attribution Requirements

For a referral to be properly attributed to you:

• The new subscriber must use your referral link OR enter your referral code during signup
• The new subscriber must complete their subscription within 30 days of clicking your referral link
• The referral code must be captured before the subscription is created
• The new subscriber must not already have an existing account

5. Payout Process

5.1 Stripe Connect Requirement

All commission payments are processed through Stripe Connect. To receive payments, you must:

• Complete Stripe's identity verification process
• Provide a valid bank account or debit card for receiving funds
• Keep your payout account information current

5.2 Payout Schedule

• Commissions are calculated for each full calendar month (e.g., January 1-31)
• Payouts are reviewed and processed within 15 days after the month ends
• Example: January earnings will be paid out by February 15th
• Approved payouts are processed via Stripe Connect to your linked bank account
• Standard Stripe payout timing applies (typically 2-7 business days after we initiate the transfer)
• There is no minimum payout threshold. You will receive payment for any earned commissions

5.3 Payout Holds & Account Freezes

Payouts may be delayed, held, or frozen by Stripe or Coward to Cowboy if:

• Your Stripe Connect account is not fully verified
• Your subscription lapses or is canceled
• There is suspected fraudulent activity on your account or referred accounts
• A referred member disputes their charge (chargeback) or requests a refund
• Your payout account has been deleted or disconnected
• Stripe requires additional identity verification or documentation
• Stripe detects potential violations of their Terms of Service
• Regulatory or legal compliance requirements
• Data security concerns or breach investigations
• Routine audits or risk reviews conducted by Stripe

5.4 Reserve Requirements

Stripe may place a reserve on your account, holding a percentage of your earnings for a period of time to cover potential chargebacks or refunds. This is standard practice for payment processors and is governed by Stripe's policies, not ours.

6. Tax Reporting & Compliance

6.1 1099 Reporting (U.S. Participants)

Stripe handles tax reporting for commission payments:

• If you earn $600 or more in a calendar year, Stripe will issue a 1099-K or 1099-MISC form
• You are responsible for providing accurate tax information to Stripe during account setup
• You are solely responsible for paying any applicable federal, state, and local taxes on your commission earnings

6.2 International Participants

If you are located outside the United States:

• You must comply with your local tax laws and reporting requirements
• Commission payments may be subject to withholding taxes
• You are responsible for understanding and meeting your local tax obligations

6.3 Independent Contractor Status

7. Program Rules & Prohibited Activities

7.1 Acceptable Promotion Methods

You may promote your referral link through:

• Personal social media accounts
• Your own website or blog
• Direct personal recommendations to friends, family, and acquaintances
• Email to your own contact list (with proper consent)
• YouTube, TikTok, and other video platforms

7.2 Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate termination from the Program and forfeiture of unpaid commissions:

• Self-referrals: Referring yourself or accounts you control
• Fake referrals: Creating fake accounts or paying others to sign up
• Spam: Mass unsolicited emails, texts, or messages
• Misleading claims: Making false statements about Coward to Cowboy, its services, or earning potential
• Paid advertising on our brand: Running paid ads using "Coward to Cowboy" or related trademarks without permission
• Cookie stuffing: Attempting to artificially place referral cookies
• Incentivized signups: Offering cash, discounts, or gifts in exchange for using your referral code
• Harassment: Pressuring or harassing people to sign up

8. Commission Adjustments & Clawbacks

We reserve the right to adjust or reverse commissions in the following circumstances:

• Refunds: If a referred member receives a refund, the associated commission will be deducted
• Chargebacks: If a referred member disputes a charge, the commission will be reversed
• Fraud: Any commissions earned through fraudulent or prohibited activities will be forfeited
• Subscription cancellation: Commissions are only paid for months the referred member maintains an active subscription

9. Fraud Detection & Verification

9.1 Right to Investigate

Coward to Cowboy reserves the right to investigate any referral activity that appears suspicious, fraudulent, or inconsistent with normal usage patterns. We may, at our sole discretion:

• Delay payout processing pending investigation
• Request additional verification or documentation from you
• Contact you via email to verify the legitimacy of referrals
• Review referral patterns, timing, and account information

9.2 Suspicious Activity Indicators

The following patterns may trigger a review and require verification before payouts are issued:

• Unusually high number of referrals in a short time period
• Multiple referrals with similar account characteristics
• Referrals that sign up and cancel quickly or repeatedly
• Referral patterns inconsistent with organic promotion
• Any activity that suggests self-referral or manufactured signups

9.3 Verification Process

If we identify suspicious activity, we will:

1. Notify you via email at the address associated with your account
2. Provide you an opportunity to explain or provide documentation
3. Make a determination based on available information
4. Communicate our decision within a reasonable timeframe

Failure to respond to verification requests within 14 days may result in forfeiture of pending commissions and termination from the Program.

9.4 Our Determination is Final

All decisions regarding suspected fraud, commission adjustments, and account termination are made at our sole discretion and are final. By participating in the Program, you agree to cooperate with any fraud investigation.

10. Term & Termination

10.1 Program Duration

Your participation in the Program continues as long as:

• You maintain an active Cowhand or Tophand subscription
• You comply with these terms and conditions
• The Program remains active

10.2 Voluntary Termination

You may stop participating at any time by:

• Simply ceasing to promote your referral link
• Deleting your Stripe Connect payout account
• Contacting us to request removal from the Program

10.3 Involuntary Termination

We may terminate your participation if:

• You violate any of these terms
• Your subscription lapses or is canceled
• We detect fraudulent or abusive activity
• Required by law or third-party platform policies

10.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your referral code will be deactivated
• You will receive payment for any approved, unpaid commissions earned before termination (unless terminated for fraud)
• Pending referrals that have not yet converted will not be credited

11. Program Modifications

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Program at any time, including:

• Changing commission rates
• Modifying eligibility requirements
• Updating these terms and conditions
• Discontinuing the Program entirely

Material changes will be communicated via email to active participants. Continued participation after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your participation in the Program
• Our total liability shall not exceed the commissions actually paid to you in the 12 months preceding any claim
• We do not guarantee any minimum earnings or number of conversions
• Technical issues, tracking failures, or third-party service outages may affect referral attribution

13. Dispute Resolution

If you believe a referral was not properly credited or have questions about your commissions:

1. Contact us at support@coward2cowboy.com with details
2. Include the referral code, approximate date, and any relevant information
3. We will investigate and respond within 10 business days

Our determination on referral attribution and commission disputes is final.

14. Privacy & Data

• We collect and process data necessary to operate the Program (referral codes, conversion data, payout information)
• Your data is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• You will not have access to referred members' personal information beyond what is shown on your dashboard
• Stripe receives information necessary to verify your identity and process payments

15. Contact Information

For questions about the Referral Program, please contact:

Coward to Cowboy
Email: support@coward2cowboy.com