Shopify

Shopify is a commerce platform that lets anyone set up an online store and sell products without building the underlying technology themselves. It was founded in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake after they struggled to find good software for their own snowboard shop. The company is based in Ottawa, Canada, and today powers millions of merchants worldwide.

Paid plans start at around $29 per month for the Basic tier, with higher tiers adding lower transaction fees and more staff accounts. Shopify Plus, the enterprise tier, sits well above that and is sold separately.

The Shopify Affiliate Program pays a one-time bounty rather than a recurring cut. Commissions run up to $150 per referred merchant depending on the plan and region, and Shopify Plus referrals are worth substantially more. You need an active website and an audience of entrepreneurs or business owners to be approved.

The payout threshold is a low $10, and commissions are paid monthly via PayPal or direct bank deposit in 80+ currencies. The standard tracking window is 30 days, though a click that leads to a paid trial can stay attributed for far longer while the merchant decides to convert.