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How agencies and consultants can earn referral commissions on software

Agencies and consultants already recommend tools to clients. How to earn referral commissions on them transparently, without conflicts of interest.

Updated on 30 Oct 2026

If you set up affiliate programs, run performance campaigns or advise iGaming and e-commerce brands, you already choose software for your clients. Many of those tools pay referral commissions, often recurring. Joining their partner programs turns advice you already give into a second income, as long as you do it transparently.

Why it works for agencies

  • You are already the decision-maker on tools, so referrals happen naturally.
  • Clients stay: the tools you implement are the ones they use every day, so recurring commissions last.
  • It smooths revenue: project income goes up and down; recurring commissions keep arriving between projects.

Keep it honest with clients

  1. Tell them. Say in your proposal or contract that you may earn a referral commission on tools you recommend.
  2. Recommend on merit. If a tool without a partner program fits better, recommend it anyway. Your reputation is worth more than any commission.
  3. Consider passing part of it on, as a discount or included hours. Some agencies do this to remove any doubt.
  4. Don't use your link on your own account. Self-referrals break most programs' rules.

Where commissions come from

  • Tracking and affiliate software you set up for clients' programs or networks.
  • Hosting, analytics and marketing tools you implement.
  • Payment and compliance tools in regulated industries such as iGaming.

How to set it up

  1. Join the partner programs of the tools you already recommend.
  2. Use a separate sub ID per client or proposal, so you know where each referral came from.
  3. Send clients through your link when they sign up, or start the free trial together with them during onboarding.
  4. Check your partner panel monthly and request payouts.

Example: RastroAff for agencies

If you build affiliate programs or networks for clients, the RastroAff partner program pays 25% of every payment for 12 months per client you refer, and free trials started through your link count when the client pays. For how to set up a network for a client, see how to start an affiliate network.