AffiliateLauncher
Create a company

Set up AffiliateLauncher for WooCommerce

This guide walks a WooCommerce store owner through setting up an affiliate program with AffiliateLauncher: install the free WordPress plugin, connect your store, create a commission plan, enroll affiliates, and pay commissions with a PayPal CSV upload file. Commissions are calculated in AffiliateLauncher, not inside WordPress.

Before you start, you need WooCommerce installed and active, a site running PHP 8.2 or newer, and an AffiliateLauncher company. New companies start at Create a company. See the pricing page for plan details. The screens below are from plugin version 0.2.10.

1. Install the plugin

  1. Install and activate WooCommerce.
  2. In WordPress, go to Plugins > Add New, search for AffiliateLauncher, then click Install Now and Activate.
AffiliateLauncher 0.2.10 active on the WordPress Plugins screen
The plugin active, with WooCommerce as its required plugin.

2. Connect your store

Add your company values to the plugin

  1. In AffiliateLauncher, open Settings > WooCommerce.
  2. Copy the Company site ID. It is the same value as the Site ID on the Company Information settings page.
  3. Copy the WooCommerce integration key.
  4. In WordPress, open WooCommerce > AffiliateLauncher.
  5. The API base URL is prefilled with https://directsales.software. Keep the prefilled value.
  6. Paste the WooCommerce integration key and the Company site ID.
  7. Leave Cart float checked to show the affiliate lookup on your store, or uncheck it to hide it.
  8. Click Save settings.
AffiliateLauncher Company Information settings showing the Site ID
The Site ID on the Company Information page. Settings > WooCommerce shows the same value as the Company site ID.
AffiliateLauncher settings page under WooCommerce with the API base URL prefilled
Plugin settings under WooCommerce > AffiliateLauncher, with the API base URL prefilled.

Turn on order sync

  1. In WordPress, go to WooCommerce > Settings > Advanced > REST API keys and click Add key.
  2. Enter a description such as AffiliateLauncher and pick your admin user.
  3. Set Permissions to Read/Write. AffiliateLauncher needs write access to add order webhooks to your store.
  4. Click Generate API key. Copy the Consumer key and Consumer secret now, because WooCommerce shows the secret once.
  5. In AffiliateLauncher, open Settings > WooCommerce and find Connect this company to the store.
  6. Enter your Store URL. Use the HTTPS address shoppers use.
  7. Paste the Consumer Key and Consumer Secret, then click Connect.

AffiliateLauncher adds order webhooks to your store. After that, an order placed with an affiliate selected shows up in AffiliateLauncher under Sales, credited to that affiliate. WooCommerce orders are listed as woo- followed by the order number.

WooCommerce REST API key form with Permissions set to Read/Write
Creating a Read/Write WooCommerce REST API key for AffiliateLauncher.

3. Create a commission plan

  1. In AffiliateLauncher, open Commission and click New Plan.
  2. Enter a plan name and a default commission rate. Enter 10 for 10%.
  3. Click Save. The saved plan shows a plan ID.
New commission plan form with a name and default rate
New commission plan form.
Saved commission plan with its plan ID
Saved plan with its plan ID.
Commission plans list with one active plan
Commission plans list.

4. Enroll affiliates

People can join from your store, or you can add them yourself in AffiliateLauncher.

From your store

You need the affiliate lookup turned on (Cart float) and at least one active enrollment type in AffiliateLauncher.

  1. On your store, use the affiliate lookup in the bottom right corner to search for and pick an affiliate.
  2. If the panel is collapsed, expand it.
  3. Click Become an Affiliate.
  4. Pick an enrollment type.
  5. A free type opens the Join page, with the sponsor shown. The same page also works directly at /pub/enroll/your-site-id.
  6. A paid type adds the enrollment kit to the WooCommerce cart. The kit products set on that enrollment type must exist in your store.
Affiliate lookup panel on a WooCommerce store with Become an Affiliate
The lookup panel after picking an affiliate, with Become an Affiliate.
Become an Affiliate window listing enrollment types
Choose an enrollment type.
Join page form with the sponsor shown
Join page reached from your store, with the sponsor shown.
Join page form opened directly
Join page opened directly.
Enrollment kit in the WooCommerce cart
A paid enrollment kit in the WooCommerce cart.

Add an affiliate yourself

  1. In AffiliateLauncher, open Affiliates and click Create New Affiliate.
  2. Fill in the details and pick a commission plan.
  3. Add a Site Id if you want a readable shopping link such as ?_f=site-id. Without one, the affiliate ID is used.
  4. Click Save And Close. The roster shows the new affiliate ID.
New affiliate form with a commission plan selected
New affiliate form with a commission plan selected.
Affiliates roster after saving
Affiliates roster after saving.

5. Check sales and commissions

  1. Open Sales to see synced WooCommerce orders and the affiliate each one is credited to.
  2. To test without a store order, add a sale by hand: enter the sale ID, affiliate, date, and amount, then save.
  3. The saved sale shows the commission from the affiliate's plan.
New sale form
New sale form.
Saved sale showing the commission
Saved sale with its commission.

6. Pay affiliates

  1. Open Commission > Payout.
  2. Check the affiliates to include.
  3. Choose Create PayPal CSV upload file and download the file.
  4. Upload the file in PayPal.
  5. After PayPal processes the payments, mark the batch as paid in AffiliateLauncher.
Commission payout screen with the PayPal CSV upload option
Commission payout screen with the PayPal CSV upload option.

Get help