Creating a Program
Create a draft program from a template, customize reward rules, then activate to go live.
A referral program defines how referrers earn when they bring in new customers. You can create multiple programs for different purposes (e.g., one for staff, one for clients).
Programs are born DRAFT and only issue rewards after you activate them to LIVE.
Creating a New Program
- Navigate to Programs in the sidebar
- Click Create Program
- Pick a template, name it, and set the two reward amounts
- Optionally open Customize for advanced overrides
- Save -- the program is created as DRAFT (no paywall yet)
Templates
| Template | New customer reward | Referrer reward | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gift card, both sides | Square gift card on signup | Gift card when the new customer pays | Salons, spas, classic double-sided |
| Discount at the register | Auto-apply coupon | Auto-apply coupon | Zero gift-card ops; POS discounts |
| Cash payout for partners | Square gift card on signup | Manual cash payout per conversion | Influencers and agencies |
Template defaults use a fixed amount per conversion and first-purchase scope. Viral loop is on by default.
Customize Overrides
Open Customize on the creation screen (or edit later) to change:
Commission Type
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Revenue | Referrers earn a percent of the referred payment (e.g., 10% of $100 = $10) |
| Fixed Per Conversion | Fixed dollar amount per qualifying referral |
Program Scope
| Scope | What It Means |
|---|---|
| First Purchase | Only the customer's first payment earns a reward |
| All Purchases in Window | All payments within a set time period earn rewards |
| Lifetime | Every payment the customer ever makes earns a reward |
Reward Modes
| Mode | What It Means | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Card | Reward added to a Square gift card automatically | Money stays in your business |
| Coupon | Auto-apply discount at Square POS | No code entry at register |
| Loyalty Points | Points on Square Loyalty | Requires Square Loyalty |
| Manual Payout | Tracked for you to pay outside ViralRef | Cash, Venmo, check, etc. |
You can set different reward modes for referrers and referred customers independently -- for example, coupon for the new visitor and gift card for the referrer.
Coupon Configuration
When reward mode is Coupon:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Discount Type | Fixed amount or percentage |
| Discount Value | Amount or percent |
| Scope | Entire order, specific items, or categories |
| Expiration | Optional days until expiry |
Coupons auto-apply at Square POS. Each is single-use and removed after redemption. Coupon infrastructure is provisioned at activation, not at draft creation.
Viral Loop Settings
When the viral loop is enabled (default on templates):
- A new customer opens a referral link and verifies with phone OTP
- They receive a welcome reward (gift card or coupon, per your settings)
- They automatically get their own
/reflink - They can refer others and earn on the referrer side
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable Viral Loop | Automatic referrer enrollment |
| New Customer Reward Amount | Welcome reward for signups |
| Referrer Reward Amount | What the sharer earns on a qualifying purchase |
See Viral Loop for details.
Draft vs Live
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| DRAFT | Editable. /ref shows a branded coming-soon page (optional phone capture). No rewards, no live OTP attribution, no payment attribution. |
| LIVE | Fully active. Rewards, OTP, and Square payment attribution run. |
| PAUSED | Temporarily stopped (manual pause or subscription loss). Public /ref shows paused messaging. |
Nothing ever returns to DRAFT after going live.
Activating a Program
Activation is the paywall moment:
- Open the program detail page
- Click Activate
- Subscribed or whitelisted orgs flip LIVE immediately
- Everyone else picks a plan → Stripe checkout → return to the program (now LIVE)
Plan limits (maxPrograms, counted against LIVE only) and some reward-mode tier gates are enforced at activation, not at creation.
Commission Tiers
After creation, add tiers so rates rise with performance:
- Number of referrals
- Time active
Example:
| Tier | Condition | Commission |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 0+ referrals | 10% |
| Silver | 10+ referrals | 12% |
| Gold | 25+ referrals | 15% |
| Platinum | 50+ referrals | 20% |
Editing a Program
- Navigate to Programs
- Open the program
- Modify settings and save
Commission rate changes apply to future referrals only.
Running Multiple Programs
Examples:
- Staff referral program (higher commission)
- Client referral program (viral loop enabled)
- Influencer program (cash payout template)
- Agency program (lifetime scope)
Each referrer is assigned to one program. You can move referrers between programs as needed.
Next Steps
Managing Affiliates
Add referrers, organize groups, and set up commission overrides.
Viral Loop
Learn how automatic referrer enrollment drives exponential growth.