Partner program · 8 min read

Partner Program earnings, tracking, and payouts explained

See when a provider referral qualifies, how commissions are calculated, why earnings are held, and what Stripe setup is required.

Published September 25, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026 · BubsBookings Editorial Team

A click or signup does not create earnings

A referral begins when someone follows your valid partner link or intentionally enters your code during provider onboarding. The referral can be attributed to you when that person creates a new provider profile, but attribution alone is not a payable event. The provider must finish onboarding, publish a legitimate active listing, complete an eligible paid booking, and successfully receive the related provider payout.

✓A genuinely new provider
✓A valid link or intentionally entered code
✓Completed provider onboarding and an active listing
✓A real completed booking with a successful provider payout

Compensation follows your assigned program terms

Partner compensation comes from eligible BubsBookings revenue, not the provider’s gross service price. The terms saved with your partner account identify the qualifying events, compensation method, hold period, payout minimum, and any approved custom conditions. Do not promise a particular amount, rate, or payout date in your promotion; the current program terms control.

✓Review your current partner terms
✓Promote only to genuinely new providers
✓Describe the program accurately
✓Use the dashboard for referral and payout status

Tracking uses the current attribution terms

A referral begins when a new provider follows your valid partner link or intentionally enters your code during onboarding. The attribution period and priority rules are shown in the current program terms. Attribution locks when the provider profile is created so later links cannot move an established referral. Browser cookie deletion, blocked cookies, an expired attribution period, an invalid code, an existing provider account, or prohibited self-referral can prevent qualification.

Held, payable, and paid are different stages

Eligible commission first remains pending through the program’s holding period so refunds, disputes, chargebacks, duplicate records, fraud concerns, and payout failures can be resolved. After the hold, it can become payable when the program minimum is met and required tax and Stripe payout setup is complete. BubsBookings then transfers the eligible amount to the partner’s connected Stripe balance; Stripe controls when those funds become available and reach the partner’s bank.

✓Pending: recorded but still under review or hold
✓Payable: eligible for a payout once all requirements are met
✓Paid: BubsBookings sent the transfer to the connected Stripe account
✓Bank arrival: controlled by Stripe and the partner’s payout schedule

The reserve is a safeguard, not a personal account

BubsBookings records unpaid affiliate earnings in its ledger and protects an amount in the platform Stripe balance before an owner payout is requested. The protected amount is based on recorded unpaid affiliate obligations plus any configured safety buffer. It changes as commissions are created, approved, paid, rejected, reversed, or disputed. This is an operational safeguard, not an escrow account, trust account, bank deposit, guarantee, or ownership of money from a particular customer charge.