Affiliate Program Terms of Service

By participating in our affiliate program, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. Relationship:
a. Participation in the Affiliate Program does not constitute or imply an employment relationship with Helotes News LLC.

2. Eligibility:
a. Anyone aged 18 years or older can participate in the affiliate program.
b. You must be a United States Citizen with no felony convictions.
c. You must have a valid email address and provide accurate and complete information during the registration process.
d. You must complete applicable income tax forms prior to payout.

3. Affiliate Responsibilities:
a. You will be provided with a unique referral link to promote our website and products.
b. You are responsible for promoting our website and products in a lawful and ethical manner.
c. You may not engage in any activities that may harm our brand reputation or violate any laws or regulations.
d. You are responsible for ensuring that your referral link is properly formatted.
e. You are responsible for any taxes or fees associated with your affiliate earnings.

4. Commission Structure:
a. Commissions will be paid based on the tier structure below.
b. Commissions will only be paid for sales generated through your unique referral link.
c. Commissions will not be paid for self-referrals or fraudulent activities.
d. Commissions will be calculated based on the total sales value, excluding taxes, shipping fees, and returns.
e. Tiers:
i. Tier 1: Starter
1. Commission: 3% of the total sales value
2. Description: Affiliates will earn a 3% commission on all sales generated directly through their referral link.
ii. Tier 2: Associate
1. Commission: 5% of the total sales value
2. Description: Affiliates will earn a 5% commission on all sales generated by affiliates they have personally referred to the program.
iii. Tier 3: Partner
1. Commission: 10% of the total sales value
2. Description: Affiliates will earn a 2% commission on all sales generated by affiliates referred by their second-level referrals.

5. Payouts:
a. Commissions will be paid out monthly once the minimum payout threshold is reached.
b. The minimum payout threshold is set at $500.
c. Chargebacks, cancellations or any other disputed transaction will be deducted from the total payout.
d. Payouts will be made via Stripe or another agreed-upon payment method.
e. We reserve the right to withhold or cancel commissions if we suspect any fraudulent or unethical activities.

6. Termination:
a. Either party may terminate the affiliate relationship at any time, for any reason, by providing written notice.
b. Upon termination, you will no longer be eligible to earn commissions, your account will be deleted from our system and all accumulated payouts are forfeited.

7. Modifications:
a. We reserve the right to modify or terminate the affiliate program at any time, without prior notice.
b. Any changes to the affiliate program will be communicated to you via email or through our affiliate dashboard.

8. Limitation of Liability:
a. We will not be liable for any indirect, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the affiliate program.
b. Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with the affiliate program shall not exceed the total commissions paid or payable to you under the program.

9. Governing Law:
a. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States of America.
b. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with the affiliate program shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bexar County, Texas.

By participating in our affiliate program, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions.