Channel Partner Program

What This Recipe Does

This recipe creates a channel partner commission program built for resellers, distributors, and B2B partners. Partners earn 15% of every sale attributed to them, tracked through two methods: partner-specific coupon codes and manual attribution. The program uses first-touch attribution, so the partner who originally established the customer relationship keeps credit for future sales.

This is not a typical affiliate program. Channel partnerships are built on long-term business relationships, not one-time link clicks. The dual tracking approach handles both digital transactions (coupon codes at checkout) and offline deals (manual attribution for phone sales, trade show contacts, and direct conversations).

Who It’s For

• Businesses with reseller or distributor networks that need to track and pay commissions on partner-referred sales automatically
• B2B companies whose channel partners use branded discount codes when referring clients to purchase online
• Sales teams managing hybrid attribution where some deals come through coupon codes at checkout and others are closed through direct conversations or trade events

How It Works

When you apply this recipe, Siren creates a program that tracks two engagement types: bound coupon usage and manual attribution. Each channel partner is added as a collaborator and can be assigned a WooCommerce coupon code tied to their profile. When a customer uses that code at checkout, the partner gets credit. For deals that happen outside your website, you manually attribute the transaction to the partner.

The “oldest binding wins” resolver is what sets this apart from standard affiliate programs. In channel sales, the partner who brought the customer to the table first should keep that relationship. If Partner A introduces a client through their coupon code in January, and Partner B somehow interacts with the same client in March, Partner A retains credit. This protects long-term partner investments and prevents territory disputes.

The 15% default rate sits in the middle of typical channel commission ranges. Adjust it based on your margins and what your partners expect. Software resellers often earn 15-30%, while product distributors may earn 5-15%. Set the rate that makes your channel economics work.

Commissions are calculated on line item totals only. Shipping, taxes, and fees are excluded from the calculation.

{
  "version": 1,
  "name": "Channel Partner Program",
  "description": "A channel partner program for resellers and distributors. Partners earn 15% through coupon codes and manual attribution with first-touch credit.",
  "programs": {
    "channel": {
      "name": "Channel Partner Program",
      "description": "Earn a 15% commission on every sale attributed to your channel partnership.",
      "incentiveType": "saleTransactionPercentage",
      "incentiveResolverType": "oldestBindingWins",
      "units": "USD",
      "status": "active",
      "incentiveAmount": 15,
      "engagementTypes": [
        { "type": "boundCouponUsed", "value": 100.0 },
        { "type": "manual", "value": 100.0 }
      ],
      "transactionCompilers": ["includeLineItems"]
    }
  }
}