Affiliate Handbook
Everything you need to share Atlas by SigmaTools and get paid. This is the plain-English playbook. The binding rules are in our Terms of Service (Section 15) and the Affiliate Program Terms; read those too.
The program in 30 seconds
You get a personal link. Earn 30% of every sub you refer for their first 2 years, then 10% for as long as they stay. Keep referring to keep the tail: the 10% rate requires at least 1 new paying referral in the prior 12 months. Attribution window is 60 days from click to signup, and payouts run through Stripe once your cleared balance passes $50. Always disclose that you earn a commission. That is it.
Quick start: your link and code
Find your code and link on your affiliate dashboard. Your link looks like https://atlas.sigmatools.io/?r=YOURCODE. Share that, or just the code for people to enter manually.
Where to put it. The spots that work: your bio link (Instagram, TikTok, X), your video descriptions (YouTube, Shorts), a pinned Discord message in your server, a story highlight, your newsletter footer. Put it where your people already are, then point to it when you post.
How attribution works. When someone clicks your link we set a 60-day cookie. The credit is locked to your account the moment they create an account through it, and it binds to a stable id, not to your code text. So you can change your vanity slug later and it never unlinks a referral you have already earned. One referrer per new lifter, set once at signup.
Vanity link setup (Recruiter and up)
From the Recruiter tier (the rung every affiliate starts on) you can swap your random code for a memorable slug (for example /?r=coach-jordan). Set it from the Share Kit on your dashboard.
- 3 to 32 characters: lowercase letters, numbers, and single
._or-between them. - Must be unique, and cannot impersonate Atlas, admin, or use profanity.
- Changing it never affects referrals or earnings you already have. Note: links printed with the OLD slug stop attributing once you change it.
What converts
- Share your real recap cards and your Wrapped. A genuine "this is my year" post beats any ad copy.
- Transformation stories over hype. The lift you finally hit, the streak you kept: specifics convert, superlatives do not.
- Post the muscle map. It is the screenshot people ask about, and every share card already carries your handle.
- Use the prefilled copy and share cards in your dashboard Share Kit. Edit them to sound like you.
- Mention the free 14-day trial (no card required). People convert better when there is no upfront risk.
Grab logos and approved copy from the Brand Kit.
Required: disclose that you earn a commission (FTC)
This is not optional.
US law (the FTC Endorsement Guides, 16 CFR Part 255) requires you to clearly and conspicuously disclose that you have a paid/affiliate relationship with us, on every post or message that promotes Atlas. It protects you and us.
Copy-paste disclosures that work:
#adI earn a commission if you subscribe through my link.Atlas affiliate: signing up through my link supports me at no extra cost to you.
How to do it right:
- Put the disclosure where people will see it BEFORE the link, not buried at the bottom or behind a "more" tap.
- Use plain words people understand, like the examples above. A bare
#affor#spalone is not enough. - On video, say it out loud and put it on screen. In a livestream, repeat it.
- Never make false or unsubstantiated claims, and never present fitness content as medical advice. See our Health Disclaimer.
Represent the brand right
Use the assets and rules in the Brand Kit. Quick version: always call us Atlas by SigmaTools (Atlas is a common name, so the full name keeps it clear), never imply you ARE Atlas or speak for us, do not recolor or distort the logo, and do not bid on our brand name in paid search or spam.
The money
Per referred subscriber: 30% of net subscription revenue for that referral's first 24 months of paid subscription, then 10% for as long as the subscription stays active, provided you are in Active status. Active means at least 1 new paying referral in the rolling prior 12 months. The 24-month full-rate window is never activity-gated; only the 10% tail is. In short: keep referring to keep the tail.
| Term | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| Commission, months 1-24 | 30% of net subscription revenue per referral. Not activity-gated. |
| Commission, month 25+ | 10% of net, for as long as the sub stays active AND you are in Active status (1+ new paying referral in the prior 12 months). Inactive affiliates accrue nothing on the tail. |
| Attribution window | 60 days from click to signup, first touch, locked at account creation. |
| Minimum payout | $50 cleared balance. Below that it carries forward. |
| Refund hold | Each commission clears after a 30-60 day hold (covers refunds and chargebacks; reversed if the payment comes back). |
| First payout | Your first commission as a new affiliate sits in a 90-day review before it can pay out. Standard anti-fraud, applies to everyone once. |
- Payouts: via Stripe Connect (US only for now), once your cleared balance is at least $50. Connect your Stripe account from the dashboard so we can pay you.
- Taxes: you are responsible for your own taxes. US affiliates provide a W-9 and receive a 1099 when earnings cross the IRS threshold.
The rules
The full list lives in the Affiliate Program Terms. The ones that get people removed:
- No self-referral. Buying through your own link pays nothing and gets flagged.
- No spam or DMs at scale. No bulk unsolicited email, SMS, comment spam, or mass cold DMs. Promote to your own audience.
- No bidding on Atlas brand terms. Do not buy paid search or social ads on "Atlas", "Atlas by SigmaTools", "SigmaTools", or close misspellings.
- No coupon-site posting. Do not list your link or invented "discount codes" on coupon and deal aggregator sites.
- Use the Brand Kit. Current assets only, always presented as "Atlas by SigmaTools", logo unmodified, and never imply you are us. See the Brand Kit.
Tier ladder
Tiers climb on qualified paid referrals. Everyone starts at Recruiter with the full earning toolkit; higher rungs add recognition and perks on top, never different math on your commissions.
| Tier | Paid referrals | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | 0 (start) | The full toolkit: link, code, Share Kit, commissions, and the custom vanity link. |
| Captain | 10 | Monthly leaderboard standing plus priority support. |
| Influencer | 30 | Recognition tier: first in line as new creator perks roll out. |
| Legend | 75 | The top rung. Our highest tier of creators. |
FAQ
How do I join?
From the creators page or the Earn tab in the app. You need a finished profile and an account that is past the minimum age check.
When do I get paid?
Once your cleared balance reaches $50 and you have connected Stripe. Commissions clear after a 30-60 day hold that covers the referred member's refund window.
Why is my first payout held?
Every new affiliate's first commission goes through a one-time 90-day review before it can pay out. It is standard anti-fraud protection, it applies to everyone, and it only happens once.
What if my referral cancels or refunds?
A future month simply does not pay once they cancel. A refund or chargeback reverses the related commission.
What happens to my 10% tail if I stop referring?
The 10% rate (months 25 and beyond per referral) only accrues while you are in Active status: at least 1 new paying referral in the rolling prior 12 months. Your 24-month 30% windows are never affected by activity. Refer again and the tail picks back up going forward.
Can I change my vanity link later?
Yes, from Recruiter (the starting tier). It never affects referrals you already earned, but old printed links using the previous slug stop attributing.
Are payouts US-only?
For now, yes: payouts run through Stripe Connect for US affiliates. More countries are on the roadmap.
Do I really have to disclose?
Yes. It is required by law on every promotion. See the FTC section above.
Can I run paid ads on the Atlas brand name?
No. Bidding on our brand or trademark in paid search is prohibited. Promote with your own content and audience.
Can I offer my own discount or claim a specific result?
Do not invent discounts or guarantee specific results. Keep claims truthful and not medical. Stick to the approved copy in the Brand Kit when in doubt.
Support
Stuck, unsure if a placement is allowed, or missing a commission you expected? Email affiliate@sigmatools.io and a human will get back to you.
This handbook is operating guidance, not the contract. The binding terms are our Terms of Service (Section 15) and the Affiliate Program Terms. We may update the program at any time.