Terms and Conditions – FreshBooks Affiliate Program

Last updated: January 12, 2026

These Terms and Conditions (or ‘Agreement’) govern your participation in the FreshBooks Affiliate Program, unless you have a current written referral or endorsement Agreement in place with FreshBooks or one of its affiliates (a ‘Strategic Partner Agreement’).  The terms of your Strategic Partner Agreement are not modified or altered by this Agreement.  

By applying to the Program, clicking to accept these terms, or promoting FreshBooks using Program links or materials, you agree to be bound by this Agreement. Please read this Agreement carefully before you apply or promote FreshBooks.

If you do not agree, you must not join or take part in the Program.

1. Definitions

In this Agreement:

• FreshBooks, we, us, and our means 2ndSite Inc, dba FreshBooks.
• You and Affiliate mean the person or organization that applies to and participates in the affiliate Program.
• Program means the FreshBooks Affiliate Program described in this Agreement.
• Network means any third-party affiliate platform we choose to use from time to time to run the Program, such as AWIN or PartnerStack.
• Program Account means your account with the relevant Network that is linked to the Program.
• Program Materials means any links, tracking codes, banners, copy, guidelines, or other resources we or the Network provide for the Program.
• Affiliate Link means a tracking link or code that identifies you and directs potential customers to FreshBooks.
• Referred Customer means a new customer who signs up with FreshBooks through your Affiliate Link and meets the eligibility rules in this Agreement and in the Network interface.
• Qualified Event means a specific action by a Referred Customer that is eligible for commission under the Program, such as starting a paid subscription, as described in your Network account or in a written offer from us.
• Commission means the amount payable to you for Qualified Events, as shown in the Network interface or in a written offer from us.
• Territory means the countries or regions that are currently eligible for the Program, as described in the Network interface or in our Program documentation.

2. Relationship of the parties

• You participate as an independent contractor.
• Nothing in this Agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, employment, franchise, agency, or fiduciary relationship between you and FreshBooks.
• You do not have authority to make offers, promises, or commitments on behalf of FreshBooks, to bind FreshBooks in any way, or to hold yourself out as our agent.
• You must clearly disclose your relationship with FreshBooks to your audience whenever required by law or by this Agreement.

3. Eligibility and enrollment

• To join the Program, you must submit an application through the Network or any other method we specify.
• We may approve or reject any application in our sole discretion, for any lawful reason or for no stated reason.
• We may later revoke approval if we find that your site, traffic, conduct, or business model does not meet our standards, violates this Agreement, or for any other lawful reason.
• You are responsible for making sure that participation in the Program does not violate any laws, rules, or agreements that apply to you, including any employment, agency, or platform rules.

If you apply or participate on behalf of a company or other entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity and that references to “you” include that entity.

4. Program scope and territory

• The Program is intended for promotion of FreshBooks cloud accounting and related products to small business customers and other users approved by FreshBooks.
• We may limit the Program by country, sector, or customer type as described in the Network interface or in Program documentation.
• We may change the Territory, eligible products, or supported customer profiles at any time by updating the Network interface or our Program documentation.

You must comply with any Territory or product restrictions we publish, including any rules about account type, industry, or size of business.

5. Use of the Network and Program tools

• The Program is run in part through one or more Networks.
• Your participation in the Program is also subject to the terms of use of the relevant Network. Those terms are a separate agreement between you and the Network.
• You are responsible for keeping your Program Account accurate and in good standing, including tax information, payment details, and contact information.
• In case of conflict between this Agreement and any Network terms, this Agreement controls for your relationship with FreshBooks. Network terms control your relationship with the Network.

We are not responsible for acts or omissions of any Network, including downtime, reporting delays, or payment processing handled by the Network.

6. Commissions and payment

6.1 General

• You may earn Commissions for Qualified Events generated through your Affiliate Links.
• The types of Qualified Events, the related Commission structure, and any bonus programs are described in the Network interface or in a written offer from us. These may include, for example, new paid subscriptions, upgrades, or other actions we identify.
• Only events that meet all conditions in this Agreement and in the Network interface will be treated as Qualified Events.

6.2 Changes to Commission structure

• We may change Commission rates, eligible products, types of Qualified Events, or special promotions at any time.
• Changes will apply on a go forward basis from the effective date we specify in the Network interface or in a notice to you.
• If you continue to participate in the Program after changes take effect, you agree to the new Commission structure.

6.3 Payment

• Commissions are calculated and reported through the Network based on tracked Qualified Events.
• Unless stated otherwise in the Network interface, Commissions are payable in the currency shown in your Program Account and are subject to any minimum payout threshold and payment schedule set by the Network.
• You are responsible for any bank fees, exchange costs, or similar charges related to your receipt of Commission.
• You are responsible for any taxes that apply to your Commissions. We may require tax forms and may withhold amounts where required by law.

We may offset any amounts you owe to FreshBooks against Commissions that would otherwise be payable to you.

7. Tracking, attribution, and disputes

• Qualified Events are tracked using Program Materials, including Affiliate Links and cookies or similar technology.
• The data reported through the Network and our internal systems is the primary source of truth for tracking and Commission calculation.
• If tracking is disrupted or data is incomplete, we may in our discretion adjust numbers using reasonable methods, such as other internal records.

If you believe that a Qualified Event has not been properly tracked or credited:

• You must notify us and provide reasonable detail within a reasonable period of time, typically within sixty days after the event.
• We will review and may request additional information.
• Our decision on whether to credit or adjust a Commission in such cases is final, acting reasonably and in good faith.

We are not responsible for tracking failures caused by your actions or omissions, such as improper link placement, modified tracking codes, ad blockers, or privacy tools used by visitors.

8. Promotional rules and traffic quality

8.1 General conduct

You must at all times:

• Promote FreshBooks honestly and in a way that reflects well on our brand.
• Comply with all laws that apply to your activities, including advertising, consumer protection, privacy, and spam laws.
• Follow all Program guidelines, creative specifications, and instructions we provide through the Network or other channels.

You must not:

• Make false, misleading, or unsupported claims about FreshBooks or our competitors.
• Present FreshBooks content next to illegal, hateful, or harmful content.
• Use any method that tries to trick or mislead users into clicking links or signing up.

8.2 Site content standards

You may not participate in the Program if your site or main channels:

• Promote violence, hate, or discrimination against any group.
• Contain adult content, pornography, or explicit sexual material.
• Promote illegal activity, including piracy, fraud, or abuse of minors.
• Contain malware or attempt to harm devices or data.

We may reject or remove you from the Program if we believe your content is not suitable for our brand.

8.3 Search and paid media

Unless we give you written approval in advance, you must not:

• Bid on, purchase, or otherwise use FreshBooks brand names, misspellings, or close variations as keywords in any search engine marketing or paid media platform.
• Use FreshBooks trademarks or brand terms in ad copy, display URLs, or extensions.
• Direct link from paid ads to any FreshBooks site or landing page using an Affiliate Link.
• Use any method designed to overwrite other affiliates cookies or to claim traffic you did not, in substance, earn.

If we approve specific paid search or paid media activity, that approval is limited to what we confirm in writing and may be withdrawn at any time.

8.4 Coupons, deals, and incentives

Unless we give you written approval in advance:

• You must not promote FreshBooks as a coupon site or deals site, or list FreshBooks alongside general coupons unless we supply the codes.
• You must not create, invent, or promote fake coupons or codes, including, for example, phrases such as “coupon,” “promo,” or “discount” where no official code exists.
• You must not display expired coupons as if they were valid.
• You must not promise cashback, rewards, or other incentives that depend on Commissions you expect to receive unless your structure is fully compliant with applicable law and with any rules we set.

If you are a coupon, loyalty, cashback, or voucher affiliate, you must obtain explicit written approval from FreshBooks before promoting our offers. We may set additional conditions or revoke approval at any time.

8.5 Email marketing

If you use email to promote FreshBooks:

• You must comply with all laws that apply to your emails, including CAN SPAM, CASL, and similar rules in any relevant country.
• You are solely responsible for your email list, including consent, suppression, and unsubscribe handling.
• You must not send unsolicited bulk email that mentions FreshBooks in a way that violates law or this Agreement.
• You must not imply that your email is sent by or on behalf of FreshBooks.

We may ask you, and you agree to, submit sample emails or to stop email promotion if we believe there is a risk of non-compliance or brand harm.

8.6 Social media and content creation

If you use social media, video, or other content channels:

• You must clearly disclose your affiliate relationship with FreshBooks in a way that is easy to see and understand, following guidance from regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission.
• You must not create social accounts, pages, groups, or handles that pretend to be official FreshBooks channels.
• You must not misrepresent your role or claim to offer support or account management on behalf of FreshBooks.

We may ask you, and you agree to, edit or remove specific posts or content items that we reasonably consider inaccurate or harmful to our brand.

8.7 Sub affiliates and networks

If you operate or manage a sub affiliate network or use sub affiliates:

• You are fully responsible for the conduct of your sub affiliates in relation to this Program.
• You must ensure that all sub affiliates follow this Agreement and any Program guidelines we provide.
• You must promptly remove or block any sub affiliate who violates this Agreement after you become aware of the issue.
• We may request a list of sub affiliates who promote FreshBooks and may direct you to end their participation.

We may, in our discretion, approve or deny specific sub affiliate models or traffic sources, including but not limited to coupon, loyalty, toolbars, browser extensions, and similar models.

8.8 Prohibited technologies and tactics

You must not:

• Use adware, spyware, browser extensions, toolbars, or similar technologies that inject ads, redirect traffic, or alter other sites or search results in a way that captures or overwrites affiliate tracking.
• Use click injection, cookie stuffing, forced click methods, or other tricks that drop cookies without meaningful user action.
• Mimic site behavior of FreshBooks or any competitor in a way that misleads users.

Any Commission that we reasonably believe arises from such prohibited methods may be withheld, reversed, or set to zero.

9. Use of FreshBooks brand and materials

9.1 License

Subject to this Agreement:

• We grant you a limited, revocable, non exclusive, non transferable right to use Program Materials solely to promote FreshBooks under the Program.
• You may not modify Program Materials except to the limited extent allowed by our written guidelines.

All Program Materials, and all rights in FreshBooks trademarks, logos, product names, and content, remain the exclusive property of FreshBooks and its licensors.

9.2 Restrictions

You must not:

• Register or use any domain name, social handle, or account name that contains FreshBooks trademarks or confusingly similar terms.
• Misuse Program Materials, including use outside the context of the Program.
• Create your own logos or marks that include or mimic FreshBooks brand elements without written consent.
• Use FreshBooks marks in a way that suggests endorsement or partnership beyond the affiliate relationship described in this Agreement.

On termination or suspension of your participation, you must promptly stop all use of Program Materials and remove all FreshBooks marks and content from your sites and channels, except where required for archival or legal reasons.

10. Data protection, privacy, and security

• You are responsible for complying with all privacy, data protection, and security laws that apply to your activities in the Program.
• You must maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect any personal data you collect in connection with your participation.
• You must not attempt to access FreshBooks customer accounts, billing information, or confidential data unless expressly authorized in writing.
• FreshBooks will process personal data collected on its own properties in line with its privacy policy, which may be updated from time to time.

You must not share or publish personal data about Referred Customers that you obtain by means of Program Materials, except as allowed by law and this Agreement.

11. Fraud, abuse, and audit rights

• We may review your activity at any time to check for compliance with this Agreement and Program guidelines.
• You must cooperate with reasonable requests for information about your traffic sources, promotional methods, and related matters.
• We may suspend tracking or payment while we investigate suspected fraud or breach.
• If we determine that you have engaged in fraud, abuse, or material violation of this Agreement, we may:
  • Terminate or suspend your participation.
  • Withhold, reverse, or recover Commissions that we reasonably link to such conduct.
  • Require you to repay amounts already paid that arose from such conduct.

Our decisions regarding fraud and abuse will be based on a reasonable assessment of the evidence available at the time.

12. Term, suspension, and termination

12.1 Term

• This Agreement starts when you are accepted into the Program or when you first begin to promote FreshBooks using Program Materials, whichever is earlier.
• It continues until terminated by you or by FreshBooks.

12.2 Termination for convenience

• Either you or FreshBooks may terminate your participation in the Program at any time, for any reason or no reason, by providing notice through the Network or by other written notice.
• Termination will be effective on the date specified in the notice or, if no date is specified, upon receipt.

12.3 Suspension or termination for cause

We may suspend or terminate your participation immediately, without advance notice, if we reasonably believe that:

• You have breached this Agreement or any applicable law.
• Your activities present risk of fraud, chargebacks, legal liability, or material brand harm.
• Your Program Account is inactive for a prolonged period or is not in good standing.
• You no longer meet our eligibility standards.

12.4 Effect of termination

On termination:

• Your right to participate in the Program and to use Program Materials ends.
• You must promptly stop promoting FreshBooks under the Program and remove Program Materials from your sites and channels.
• Subject to any review and reversal rights described in this Agreement, we will arrange payment of any earned but unpaid Commissions that relate to valid Qualified Events that occurred before the effective date of termination, in line with the normal payment schedule.

If we terminate for cause due to fraud, abuse, or serious breach, we may withhold or forfeit unpaid Commissions that we reasonably connect to that conduct. We will act reasonably and in good faith when deciding whether to withhold or forfeit Commissions.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination, including but not limited to those on brand use, confidentiality, data, liability, and indemnity, will continue in effect.

13. Limitation of liability and disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• FreshBooks and its affiliates are not liable to you for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, revenue, goodwill, or data, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
• The total combined liability of FreshBooks and its affiliates arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Program, or its termination, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is limited to the greater of:
  • The total Commissions paid or payable to you under this Agreement during the twelve month period before the event giving rise to the claim, or
  • $500.00 United States dollars.

The Program, Program Materials, and any related services are provided “as is” and “as available.” FreshBooks disclaims all warranties and conditions, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non infringement, to the extent permitted by law.

Nothing in this section limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

14. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless FreshBooks, its affiliates, and their officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any third party claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, that arise from:

• Your breach of this Agreement or Program guidelines.
• Your violation of any law or regulation in connection with your participation.
• Your misuse of Program Materials or FreshBooks intellectual property.
• Any claim relating to your sites, content, products, or services, including claims by your customers or visitors.

We may choose to assume control of the defense of any matter you are obligated to indemnify, in which case you must cooperate with us.

15. Confidentiality

• You may receive non public information about FreshBooks business, customers, products, or plans through your participation in the Program.
• You must treat such information as confidential, use it only as needed to take part in the Program, and not disclose it to third parties without our prior written consent, except where required by law.
• This duty of confidentiality does not apply to information that is publicly known without breach of this Agreement, that you lawfully received from another source without duty of confidence, or that you independently developed without use of our confidential information.

16. Changes to the Program and these terms

• We may update the Program, Program Materials, and these terms from time to time.
• When we make material changes, we will give notice by posting an updated version through the Network or on our site, or by sending an email or other notice to the contact information in your Program Account.
• Changes take effect on the date stated in the notice. If no date is stated, changes are effective when posted.
• If you continue to participate in the Program after changes take effect, you are deemed to accept the updated terms.

If you do not agree to any change, you must stop participating in the Program and terminate this Agreement.

17. Governing law and disputes

• This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply in that province, without regard to conflict of law rules.
• Any dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Program that is not resolved informally will be brought in the courts located in Toronto, Ontario.
• You and FreshBooks submit to the personal jurisdiction of those courts and waive any objection based on forum or venue.

Nothing in this section limits our ability to seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect our intellectual property or confidential information.

18. General provisions

• Entire Agreement
  This Agreement, together with any Program rules, Program guidelines, and any Network specific terms referenced here, forms the entire Agreement between you and FreshBooks regarding the Program and replaces any prior understandings on this subject.
• Assignment
  You may not assign or transfer this Agreement or your Program participation without our prior written consent. We may assign or transfer this Agreement at any time, including to an affiliate or successor.
• No waiver
  If we do not enforce any provision of this Agreement, that does not mean we waive our right to enforce it later.
• Severability
  If any provision of this Agreement is found unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent allowed, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force.
• Notices
  We may send notices to you through the Network interface, by email to the address in your Program Account, or by posting on our site. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current. You may send notices to us in the manner described in the Network interface or as otherwise specified in our Program documentation.
• Language
  This Agreement is written in English. If we provide translations, the English version controls if there is any difference.

If you have questions about these terms or about the Program, please contact the FreshBooks affiliate team through the Network or through the contact channels listed in the Program documentation.