Effective Date: June 1, 2025

This Affiliate Program Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Waterway Guide Media, LLC (“Waterway Guide,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) and you (“Affiliate,” “you,” or “your”). By applying for or participating in the Waterway Guide Affiliate Program, you agree to abide by the following terms and conditions.

1. Enrollment & Eligibility

   To join the program, you must submit a complete application through our designated affiliate platform. All applications are manually reviewed. Acceptance is based on:

   • Relevance to the boating, cruising, or outdoor industries
   • Quality and professionalism of your platform and audience
   • Alignment with the Waterway Guide brand and values

   We reserve the right to accept or reject any application at our sole discretion.

2. Commission Structure

   • Affiliates earn a 10% commission on all qualifying purchases made through their unique affiliate links.
   • Commissions are not paid on canceled orders, refunds, or chargebacks.
   • We reserve the right to withhold commissions for transactions that appear fraudulent or violate this Agreement.

3. Cookie Duration

   Our program uses a 45-day cookie window. If a customer purchases within 45 days of clicking your link, the sale will be credited to your account.

4. Payout Terms

   • Minimum payout threshold: $25
   • Payout frequency: Quarterly
   • Payment method: Check
     You are responsible for ensuring your payment information is accurate and up to date.

5. Affiliate Responsibilities

   By participating in the program, you agree to:

   • Promote Waterway Guide products and services using only your assigned affiliate links
   • Adhere to ethical marketing practices and applicable laws
   • Not make false, misleading, or exaggerated claims about Waterway Guide
   • Avoid any form of spam (e.g., unsolicited emails, SMS, or messages)

6. Prohibited Practices

   The following actions are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate termination and forfeiture of unpaid commissions:

   • Bidding on “Waterway Guide” or any related brand terms in paid search advertising (e.g., Google Ads)
   • Misleading or deceptive marketing tactics
   • Promoting Waterway Guide on sites that contain offensive, adult, political, or otherwise controversial content

7. Branding & Media Use

   You may use Waterway Guide logos, product images, and approved marketing copy provided in the Affiliate Media Kit. However:

   • You must not alter our branding
   • You may not imply a partnership or official endorsement beyond participation in this program
   • All materials must follow Waterway Guide’s brand guidelines

8. FTC Disclosure Requirements

   You are required to comply with all Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines. This includes clearly stating your affiliate relationship in all public-facing content, such as:

   “As a Waterway Guide affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.”

9. Term & Termination

   This Agreement will remain in effect until terminated by either party. Either party may terminate participation at any time, with or without cause, by providing written notice (email acceptable). Upon termination:

   • You must immediately remove all affiliate links and promotional materials
   • Unpaid commissions for valid referrals made prior to termination will be paid per the standard payout schedule

10. Independent Contractor

    You are an independent contractor and not an employee, agent, or partner of Waterway Guide. You may not represent yourself as such or bind us to any obligations.

11. Limitation of Liability

    Waterway Guide shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages related to this program. Our total liability shall not exceed the total commissions paid to you in the six (6) months preceding any claim.

12. Governing Law

    This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

13. Modifications

    We reserve the right to update these terms at any time. Continued participation following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Agreement.

Questions?

Please contact us at [email protected] or 804-776-8999.