Creator Program Terms

1. About the Creator Program

The ChefSphere Creator Program (the "Program") allows approved content creators, educators, and influencers ("Creators") to earn recurring commissions by promoting ChefSphere subscriptions to their audience. These terms supplement our Terms of Service.

2. Application and approval

• Anyone may apply. Applications are reviewed manually within 3 business days.
• Approval is at our sole discretion. There is no minimum follower count, but we assess audience quality and fit.
• We may request additional information (social links, content samples) before approving.
• We may reject, suspend, or terminate a Creator account at any time for breach of these terms.

3. Promo codes

Once approved, Creators may create branded promo codes (e.g., CHEFGORDON) from the Creator Dashboard. Each code:

• must be 3–20 characters, alphanumeric with hyphens/underscores;
• provides a discount to the subscribing user (percentage or fixed amount, configured by the Creator within allowed limits);
• is tracked automatically — every conversion is attributed to the correct Creator and code.

Creators may create multiple codes for A/B testing or campaign separation.

4. Attribution

When a user redeems a Creator's promo code, an attribution is recorded. This attribution has a 30-day window: if the user subscribes within 30 days, the Creator earns commission. If the user does not subscribe within the window, the attribution expires.

Only one promo code may be attributed per user. The most recent valid attribution at the time of subscription activation is used.

5. Commissions

5.1 Calculation

Commissions are calculated as a percentage of the subscription transaction amount (in EUR), based on the Creator's tier:

Tier	Monthly conversions	Commission rate
Bronze	0–10	15%
Silver	11–50	20%
Gold	51–200	25%
Diamond	201+	30%

A 5% platform fee is deducted before the commission is credited. Custom commission rates may be configured for select Creators by ChefSphere.

5.2 Hold period

All commissions enter a 30-day hold period for refund protection. During the hold:

• if the referred subscriber cancels immediately, the commission is revoked;
• if the referred subscriber's subscription expires without renewal, the commission is revoked;
• if fraud is detected, the commission is revoked.

After the hold period, commissions transition to Approved and are added to the Creator's available balance.

5.3 Recurring commissions

By default, Creators earn commission on recurring subscription payments for as long as the referred subscriber remains active. Recurring commissions follow the same hold and approval process.

6. Payouts

6.1 Method

Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect. Creators must complete Stripe onboarding before requesting payouts.

6.2 Minimum and maximum

• Minimum payout: €25
• Maximum per request: €10,000
• Payout requests above €500 undergo manual admin review.

6.3 Timing

Approved payout requests are processed within 1–2 business days. Funds are transferred in EUR to the Creator's connected bank account.

6.4 Idempotency

Each payout request must include a unique idempotency key (UUID v4). Duplicate requests with the same key return the original result without creating a new payout.

7. Creator obligations

Creators must:

• comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including advertising disclosure requirements (e.g., FTC, ASA, EU transparency rules);
• clearly disclose the commercial relationship when promoting ChefSphere (e.g., "#ad", "#sponsored", "#affiliate");
• not make misleading claims about ChefSphere features, pricing, or benefits;
• not use spam, purchased traffic, click farms, or deceptive tactics to generate sign-ups;
• not use their own promo code for personal subscriptions (self-referral is blocked at system level);
• not attempt to manipulate commission calculations or exploit program mechanics.

8. Data processing

To operate the Program, we process:

• Creator profile data — display name, bio, website, social links, business info, tax ID;
• Stripe Connect data — bank details (processed by Stripe, not stored by ChefSphere);
• Attribution data — user-code linkage, IP hashes, device fingerprints for fraud prevention;
• Financial data — commission amounts, payout history, tier progression.

This data is processed under GDPR Art. 6(1)(b) (contract performance) and Art. 6(1)(f) (legitimate interest in fraud prevention). See our Privacy Policy for full details.

9. Suspension and termination

We may suspend or terminate a Creator account if:

• the Creator violates these terms or our Terms of Service;
• we detect fraud or abuse patterns;
• the Creator fails to comply with advertising disclosure laws;
• the Creator's account is inactive for more than 12 months.

Upon termination:

• pending commissions in hold are forfeited;
• approved, unpaid commissions remain available for payout for 90 days;
• after 90 days, unclaimed balances are forfeited.

10. Taxes

Creators are solely responsible for reporting and paying any taxes on commissions earned. ChefSphere does not withhold taxes. Creators with EU VAT obligations must provide a valid VAT number. We may issue or request W-8/W-9 forms as required by applicable tax treaties.

11. Limitation of liability

ChefSphere's total liability under the Program is limited to the unpaid commission balance in the Creator's account at the time a claim arises. We are not liable for lost revenue, lost commissions due to subscriber cancellations, or technical failures beyond our reasonable control.

12. Modifications

We may modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or in-app notification at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued participation after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

13. Governing law

These terms are governed by Estonian law. Disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of Estonian courts, without prejudice to mandatory consumer-protection rules of the Creator's country of residence.

14. Contact

Questions about the Creator Program: [email protected].