> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tolt.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How Tolt works

> How Tolt's affiliate model fits together: programs, groups, partners, links, clicks, customers and commissions, from the first click to the payout.

You set up a **program** once. After that, every sale a partner brings in moves through the same five steps, mostly on its own.

 Program

 Group

 Sam

 ?ref=sam

Every sale Sam brings in AutomaticClickclk\_3nVbHc5d…tolt.jsCustomercus\_Q7wR… Referred by SamSignupPaymenttxn\_7hTq… \$49.00BillingCommissioncomm\_2nV8… \$14.70 ApprovedFlowsPayoutPayPal NET-15Dashboard

## The setup

ProgramYour affiliate program: currency, cookie window, payout terms, partner portal.
GroupA segment of partners inside a program. Groups decide what partners earn.
PartnerSomeone who promotes you. Belongs to one program and one group.
LinkThe partner's referral URL, like `acme.com/?ref=sam`. Created with the partner.
Promotion codeA coupon tied to a partner. Attributes sales without a click.
FlowA commission rule: when a payment comes in, if conditions match, pay this much.

[Programs and groups →](/concepts/programs-groups) · [Commission rules →](/concepts/commission-flows)

## The activity

Each step has one job, and one way to feed it.

| Step | What it is | Where it comes from |
| - | - | - |
| **Click** | A visit through a partner link | [tolt.js](/tracking/script), or [`POST /v2/clicks`](/tracking/server-side) |
| **Customer** | A person bound to a partner, for good | [`tolt.signup()`](/tracking/signups), `POST /v2/customers`, or your billing integration |
| **Payment** | A charge, including every renewal | [Billing integration](/integrations/stripe), or [`POST /v2/transactions`](/tracking/payments) |
| **Commission** | What the partner earns from a payment | Created automatically by your flows |
| **Payout** | Approved commissions, paid out together | Run from the dashboard |

## The rule that matters most

A customer is bound to a partner **once**, when they sign up. Every later payment from that customer is credited to the partner, even after the cookie expires. Your flows decide how much, and for how long. So the only thing that has to happen inside the cookie window is the signup.

Jane, referred by Sam 30-day cookieClickacme.com/?ref=samDay 0Signupjane\@example.com Referred by SamDay 12Cookieexpires, binding staysDay 30Renewals\$49.00 → SamMonthly

[How attribution works →](/concepts/attribution)


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