Can you really launch an affiliate program without spending a cent?

TLDR: Yes.

If you’re bootstrapped or financial risk-free, this guide will walk you through how to build, launch, and grow an affiliate program with a $0 marketing spend. We’ll cover the exact steps, the free tools you can use, and the strategies to get your first affiliates onboard.

Why affiliate marketing works so well for bootstrapped businesses

Affiliate marketing is one of the few growth channels where you only pay for results. You don’t burn cash on impressions or clicks as you reward affiliates after they’ve brought you paying customers.

Affiliate marketing delivers can provide a better ROI than other paid channels if executed correctly. For small SaaS businesses, this model removes financial risk.

Step 1: Define your offer

First, you need to define a clear and compelling offer.

Ask yourself the following questions:

How much commission am I willing to offer?
Is it a fixed amount or a sales percentage?
How long will the referral tracking window be? (e.g., 30 days, 60 days)
How long do I pay the commission in case of recurring subscription: a year? lifetime?

Pro tip: For SaaS, a recurring commission (e.g., 20–30% for as long as the customer stays) is far more attractive than a one-off payment.

Example:

In-app customer widget Feedbask offers 30% recurring commissions. That means an affiliate earns an average of $15/month per referred customer.
Real Estate marketing IACrea offers 25% of every sales made thanks to the affiliate. They sell both subscription and one-time payment, which means you can addition recurring and one-time commission.

Step 2: Signup to an affiliate management software

You don’t need to pay $50–$200/month to track affiliates when you’re just starting out.

Refindie offers both a comission-based plan, and a fixed plan. That way, you can choose what better fits your business. You can also switch whenever you need.

Refindie's dashboard

Step 3: Find your first affiliates for free

Where to find them:

Your existing customers
They already know your product and can authentically recommend it.
Send a short, personal email:

Hey [Name], you’ve been a great customer. We’re launching a referral program, if you recommend us, we’ll pay you X% for every customer you bring. Sign up there: [insert your link]
Your personal network
Friends, ex-colleagues, followers: you’d be surprised who’s willing to refer you when they believe in your product.
Relevant online communities
- Niche Facebook groups
- Reddit (subreddits related to your industry)
- Specialized Discord
Creators already talking about your niche
Use free search tools like SparkToro to find influencers, bloggers, and newsletter writers.

Pro tip: Insert a link in your footer "Affiliation (X%)", and add a page for affiliate to see how much money they can earn thanks to your program.

Step 4: Make it easy to promote you

Create a free affiliate kit with:

Pre-written email templates
Social media post examples
Product screenshots
Short demo videos (loom.com offers a free plan) ... Whatever is relevant for your business.

Step 5: Keep affiliates engaged

Recruiting affiliates is amazing, keeping them active is even better.

Here’s how to do it for $0:

Email updates: Share new features, success stories, and conversion tips.
Affiliate leaderboard: This can motivate them to do even better.
Highlight top affiliates publicly: Tag them on social media for extra visibility.

Active affiliates generate up to 5x more revenue than inactive ones.

Step 6: Track results and pay fairly

Nothing is more deceiptive than an affiliate program that pays late payments.

Pay affiliates via PayPal, bank transfer... Choose your preferred payment preference, but send the payout on time.

Send them a “payment confirmation” email to keep trust high.

Step 7: Bonus for top performers

Once your program is generating sales, you can:

Increase commission rates for top performers.
Add a tiered structure (e.g., 25% base, 35% for affiliates bringing $1k+/month in sales).
Offer them your service

Common mistakes to avoid

Setting commissions too low . If your payout doesn’t excite, no one will promote you.
Late or missing payouts . Don't forget to pay your affiliate, this will motivate them to continue to promote your service.

Final thoughts

Launching an affiliate program with $0 marketing budget is not only possible and it can be one of the fastest ways to grow without financial risk.

The keys are:

Offer commissions worth talking about.
Use Refindie to track and manage your affiliates.
Actively communicate around your affiliation program.

If you put in the upfront work, your affiliates will become your best sales team.

Ready to start?
Set up your affiliate tracking with Refindie, recruit your first 5 affiliates this week, and watch your program grow without spending a cent upfront!

Refindie's Blog

How to build a successful affiliate program with a $0 Marketing Budget