TL;DR. Skool pays 40% recurring forever to anyone who refers a new community owner. Every $99/mo your referred users pay → you get $39.60/mo, forever, paid via Stripe. This is the highest commission rate in community-platform SaaS — it’s how Skool grew without VC marketing spend. Get your ref link by signing up here.
How it works
- Sign up for Skool (start a free trial of your own community)
- Once you’re a customer, Skool gives you a unique referral link in your dashboard
- Share that link anywhere — blog, newsletter, YouTube, podcast, social media, your community itself
- Anyone who signs up through your link becomes “yours” forever
- For every $99/mo they pay Skool, you receive $39.60/mo via Stripe
- Continues as long as they remain a Skool customer
There’s no tier system, no annual reset, no claw-back. The 40% / forever is the entire deal.
The math — what affiliates actually earn
| Your referred users | Skool’s monthly take | Your monthly commission | Annual commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 active user | $99 | $39.60 | $475 |
| 10 active users | $990 | $396 | $4,752 |
| 50 active users | $4,950 | $1,980 | $23,760 |
| 100 active users | $9,900 | $3,960 | $47,520 |
| 250 active users | $24,750 | $9,900 | $118,800 |
| 500 active users | $49,500 | $19,800 | $237,600 |
The “active” qualifier matters — if your referred user cancels Skool, the commission stops. Churn is typically 5-10% per month for Skool customers, so plan a steady inbound stream to maintain.
Why 40% is unusual
Most SaaS affiliate programs pay:
- 20-30% one-time (Notion: 50% for first 12 months only — capped)
- 30% recurring 12 months (Circle, Webflow Pro)
- 40-50% one-time then nothing (Kajabi, Teachable)
Skool’s “40% recurring forever” is structurally more generous than every major competitor. Why?
Skool deliberately built the platform with affiliate marketing as the primary growth channel. They don’t run paid Google ads, don’t have a big sales team, and don’t run partnerships. Instead they pay you (any user) to bring new owners. The economics work because Skool has ~85% gross margin and ~10% monthly churn — even at 40% commission, customer LTV ÷ CAC is strongly positive.
How payments work
- Set up Stripe Connect on your Skool affiliate dashboard
- Skool pays out monthly (calendar month) via Stripe transfer
- Minimum payout threshold: $50 (held until you cross it)
- Reporting visible in your Skool dashboard: signups attributed, active users, payouts pending/paid
How to actually drive referrals
Few patterns work:
1. “How I run my community” content
YouTube videos, blog posts, podcast episodes about running a Skool community. Drop your referral link in the description. Best for creators with existing audiences.
2. Comparison content
Skool vs Circle, Skool vs Mighty Networks. High intent searches → some convert to signup.
3. Newsletter mentions
If you have an email list (especially of founders, creators, course creators), one mention with your ref link can convert 1-2% of clicks to a paid signup.
4. Inside your own Skool community
You don’t get commission for users joining YOUR community (those are members, not new owners). But you DO get commission for community members of yours who decide to launch their OWN Skool. Build the relationship — some will inevitably want their own community.
5. Skool Games (the official competition)
Skool runs occasional public competitions (“Skool Games”) that drive massive signup spikes. Time your content to launch alongside.
Disclosure
Use your ref link openly. Disclose that it’s an affiliate link wherever required (US FTC rules, EU equivalent, etc.). Most platforms (YouTube, blog, podcast) require disclosure for paid commissions.
Why the program isn’t called a “pyramid scheme”
Each commission is one level deep — you earn from people YOU directly refer. You don’t earn from THEIR referrals. There’s no multi-level structure. This is structurally a normal SaaS affiliate program, just with a more generous commission rate.
(For more on this, see Is Skool legit?.)
How to get your referral link
- Sign up for Skool yourself — you need to be a paid customer to access the affiliate dashboard
- Once your trial converts to paid ($99/mo), the affiliate tab appears in your settings
- Set up Stripe Connect for payouts
- Copy your unique referral URL — format:
https://www.skool.com/signup?ref=YOUR_REF_ID
Sample referral link (yes, this one): https://www.skool.com/signup?ref=114150f098fc40ba9b365fa78be01a63
If you click that one to start your own Skool, the author of this docs site earns 40% of your $99/mo. Everyone’s been clear about this, you decide based on the content’s value.
Common questions
Can I refer myself / family members for the commission?
No. Skool’s terms prohibit self-referrals and same-household referrals. Detection is automated.
What happens if my referred user cancels?
Commission stops. If they re-subscribe later via your link, it resumes (the attribution sticks). If they re-subscribe via someone else’s link, that’s not yours anymore.
Can I claim commission if I refer someone before I became an affiliate?
No — the commission tracking starts from when your unique link was generated. Pre-existing customers can’t be retroactively attributed.
How long until I see my first payout?
Once you cross $50 in earned commission, payout happens at the next month-end. So if you earn $60 in May, you get the payout in early June.
Can I run Google Ads with my referral link?
Most affiliate programs require approval before paid ads. Skool’s policy isn’t explicit publicly — check with their support if you plan a paid campaign. Organic content is unambiguously allowed.
Related
Get your referral link — start your own Skool
→ Create your Skool community — 14-day free trial, then $99/mo. Once you’re a paid customer, the affiliate dashboard unlocks and you can start earning 40% recurring forever from your own referrals.
Want to automate your community while you build the affiliate income? Use this Apify actor — ~$1.50/mo, no code required.