Affiliate Disclosure
Transparency about how we earn revenue and maintain editorial independence
FTC Compliance
In compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255 ("Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"), we are required to disclose our affiliate relationships and any compensation we may receive.
What Are Affiliate Links?
MerchantDash participates in various affiliate marketing programs. This means that when you click on certain links on our website and make a purchase or sign up for a service, we may receive a commission from the company whose product or service you purchased.
Important: You pay the same price whether you use our affiliate link or go directly to the vendor's website. The commission comes from the vendor's marketing budget, not from your pocket.
How Affiliate Marketing Works
You Read Our Review
You find valuable information about software tools on MerchantDash through our honest, unbiased reviews and comparisons.
You Click an Affiliate Link
If you decide a product is right for you and click our link to the vendor, a tracking cookie is set in your browser.
You Make a Purchase
If you sign up or purchase within the cookie window (typically 30-90 days), the vendor knows you came from our site.
We Receive a Commission
The vendor pays us a commission for referring you. This revenue helps us keep MerchantDash free and continue creating helpful content.
Our Editorial Independence
Our recommendations are not influenced by commission rates. We recommend products based on:
- •Quality of features and functionality
- •Value for money (pricing vs features)
- •Ease of use for small business owners
- •Customer support quality
- •Verified user feedback and reviews
Many of our top-rated products actually pay lower commissions than alternatives. We prioritize what's best for small businesses, not what pays us the most.
Which Links Are Affiliate Links?
Generally, any link to a software provider or service mentioned in our reviews may be an affiliate link. This includes:
- Links in product reviews and comparisons
- Links in "Best of" lists and roundups
- Call-to-action buttons (e.g., "Visit Website," "Get Started," "Try Free")
- Pricing comparison tables
- Featured offers and promotions
Not all links are affiliate links. Links to resources like blog posts, news articles, industry reports, and some smaller software tools may not be monetized.
We Do Not Accept Paid Reviews
To be absolutely clear: we do not accept payment to write reviews or to influence our editorial opinions. Companies cannot pay us to:
- Write a positive review
- Remove or hide a negative review
- Change our ratings or rankings
- Suppress competitor mentions
- Guarantee featured placement
All reviews are based on our independent research, hands-on testing, and honest assessment of the product's value for small businesses.
Affiliate Programs We Participate In
We have affiliate relationships with numerous software providers and aggregator platforms, including but not limited to:
- CRM and sales software providers
- Accounting and finance platforms
- Project management tools
- Marketing automation services
- E-commerce platforms
- Communication and collaboration tools
- HR and payroll software
- Affiliate networks (ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Impact, etc.)
The specific software providers we work with change over time as companies launch or discontinue their affiliate programs.
How This Business Model Benefits You
Affiliate revenue allows us to:
- ✓Keep all content free—no paywalls or subscriptions
- ✓Invest time in thorough, hands-on product testing
- ✓Update reviews quarterly to keep information current
- ✓Create comparison tools and in-depth guides
- ✓Maintain editorial independence from vendors
Have Questions?
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, how we earn revenue, or our editorial process, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're committed to transparency and are happy to answer any questions.
Last Updated: January 1, 2026
This disclosure applies to all content on merchant-dash.com and is in compliance with FTC regulations.