> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dollarlabs.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dollarlabs.io/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/set-up-your-referral-program.md).

# Set up your referral program

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/cc294dae6d8d91a31ae6>" %}

*This article's section starts at 0:00 in the video.*

By the end of this guide you'll have a live referral program: existing customers get a shareable code, their friends get a discount at checkout, and the referrer earns store credit when the friend's order comes through.

## Prerequisites

* DollarBack is installed and your storefront widgets are active. Customers see their referral code inside the floating widget, their account pages, and the loyalty page, so at least one of those surfaces should be live. See [How customers share referral links](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-customers-share-referral-links.md).
* You don't need any cashback program running; referrals work on their own.

## Step 1. Create your first config

1. Go to **DollarBack admin → Referral**.
2. Click **Add Config**. A new configuration card appears (labeled **Config 1**).
3. Give it an **Internal Title**, e.g. "Give $10, get 10%". This name is only visible to you in the admin.
4. Set a **Code Prefix** (e.g. `FRIEND`). Every customer's referral code starts with this prefix.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The **Code Prefix** cannot be changed once the config is saved, because codes are generated from it in bulk. Pick it deliberately.
{% endhint %}

5. Leave **Customer Tags** empty for your first config. Tags are how you target a config at a specific group of referrers (say, VIPs). With no tags, the config applies to everyone. See [Run multiple referral configs](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/run-multiple-referral-configs.md).

## Step 2. Set the referrer reward

Under **Referrer Reward**, choose what the person doing the referring earns:

| Field              | Options                            | Example             |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| **Cashback Type**  | Percentage of Order · Fixed Amount | Percentage of Order |
| **Cashback Value** | Number                             | 10 (%)              |

The referrer is always paid in **store credit**: Shopify-native credit they can spend at checkout. For a "Give $10, get 10%" program, this side is the "get 10%".

## Step 3. Set the referee discount

Under **Referee Discount**, choose what the referred friend gets when they use the code:

| Field                   | Options                            | Example      |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------ |
| **Discount Type**       | Percentage of Order · Fixed Amount | Fixed Amount |
| **Discount Value**      | Number                             | 10 ($)       |
| **Minimum Order Value** | Number                             | 30 ($)       |

The referee's reward is a **discount code** applied at checkout, the same code the referrer shares. The **Minimum Order Value** is the smallest order the code will work on.

## Step 4. Set conditions and limits

Under **Usage Limits**:

* **Allow discounts for new customers only**: on for a classic refer-a-friend program; existing customers can't use a referral code on their own account.
* **Maximum discount code uses per referee**: how many times one referred customer can use the discount. Set to 1 for first-order-only.
* **Expires after**: the number of days before the referrer's reward expires.

Each condition is covered in depth, with pass/fail examples, in [Referral conditions & limits](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referral-conditions-and-limits.md).

## Step 5. Check the combination rules

The **Combination Rules** section controls which other discounts the referral discount can stack with at checkout: **Product Discounts**, **Shipping Discounts**, **Order Discounts**. These toggles apply to **all** referral configs, not just this one.

## Step 6. Save and let code generation run

Save the config. DollarBack now generates a referral code for every eligible customer and attaches the whole batch to a shared Shopify discount. While this runs you'll see a **Bulk Operation in Progress** banner ("Referral codes are being generated. Please wait until the operation completes before making changes.") and the editor is locked.

This is expected: the codes are written to Shopify in bulk, and editing the config mid-generation would leave half the codes on old rules. On large customer bases it can take several minutes. You'll see a "Bulk operation completed successfully" toast when it's done. Details in [Referral codes & bulk sync](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referral-codes-and-bulk-sync.md).

## Verify it works

1. On your storefront, sign in as a test customer and open the floating widget or account page. A referral code with your prefix should be visible.
2. In an incognito window, add $30+ of product to the cart (to clear the minimum order value) and apply the code at checkout as a brand-new customer. The referee discount should apply.
3. Complete the order, then check **DollarBack admin → Analytics → Referral**: the order appears in the logs, and the referrer's store credit lands per your reward settings.

## Common issues

* The code doesn't apply at checkout → check the minimum order value and the new-customers-only toggle first; see [A referral wasn't tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/referral-wasnt-tracked.md).
* The referrer got no credit even though the discount applied → the order may have been fully paid with store credit or gift cards; see [How referral rewards are calculated & tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-referral-rewards-are-calculated-and-tracked.md).
* No referral code shows on the storefront → generation may still be running, or the widget isn't active; see [A widget isn't showing on my store](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/widget-isnt-showing.md).

## Related articles

* [Referrer rewards vs referee discounts](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referrer-rewards-vs-referee-discounts.md)
* [Referral conditions & limits](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referral-conditions-and-limits.md)
* [How customers share referral links](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-customers-share-referral-links.md)
* [How referral rewards are calculated & tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-referral-rewards-are-calculated-and-tracked.md)