If you run a finance or business-focused website, joining an accounting affiliate program could be very lucrative. This guide will walk you through the impressive opportunities in this niche and provide tips to maximize your earnings.
We‘ll cover everything from the top players to niche programs to effective promotional strategies. By the end, you‘ll have all the know-how to dive in and start monetizing your accounting content.
A Quick Intro to Affiliate Marketing
But first, what exactly is affiliate marketing?
In simple terms, affiliate marketing involves partnering with brands and earning commissions when you promote and refer their products. It allows publishers to monetize their websites by linking to recommended services and items.
Affiliate partnerships are tracked through specialized links and cookies that assign credit for conversions. When one of your site visitors clicks an affiliate link, gets "cookied", and then makes a purchase, you receive attribution for that sale and earn a percentage of the revenue.
Affiliate marketing is rapidly growing in popularity thanks to the passive income potential and flexibility it offers. Spend a little time upfront promoting partners, then collect commissions for months and years down the line.
Globally, affiliate marketing is expected to grow to $8.2 billion by 2022 according to Acceleration Partners.
So how does this apply specifically to accounting software and services? Let‘s take a look at why this niche is worth focusing on.
Why Promote Accounting Affiliate Programs
The accounting software industry is experiencing impressive growth right now. It is projected to reach $29.5 billion globally by 2028 expanding at an 8.6% CAGR according to Verified Market Research.
And signing up with accounting affiliate programs allows you tap into this growth by earning commissions when referring accounting solutions.
Here are the main reasons promoting accounting software and services can be so lucrative:
High Average Order Value
Accounting platforms have monthly or annual subscription fees ranging from $10 to $100+ per month. The high order value means larger commissions when you refer a sale.
Recurring Revenue
Most accounting programs pay lifetime commissions for all renewals and additional purchases from customers you refer. This gives your website recurring passive income.
Valuable Products That Sell Themselves
The accounting platforms you‘ll promote solve critical pain points for businesses when it comes to managing payroll, expenses, reporting and more. They are easy to market given the genuine demand.
So in summary – a growing industry, the ability to earn recurring commissions, and selling valuable products that businesses genuinely need and want.
Next, let‘s explore some of the top accounting affiliate programs available today so you can start earning…
Overview of the Best Accounting Affiliate Programs
There is a wide range of accounting software platforms and services to potentially partner with today.
I‘ve hand picked 10 great options across different segments of accounting tools and highlighted the key details for each:
| Program | Commission Rate | Cookie Duration | Payment Threshold | Offered Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshbooks | $200 per sale | 120 days | $50 | Banners, text links, emails |
| Quickbooks | Up to 40% | 60 days | $25 | Graphics, promo tools |
| Xero | 30-50% recurring | 180 days | $75 | Case studies, blogs, banners |
| And.co | 50% lifetime recurring | 365 days | $0 | Product demos, promo guides |
| Wave | $150 per validated new user | 120 days | $100 | Blogs, app listing support |
| Zipbooks | 20% revenue share | 180 days | $0 | Text links, reporting dashboard |
| Zoho Books | 20-50% commissions | 90 days | $25 | Customizable promo links |
| Bench | Up to $900 per client | 180 days | $0 | Dedicated affiliate manager |
| ZarMoney | $10 – $60 per sign up | 120 days | $50 | Email templates, banners |
| Melio | $200+ per new client | 90 days | $0 | Marketing guides, promo tools |
This table provides a high-level snapshot of commission structures across programs. But what exactly sets each platform apart and makes them worth promoting?
Below I‘ll break down 5 of my top recommended accounting affiliate options to focus on first.
1. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is an industry leader used by over 20 million people to streamline invoicing, accounting, payments and more.
Their affiliate program offers extremely competitive payouts:
- USD $125 per client who signs up for a paid plan
- USD $10 per customer who signs up for a free trial
- 120 day cookie period
With lifetime recurring commissions and new account bonuses, FreshBooks is a great long-term partner.
They supply publishers with banners, text links, sample posts, and other assets to help drive conversions. You also get access to their affiliate newsletter featuring the latest promotions and incentives.
For finance bloggers with freelancers or small agencies in your audience, FreshBooks tends to convert very well given how perfectly aligned the tool is.
Depending on the size of your website, you can expect to earn anywhere from $100 to $5,000+ per month promoting FreshBooks based on typical conversion and referral rates.
2. QuickBooks
In terms of brand name recognition, no accounting platform comes close to Intuit‘s QuickBooks. They command over 80% market share making them a very compelling program to align with.
As an affiliate you earn commissions and bonuses like:
- 40% commission promoting QuickBooks Online plans
- $100 bonus per new QuickBooks Online Advanced user
- 60 day cookies
QuickBooks caters perfectly to the target audience at most finance blogs – small business owners and self-employed professionals.
Complement your promotions with advice-focused content that answers key questions from SMBs on automation, monthly close best practices, managing expenses, and more.
With over 50 million global QBO users, even niche finance blogs can expect to pocket $500+ in recurring commissions per month from the QuickBooks program alone.
3. Xero
Xero is the other most recognizable name in cloud-based accounting platforms alongside QuickBooks.
The New Zealand founded company now serves over 3 million subscribers worldwide.
As an affiliate you earn:
- 30-50% lifetime revenue share
- 180 day cookie duration
- Dedicated affiliate manager
Xero provides publishers their own personalized affiliate links plus a full asset library of banners, sample posts, logos and co-branded collateral.
This program works very well for people running finance blogs, ecommerce stores, or business coaching sites catering to online retailers and web-based merchants.
Based on typical conversion benchmarks, you can expect around $1,500+ in annual commissions promoting Xero assuming a mid-sized niche website with some steady organic traffic.
4. ZipBooks
If you‘re just starting out in affiliate marketing or have a smaller website, ZipBooks is a great accounting platform to align with.
The Utah-based company focuses squarely on serving startups and bootstrapped small businesses.
You earn commissions as follows:
- 20% revenue share on sales
- 180 day cookie window
- $0 payment threshold
ZipBooks makes it simple to start earning fast with turnkey tools like:
- ready-made text links
- email templates
- banner ad creative
- detailed analytics reporting
For newer sites, ZipBooks should be a core part of your finance monetization stack given the accessibility and aligned target customer profile.
Niche Accounting Affiliate Programs
The platforms covered so far represent more generalized accounting software and tools catering to wider SMB audiences.
But there are also more niche accounting affiliate programs that serve specialized customer groups.
A few examples:
Bench – bookkeeping services for startups
And.co – subscriptions and billing management
Melio – payments platform for SMB suppliers
AccuBooks – accounting compliance apps
Think strategically here – who is your audience and what accounting pain points can you help address? Promoting aligned services like cloud bookkeeping, invoicing automation and cash flow tools tend to convert very well.
This allows you to stand out with focused recommendations instead of promoting generalized platforms like others.
How to Promote Accounting Affiliate Products
Now that we‘ve covered various accounting affiliate programs to join, let‘s discuss some promotional strategies to maximize your earnings:
🚀 Write In-Depth Software Reviews
Share your first-hand experience using platforms like Xero and QuickBooks. Be authentic and transparent with pros and cons. Reviews still convert visitors best according to MonetizePros.
📈 Optimize Affiliate Landing Pages
Create dedicated pages clearly showcasing your top recommended product like FreshBooks, including screenshots and lists of standout features.
🤝 Do Outreach Campaigns to Accountants
Accountants are often decision makers when it comes to software choice for clients. Reach out via email or LinkedIn to share affiliate program incentives and build relationships.
💰 Promote Discounts and Deals
Time promotions and email launches around seasonal offers from partners for higher conversion rates. Most accounting vendors run sales around tax season.
There are lots of creative ways to promote accounting tools beyond traditional methods, so continually test and track conversions to double down on what works.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide has outlined why accounting software represents a lucrative affiliate niche with multiple reputable programs available offering generous commission structures.
As you explored above, platforms like QuickBooks cater perfectly to the target readership at most finance and business websites. Combined with valuable products and accessible promotions, they present a compelling monetization avenue.
Just remember to take an authentic educational approach focused on delivering value, rather than being overly self-promotional. Build trust and nurture relationships with your audience first before endorsing products.
If you have any other questions on getting started or want my take on other accounting affiliate programs, don‘t hesitate to reach out via email or Twitter!
