The DST affiliate program is open to the public: anyone can apply, get approved by DST, and earn commission when a referred company completes its first plan purchase (via your registration link, or checkout ?ref=).
Quick facts
- Apply at https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/register — no invitation required.
- Admin approval required before you can earn — you get email and in-app notice when approved.
- Prefer sharing
?ref=YOUR_CODEon registration; checkout?ref=is a backup. - One commission per referred company (first completed purchase only).
Why become an affiliate partner?
- Low barrier to entry — apply online in minutes; no need to be a formal DST sales agent.
- Monetise your audience — bloggers, consultants, trade associations, and business networks can refer companies they already advise.
- First-purchase commission — earn a percentage of plan revenue (NGN) when a referred company pays for its first barcode or QR subscription.
- Affiliate dashboard — copy referral links, track signups, and monitor pending and paid commissions.
- Flexible promotion — share registration links, pricing pages, or direct customers to checkout with
?ref=. - Support growing brands — help SMEs access DST prefixes, GTINs, and QR tools while you earn for successful introductions.
Affiliate vs sales agent
| Affiliate | Sales agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Self-serve + approval | DST admin creates account |
| Code | ?ref= | ?agent= |
| Commission | First purchase only | Each checkout with agent code |
| Attribution | Registration referral or checkout ?ref= | Checkout ?agent= required |
| Ideal partner | Content creators, referrers | Active sales professionals |
Need ongoing commission on repeat sales? See How to become a sales agent.
Step 1 — Apply online
Go to Join the affiliate program and submit:
- Full name, email, password
- Phone (optional)
- Payout bank details (optional at signup; can be updated later)
Complete the security check (Turnstile) if shown. After submit you are logged in and see an Application under review screen with your reserved affiliate code. DST admins also receive an in-app notification and email about your application.
Step 2 — Email verification
Verify your email via the link sent to your inbox. DST administrators may also verify your email manually during review. You need a verified email to access affiliate routes after approval.
Step 3 — Admin approval
DST reviews your application. When approved, your status becomes active and you receive an email and in-app notification with your referral code. You can then use the full affiliate portal. If rejected, you will not be able to earn commissions.
Step 4 — Share your referral links
From the Affiliate dashboard (https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/dashboard):
- Company registration (recommended) —
https://www.dstbarcode.com/register?ref=YOUR_CODE— links the company to you for first-purchase commission - Public pricing —
https://www.dstbarcode.com/pricing?ref=YOUR_CODE - Checkout (optional backup) —
?ref=YOUR_CODEon the payment page overrides or restores attribution if registration was missed
Registration with your link attributes the company to you. Their first completed plan purchase earns commission even if they pay later without ?ref=. Checkout ?ref= still works as a backup or to override attribution.
Step 5 — Track commissions
- Signups via your link — companies that registered with your code
- Pending / paid commission — totals in NGN on your dashboard
- Commissions list —
https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/commissions
Commission flow: pending → DST admin approves (required) → paid with payout reference. You receive notifications when commission is earned and when it is paid.
Commission rules (read carefully)
- First purchase only — one affiliate commission per referred company, ever.
- Active affiliate — you must be approved and active when the payment completes.
- Attribution — checkout
?ref=wins if present; otherwise the company's registration referral is used. - Rate per plan — percentage from the plan's affiliate commission setting.
- No self-referral — you cannot earn on your own company's purchases.
- Applies to barcode and QR plan payments that complete successfully.
Help your referrals succeed
Share these guides with companies you refer:
Portal reference
| Task | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply | https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/register |
| Pending status | https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/pending |
| Dashboard & links | https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/dashboard |
| Commissions | https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/commissions |
| Settings & payout details | https://www.dstbarcode.com/affiliate/settings |
Troubleshooting
- Still on pending screen — wait for admin approval (check email/notifications) or contact DST.
- No commission after a sale — confirm first purchase, active affiliate status, and that the company registered with your link or paid with
?ref=. - Turnstile error on signup — complete the captcha widget before submitting.
Questions? Contact DST support.