Affiliate marketing

Referral partner for SA finance and insurance products

Refer businesses or people to lenders, insurers and comparison sites through official partner programmes, sharing factual information and links without giving financial advice.

Thin evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

People with a business network (accountants, bookkeepers, small-business groups) or a finance-focused audience.

In South Africa: National.

What you need

  • A phone is enough to start
  • Works on everyday data
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 3 hours a week · age 18+
  • Selling (learning or better) or Professional expertise (5+ years in a field) (learning or better) or Marketing & social media (learning or better)

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.

What people charge

No reliable SA figure yet

Simply's partner contract pays 7.5% of collected premiums; Lula pays a commission it does not publish. We do not model income.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R0 to R500
Every month
Data and your time.
Payment fees
Paid by EFT by the provider.
Margin
High; your time is the cost.

How it is paid: Commission per successful referral or a share of premiums collected. Our viability score for it: 48 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • List 20 businesses or people in your network who could use one product
    • Read the partner terms in full, including what you may and may not say
    • Success signal: one paid referral in three months

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • Choose one provider whose product you understand and trust
    • Read their partner contract and the rules on advice
    • Write a factual one-paragraph explanation you can share

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Join the programme and share with your network
    • Track every referral and its status

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Keep the programmes that pay and drop the rest
    • Add a second provider in the same niche

Commission is usually paid only after a loan is funded or a premium is collected. First income usually takes 30 to 365 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

Referral partner for SA finance and insurance products: your step-by-step start

18 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Small businesses needing funding, people comparing insurance.

Points people to legitimate providers.

Is there demand?

Some SA providers run partner programmes: Lula pays commission on successful business-funding referrals (amount not published) and Simply's partner contract pays 7.5% of each collected premium. Most providers do not publish rates.

Lula affiliate programmeSimply partner programmeInsurance comparison sites

Getting customers

Your business network and content that explains how products work, with clear links.

Affiliate linksIn-person networkingPartnerships with other businessesBeing found through search or content

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Giving advice about financial products without FSCA authorisation is illegal: share facts and links only
  • Providers can change terms
  • Recommending poor products damages your reputation

Competition: High in consumer finance; lower in a niche business network.

Room to grow: Recurring premium shares can build slowly.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • The FAIS Act requires FSCA authorisation to give financial advice; referral partners may only pass on factual information.
  • Disclose that you earn a referral fee.
  • Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start referral partner for SA finance and insurance products?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R500. Recurring costs: Data and your time.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 120 days, and between 30 and 365 days. Commission is usually paid only after a loan is funded or a premium is collected.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.

What about tax and legal rules?

The FAIS Act requires FSCA authorisation to give financial advice; referral partners may only pass on factual information. Disclose that you earn a referral fee. Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).

Sources (3)

Free tools for this

Test referral partner for SA finance and insurance products with your own numbersWork out the rate you need to chargeEstimate the tax on this side income

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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy