Effective Date: January 17, 2026
In the interest of full transparency, this page explains how Mystery Shop Starter may earn income through affiliate relationships and how this affects our content.
Our Commitment to You
Here’s what we promise:
- We only recommend companies we believe are legitimate and worthwhile
- Affiliate relationships never influence our ratings or editorial opinions
- We disclose affiliate relationships clearly on relevant pages
- Our reviews include both positives and negatives regardless of affiliate status
- We would rather earn nothing than recommend something that doesn’t serve you
What Are Affiliate Links?
Affiliate links are special tracking links that identify when a visitor comes to a website from our recommendation. When you click one of these links and take an action (such as signing up for a mystery shopping company or making a purchase), we may earn a small commission.
This commission comes from the company—not from you. You pay the same price whether you use our link or go directly to the company’s website.
How We Use Affiliate Links
Our website may contain affiliate links in the following types of content:
- Company Profiles: Links to mystery shopping company sign-up pages
- Resource Recommendations: Links to tools, software, or services that help mystery shoppers
- Training Materials: Links to courses or certifications we recommend
- Product Reviews: Links to products mentioned in our content
When a page contains affiliate links, we include a disclosure notice near the top of the content.
How Affiliate Relationships Work
When we include affiliate links:
- We receive a commission only if you click the link AND take a qualifying action
- The commission varies by company and program (typically a few dollars per sign-up)
- You pay nothing extra—the commission comes from the company’s marketing budget
- Companies cannot pay for better placement or ratings on our site
When we don’t have an affiliate relationship:
- We still include and review companies that don’t offer affiliate programs
- Non-affiliate companies receive the same honest evaluation as affiliate partners
- Our recommendations are based on quality, not commission potential
Editorial Independence
Our editorial content is completely independent from our affiliate relationships. Here’s how we maintain that independence:
What Affiliate Partners Cannot Do
- Pay for positive reviews or higher ratings
- Influence our editorial opinions or recommendations
- Review or approve our content before publication
- Remove negative information from our reviews
- Guarantee placement or coverage on our site
What We Will Always Do
- Present honest, balanced reviews of all companies
- Include legitimate companies regardless of affiliate status
- Disclose both pros and cons in our evaluations
- Update content when companies change for better or worse
- Remove recommendations if a company becomes problematic
Types of Compensation
Our website may earn income through:
- Affiliate Commissions: When you sign up for mystery shopping companies or purchase recommended products through our links
- Display Advertising: Banner ads and other advertisements displayed on our website
- Sponsored Content: Clearly labeled sponsored posts or sections (if applicable)
Any sponsored content will be clearly identified as such. We maintain editorial control over all sponsored content and only accept sponsorships that align with our audience’s interests.
Amazon Associates Disclosure
Mystery Shop Starter is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
When we recommend products available on Amazon, we may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
FTC Compliance
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255 guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.
We are committed to transparent disclosure of material connections between our website and companies we review or recommend.
How to Identify Affiliate Links
We strive to make affiliate links easy to identify:
- Pages with affiliate links include a disclosure notice near the top
- Affiliate links may include tracking parameters in the URL
- We use clear language like “sign up here” or “check current pricing”
If you’re ever unsure whether a link is an affiliate link, you can hover over it to see the URL or simply navigate directly to the company’s website.
Supporting Our Work
Using our affiliate links is one way to support Mystery Shop Starter at no extra cost to you. The commissions we earn help us:
- Keep the website running and updated
- Research and review new mystery shopping companies
- Create helpful guides and resources
- Maintain the site ad-light and user-friendly
We genuinely appreciate when readers choose to support us this way. However, we never want you to use an affiliate link if it’s not in your best interest—always make the choice that’s right for you.
Questions About Our Affiliate Relationships
We believe in complete transparency. If you have questions about:
- Whether a specific link is an affiliate link
- Our relationship with a particular company
- How affiliate relationships affect our content
- Anything else related to this disclosure
Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to provide clarity.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this affiliate disclosure or our practices, please contact us:
Email: john@mysteryshopstarter.com
Subject Line: Affiliate Disclosure Inquiry
Last Updated: January 17, 2026
Related Pages: For more information about our website and policies, visit our About, Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Editorial Guidelines pages.