Terms and Conditions - Affiliate Partner Program

Last updated: March 18, 2026

These Terms and Conditions ("Agreement") govern your participation in the Sous Personal Chefs Affiliate Partner Program ("Program"). By applying to or participating in the Program, you agree to be bound by this Agreement.

Please read this Agreement carefully. If you do not agree to these terms, do not apply to or participate in the Program.

Sous Personal Chefs, Co. ("Sous," "we," "us," or "our") reserves the right to update this Agreement at any time. We will notify active partners of material changes with at least 30 days' notice. Continued participation in the Program after notice of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

1. Definitions

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

"Affiliate" or "Partner" means an individual or entity that has been accepted into the Program and has agreed to this Agreement.

"Referral Link" means the unique tracking URL or promo code assigned to you by Sous for use in the Program.

"Referred Customer" means a new customer who (a) clicks your Referral Link or uses your promo code, (b) has not previously placed an order with Sous, and (c) completes a Qualifying Order within 30 days of first clicking your Referral Link.

"Qualifying Order" means a completed, paid Sous service booking (Meal Prep or Special Occasion) that is not subsequently cancelled or refunded.

"Service Fee" means the fee charged to the customer for the chef's service only. It excludes grocery costs, platform fees, gratuity, and any taxes.

"Commission" means the payment earned by an Affiliate as described in Section 4 of this Agreement.

"Program" means the Sous Affiliate Partner Program described in this Agreement.

2. Eligibility and Enrollment

2.1 Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Program, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age

  • Be a resident of the United States

  • Have an active professional presence (practice, social media following, website, or similar) in a field relevant to Sous's target customer base

  • Operate in or serve clients in one of Sous's active markets: New York / New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas

  • Not be an employee, contractor, or immediate family member of an employee of Sous

2.2 Application and Approval

Participation in the Program is by application only. Sous reserves the right to accept or reject any application at its sole discretion, and to revoke approval at any time. Approval of your application does not guarantee any minimum level of commissions or program benefits.

2.3 One Account Per Partner

Each individual or business entity may hold only one affiliate account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent caps, gain extra commissions, or for any other purpose is grounds for immediate termination and forfeiture of all pending commissions.

3. Program Operation

3.1 Referral Tracking

Sous tracks referrals using unique links and/or promo codes assigned to each Partner. Attribution is based on last-click: if a customer clicks multiple affiliate links before booking, the commission is attributed to the most recent click. Sous's tracking records are definitive for the purpose of commission calculations.

Referral attribution windows are 30 days. If a customer clicks your Referral Link but does not book within 30 days, the referral will not be attributed to you.

3.2 Self-Referrals Prohibited

You may not use your own Referral Link to make bookings for yourself, members of your household, or any person or entity in which you have a financial interest. Self-referrals will not be counted as Qualifying Orders and may result in termination of your account.

3.3 Geographic Limitations

Sous currently operates in New York/New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Referrals that result in bookings outside of Sous's active service areas are not eligible for Commission. Sous may expand or contract its service areas at any time.

4. Commissions and Payment

4.1 Commission Rate

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Sous will pay you a Commission equal to 5% of the Service Fee for each Qualifying Order placed by a Referred Customer.

4.2 Earning Window

You are eligible to earn Commissions on Qualifying Orders placed by a Referred Customer for a period of 12 months beginning on the date of that customer's first Qualifying Order. After 12 months, no further Commissions will accrue for that customer.

4.3 Commission Cap

The maximum Commission payable per Referred Customer is $500 in aggregate across their lifetime with Sous, regardless of how many orders they place or how much they spend.

4.4 Refunds and Cancellations

If a Referred Customer cancels or receives a full refund on an order for which Commission has been earned or is pending, that Commission will be voided or reversed. If a Commission has already been paid and the underlying order is subsequently cancelled or refunded, Sous reserves the right to deduct the corresponding amount from future Commission payments.

4.5 Payment Schedule

Commissions are paid monthly. The cutoff for each payment cycle is the last day of the calendar month. Commissions accrued through the end of a given month will be paid within 30 days of the close of that month (e.g., commissions accrued in January will be paid by March 1).

4.6 Minimum Payout Threshold

Commissions will only be paid out once your pending balance reaches $25.00. Balances below $25.00 will roll over to the following month.

4.7 Payment Method

Commissions will be paid via Stripe. You are responsible for creating and maintaining a valid Stripe account and providing accurate payment information. Sous is not responsible for failed or delayed payments resulting from incorrect payment details, an inactive Stripe account, or Stripe platform issues outside of Sous’s control.

4.8 Taxes

You are solely responsible for any taxes owed on Commissions received. Sous will issue a Form 1099-NEC to Partners who earn $600 or more in Commission in a calendar year, as required by U.S. tax law. You will be required to provide a completed Form W-9 before your first payment is issued. Sous makes no representations regarding the tax treatment of Commissions.

4.9 No Guaranteed Earnings

Participation in the Program does not guarantee any minimum level of Commissions. Sous makes no representations or warranties regarding the earnings potential of the Program.

5. Promotional Standards and Permitted Activities

5.1 FTC Disclosure Requirements

You are required by law to disclose your affiliate relationship with Sous clearly and conspicuously in all content that promotes Sous or includes your Referral Link. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 C.F.R. Part 255), updated in 2023.

Required disclosure practices include:

  • Place your disclosure at the beginning of any post, video, or content — not buried in hashtags, footnotes, or "read more" sections

  • Use plain language such as "I earn a commission if you book through my link," "#ad," "#sponsored," or "Paid partnership with Sous"

  • In video content, disclose audibly and/or with an on-screen overlay — not only in the description

  • In live streams, repeat the disclosure periodically

  • Do not rely solely on platform-native disclosure tools (e.g., Instagram's "Paid partnership" label) — these may not satisfy FTC requirements on their own

Failure to comply with FTC disclosure requirements is grounds for immediate termination of your account and forfeiture of unpaid Commissions. You acknowledge that both you and Sous may be held liable for disclosure violations, and you agree to indemnify Sous for any penalties, fines, or legal costs arising from your failure to disclose.

5.2 Healthcare and Licensed Professionals

If you are a licensed healthcare provider, dietitian, nutritionist, or other regulated professional, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your participation in this Program complies with your professional licensing board's ethics rules, any applicable continuing education accreditation policies (including CDR Policy 7.0 for RDNs), and all other professional obligations. Sous does not represent that participation in this Program is permissible under any particular professional code of ethics.

You may not suggest, imply, or state that Sous services have been clinically evaluated, medically approved, or endorsed by any health authority. You may share your personal opinion of the service based on direct experience, provided that any material connection to Sous is clearly disclosed.

5.3 Prohibited Promotion Methods

The following are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination and forfeiture of all pending Commissions:

  • Bidding on Sous-branded keywords (including "Sous," "Sous personal chefs," "sous.so," or variations) in paid search advertising (Google Ads, Bing Ads, etc.)

  • Creating websites, domain names, social media handles, or email addresses that incorporate the Sous name or confusingly similar variations

  • Spam — including unsolicited mass emails, bulk text messages, or posting your Referral Link in forums, comment sections, or groups where it is not contextually appropriate

  • Cookie stuffing or any other method of artificially inflating click or booking counts

  • Fake reviews, fabricated testimonials, or endorsements you have not personally experienced

  • Making false, misleading, or exaggerated claims about Sous's services, pricing, availability, or chef qualifications

  • Promoting Sous on adult content websites, hate speech platforms, or any site that Sous reasonably determines to be harmful to its brand

  • Cloaking, redirects, or any technique designed to obscure the destination of a Referral Link

  • Self-referrals (see Section 3.2)

5.4 Brand Usage

Sous grants you a limited, non-exclusive, revocable, non-transferable license to use the Sous name and approved marketing materials solely for the purpose of referring customers to Sous under this Program. This license does not include the right to:

  • Modify, alter, or create derivative versions of the Sous logo or brand assets

  • Use the Sous name or logo in any way that implies employment, partnership, or endorsement beyond the affiliate relationship

  • Register any trademark, domain name, or social handle containing the Sous name

Sous may revoke this license at any time. Upon termination of your account, you must immediately cease all use of Sous brand assets.

5.5 Accurate Claims Only

You may only make claims about Sous services based on your personal experience or information publicly available on sous.so. You may not make health or medical claims on Sous's behalf (e.g., that Sous services treat or prevent any medical condition). You may not cite pricing, availability, or service details that you have not personally verified.

6. Relationship of the Parties

You are an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement creates or implies an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, agency, franchise, or fiduciary relationship between you and Sous. You have no authority to bind Sous in any contract or representation. You are solely responsible for your own business expenses, taxes, insurance, and compliance with applicable laws.

7. Confidentiality

You may receive confidential information about Sous's business in connection with the Program, including but not limited to commission rates, pricing structures, marketing strategies, customer data, and operational details. You agree to:

  • Keep all such information strictly confidential

  • Not disclose it to any third party without Sous's prior written consent

  • Use it only as necessary to participate in the Program

This confidentiality obligation survives termination of this Agreement for a period of two years.

8. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in the Sous brand, website, content, and services remain the exclusive property of Sous Personal Chefs, Co. This Agreement does not transfer any intellectual property rights to you. The limited license granted in Section 5.4 is the only right to use Sous intellectual property granted hereunder.

You are solely responsible for ensuring that your promotional content does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party, including copyrighted images, music, or other content.

9. Termination

9.1 Termination by Sous

Sous may terminate your participation in the Program at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. If termination is for cause (including but not limited to violation of these terms, fraud, or FTC non-compliance), all pending and unpaid Commissions are forfeited. If termination is without cause, any Commissions validly earned prior to the termination date will be paid out on the next regular payment cycle.

9.2 Termination by You

You may terminate your participation at any time by notifying Sous in writing at partner@sous.so. Any Commissions validly earned prior to your termination notice will be paid on the next regular payment cycle, subject to the minimum payout threshold in Section 4.6.

9.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination: (a) your Referral Link will be deactivated; (b) you must immediately cease use of all Sous brand assets; (c) any licenses granted under this Agreement will terminate; and (d) Sections 7 (Confidentiality), 8 (Intellectual Property), 10 (Indemnification), 11 (Limitation of Liability), and 12 (Miscellaneous) will survive termination.

9.4 Program Changes

Sous reserves the right to modify the commission rate, earning window, commission cap, or any other aspect of the Program at any time, with 30 days' written notice to active Partners. Changes will not apply retroactively to Commissions already earned. Continued participation after the notice period constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sous Personal Chefs, Co. and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, penalties, fines, and costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

  • Your violation of this Agreement

  • Your violation of any applicable law, including FTC disclosure requirements or professional ethics rules

  • Your promotional content, including any false or misleading claims

  • Your infringement of any third party's intellectual property rights

  • Any tax obligations arising from your receipt of Commissions

11. Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. SOUS DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR AVAILABLE AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME.

IN NO EVENT WILL SOUS BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE PROGRAM, EVEN IF SOUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

SOUS'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF COMMISSIONS PAID TO YOU IN THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

12. Miscellaneous

12.1 Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

12.2 Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement will be resolved through binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, conducted in Chicago, Illinois. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm.

12.3 Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and Sous with respect to the Program and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties. Any amendments must be in writing and accepted by you as described in Section 1 (Introduction).

12.4 Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

12.5 Waiver

Sous's failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce that provision in the future.

12.6 Assignment

You may not assign this Agreement or your rights hereunder without Sous's prior written consent. Sous may assign this Agreement freely, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

12.7 Non-Disparagement

You agree not to make false, misleading, or disparaging statements about Sous, its services, its team, or its chefs, whether publicly or privately, during or after your participation in the Program.

13. Contact

Questions about the Program or this Agreement can be directed to:

Sous Personal Chefs, Co.

Email: partner@sous.so

Website: www.sous.so