An affiliate is a partner or independent distributor who collaborates with a business under an affiliate agreement or program. In online commerce, they promote the company’s products or services in exchange for a commission based on results such as clicks, leads, or sales. In brick-and-mortar retail, they may be a merchant belonging to a buying group or operating under a commission-based affiliate agreement, with or without a franchise connection. This performance-based model allows for expanded commercial reach while offering compensation proportional to the results generated.