Who can become a Shopspotter?
In principle, anyone who works self-employed can become a Shopspotter: as a freelancer, agency or company, including small businesses exempt from VAT and businesses from other EU countries or outside the EU. Private individuals can’t take part, because settlement by self-billing credit note needs business details. You don’t need a shop of your own, a plan or a purchase.
What are the requirements?
The key requirement: you take part as a business, meaning as part of your self-employed or commercial work. That includes, for example:
- Self-employed people and freelancers, for example in design, marketing, consulting or coaching
- Agencies and companies of any size
- Small businesses exempt from VAT
- Businesses from other EU countries, with a VAT ID
- Businesses outside the EU
Whether you do it full-time or alongside your main work makes no difference. When you sign up, you confirm explicitly that you take part as a business, and you accept the partner terms.
Why not as a private individual?
Merchavio settles every payout with a self-billing credit note. That is a statement Merchavio issues for you, so you never write an invoice yourself. A credit note needs business details such as your name or company, your address and your tax status. That is why private individuals can’t take part. What this means for your taxes is best clarified with your tax advisor.
Can Merchavio turn down a signup?
Yes. There is no right to take part. Merchavio can turn down a signup, in particular if the places where you want to advertise don’t fit the rules for Shopspotters. For example, advertising in or next to illegal, discriminatory, violence-glorifying or pornographic content or content harmful to minors is ruled out, as is advertising in offers aimed at minors.
What details do you need before your first payout?
To sign up, an email and password or your Google account is enough. The billing details only matter once you want a balance paid out. In your Shopspotter area you add them in this order:
- Tax and business details: company or name, address, country where your business is based, tax status (standard or small business in Germany, business from another EU country with a VAT ID, or business outside the EU) and your tax number or VAT ID. VAT IDs are verified.
- Payout details: your IBAN for a SEPA transfer or your PayPal address.
The minimum balance and when you can then request a payout are covered in when commission is paid out.
What don’t you need?
- No shop and no plan. The Shopspotter account is a separate account without a shop. How it fits with an existing seller account is explained in the Shopspotter account and your own shop.
- No money. Taking part is free. There is nothing to buy and no fee.
- No invoices. Merchavio creates the credit note automatically.
- No big audience. Commission arises when someone signs up through your link and then pays Merchavio. A well-matched recommendation in a conversation can be enough for that.
- No lock-in. You can stop at any time without notice, in your Shopspotter area or by email. More in how to cancel Shopspotting.
Who is Shopspotting a good fit for?
It works best if you already deal with people who sell their knowledge: as an online course, coaching, membership, community or download. These groups have that kind of contact particularly often:
Agencies and freelancers
You build websites, funnels or campaigns. When a client wants to sell digital products, the question of which shop system to use comes up anyway. More in Shopspotting for agencies.
Coaches and consultants
You support people who are going independent with their knowledge, often right when they put their first offer online. More in Shopspotting for coaches.
Creators
You talk about online business and tools in videos, posts, podcasts or your newsletter. More in Shopspotting for creators.
Virtual assistants
You look after tech and processes for coaches and creators and are often asked which tool to use. More in Shopspotting for virtual assistants.
Who will find it hard?
To be honest: if you have little contact with people who sell digital products or want to, you will struggle. Commission only arises when a suitable seller signs up through your link and then pays Merchavio. Without those people around you, even the best link won’t do much.
That can change if you build your own content about selling digital products, but it takes time. For a realistic picture of the effort, see how much work Shopspotting is.
What’s next?
If this sounds like you, the account is the next step. How signing up works and what comes after is covered in how to start as a Shopspotter.
Know people who sell online?
Then create your free Shopspotter account with Merchavio and share your link. You receive 25% of everything your sellers pay, every month.