FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers about wallet credit, usage, subscriptions, and how Tycoon charges for work.
How is this different from using Rewardful, Viral Loops, or PartnerStack?
Those are referral infrastructure platforms — they handle tracking, rewards, dashboards. Tycoon runs the program on top of that infrastructure. Rewardful will track the referral; Tycoon decides when to ask the customer to refer, what to say, how to personalize it, when to nudge dormant advocates, and how to optimize the program over time. Many teams use both: Rewardful as the infrastructure, Tycoon as the operations layer. Infrastructure without operations = most referral programs that soft-launch and die.
Do referral programs still work in 2026, or are they played out?
Double-sided referral programs remain the single most effective low-cost acquisition channel for product-led SaaS and DTC. What doesn't work anymore: generic 'share on Twitter for 10% off' that everyone spams. What works: thoughtful invite asks at real happiness moments, personalized messaging, rewards meaningful to your customer (not your marketing budget's preference), and fast fulfillment. Tycoon implements the pattern that still works.
Our product isn't viral by nature. Is a referral program worth it?
Depends on customer density in personal networks. If your customers have professional networks where your product is relevant (most B2B SaaS, many consumer productivity tools), referral programs work. If your product is niche and customers don't know other potential customers (enterprise security tools, regulated-industry software), referral programs have lower ROI and you should invest in other channels first. Tycoon's setup flow includes a fit check — it'll recommend against if your customer overlap is too low.
What about B2B specifically — can you do deal-split commissions for referrals?
Yes. For B2B, referral programs often target champions at existing customers (they introduce you to peer companies) or industry influencers (they earn commissions on referred accounts). AI Bookkeeper handles deal-split commissions: referrer earns 10-20% of ACV for referred closed deals, payments go out on your payment schedule, and reporting shows referrer which deals are in pipeline. B2B referral programs often produce fewer but higher-value referrals than consumer — one enterprise deal can pay for the whole program.
What about gamification — leaderboards, tiers, exclusive perks?
Gamification works for certain audience types (consumer apps, creator tools, productivity products used by enthusiasts). AI Head of Growth can design tier programs (bronze → silver → gold) with escalating rewards and leaderboard visibility. For B2B or enterprise, gamification usually feels cheap — simpler cash/credit incentives perform better. Fit check during setup determines which variant to ship. Many consumer apps find gamified programs drive 2-3x the referral volume of flat-reward programs.