> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.affelios.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Add Collaborators to Your Affiliates > Learn how to invite collaborators and manage access to your affiliate accounts with different permission levels This guide explains how to add collaborators to your affiliate accounts and manage their access levels. As an **affiliate**, you can invite team members to help manage your affiliate accounts while maintaining control over permissions. ## Understanding Affiliate Account Access Beyond platform permissions, users can also have specific roles and permissions within individual affiliate accounts. This allows you to share access to your affiliate accounts with team members while maintaining appropriate security controls. ### Company Ownership and Payout Permissions When you create a new affiliate account inside an affiliate platform, you are required to associate a Company Account from the Affelios Company service which is attached as the beneficial owner of the account and any commissions that are generated by it. **Company Ownership Rules:** * Only people who have access to the Affiliate Account **AND** the Company associated are able to transfer ownership of the affiliate account * Only company owners can set new Payout information on the account where commissions are paid out to * Company ownership is separate from platform permissions Company ownership is a critical security feature. Only grant company access to trusted team members who need to manage payout information and account ownership. *** ## Affiliate Collaborator Roles You can assign different roles to collaborators based on what level of access they need to manage your affiliate accounts. ### Role Types and Capabilities **Access Level:** Basic viewing permissions **Capabilities:** * Run reports and view performance data * View customer referrals and transactions within the system * Access affiliate account data and performance metrics * View commission history and earnings **Limitations:** * Cannot make changes to affiliate account settings * Cannot invite new collaborators * Cannot modify payout information * Cannot create or modify tracking links **Best For:** * Team members who need to monitor performance * Accountants or bookkeepers who need to view financial data * Marketing team members who need to track campaign results **Access Level:** Full affiliate account control **Capabilities:** * All Read permissions * Assign a Company if no company is associated * Invite new Collaborators * Modify affiliate account settings * Access payout and commission information * Create and manage tracking links * Modify account preferences and settings **Responsibilities:** * Manage affiliate account configuration * Handle collaborator invitations * Ensure proper company association * Make decisions about account settings and payouts **Best For:** * Primary account holders * Business owners who need full control * Team leads who manage affiliate operations **Access Level:** Special administrative role **Capabilities:** * Manage the affiliate account * Apply Commission Plans * Access advanced affiliate management features * Create and modify tracking campaigns * View and manage commission structures **Assignment Requirements:** * Can only be assigned by users with the Manage Affiliates Write Module * Requires elevated platform permissions * Typically used for program operators managing specific affiliates **Best For:** * Program operators who manage your account * Account managers from the affiliate platform * Technical support personnel with elevated access *** ## Adding Collaborators to Your Account Learn how to invite team members to collaborate on your affiliate accounts. ### Step-by-Step Invitation Process Navigate to your affiliate account and go to the **Access** tab within the account settings. Click **Invite Collaborator** and enter the email address of the person you want to invite. Choose the appropriate role (Read Only, Owner, or Manager) based on what level of access they need. Send the invitation and wait for the collaborator to accept it. Once accepted, verify that the collaborator has the correct level of access to your account. ### Role Selection Guidelines **Consider These Factors:** * What tasks does this person need to perform? * How much control do they need over account settings? * Do they need to invite other collaborators? * Should they have access to payout information? **Role Selection Matrix:** * **Read Only**: For monitoring, reporting, and analysis * **Owner**: For full account management and team building * **Manager**: For program operators and account managers **Best Practices:** * Start with Read Only access and upgrade as needed * Regularly review collaborator access levels * Remove access for team members who no longer need it * Use Owner role sparingly - only for trusted team members * Document who has access and why *** ## Managing Collaborator Access Once collaborators are added, you'll need to manage their access levels and permissions over time. ### Access Management Tasks **Changing Roles:** * Navigate to the Access tab in your affiliate account * Find the collaborator you want to modify * Click the edit/gear icon next to their name * Select the new role and save changes **Common Changes:** * Upgrade from Read Only to Owner for new team leads * Downgrade from Owner to Read Only for departing team members * Adjust access based on changing responsibilities **When to Remove Access:** * Team member leaves the company * Role changes and no longer needs access * Security concerns or policy violations * Account restructuring or consolidation **Removal Process:** * Go to Access tab in your affiliate account * Find the collaborator to remove * Click remove/delete option * Confirm the removal * Verify access has been revoked **Regular Reviews:** * Schedule quarterly access reviews * Verify all active collaborators still need access * Check for appropriate role assignments * Document any changes made **Audit Checklist:** * List all current collaborators and their roles * Verify each person still works with your team * Confirm access levels match their current responsibilities * Remove access for inactive or departed team members *** ## Troubleshooting Collaborator Access Address common problems that arise with collaborator permissions and access. ### Access Problems **Symptoms:** * Invitation sent but collaborator cannot log in * "Access Denied" messages when trying to view account * Missing account in collaborator's dashboard **Solutions:** * Verify invitation was accepted properly * Check if collaborator has correct Affelios Identity * Ensure account is properly associated with their identity * Contact support if invitation process failed **Symptoms:** * Collaborator can see account but cannot perform expected actions * Missing features or buttons in their interface * Cannot access certain sections of the account **Resolution:** * Review their assigned role and capabilities * Upgrade role if they need additional permissions * Verify they have access to the Company associated with the account * Check if platform-level permissions are blocking access **Symptoms:** * Invite button missing or disabled * Error messages when trying to send invitations * Collaborators not receiving invitation emails **Troubleshooting:** * Ensure you have Owner role on the affiliate account * Verify you have access to the Company associated with the account * Check if there are limits on the number of collaborators * Contact support if invitation system is not working ### Permission Conflicts **Issue:** Collaborator role conflicts with platform permissions **Common Scenarios:** * Collaborator has Owner role but limited platform access * Platform permissions override collaborator role capabilities * Company ownership requirements blocking access **Resolution:** * Review both collaborator role and platform permissions * Ensure collaborator has necessary platform-level access * Verify company association and ownership settings * Contact support for complex permission conflicts **Issue:** Collaborator needs access to multiple affiliate accounts **Symptoms:** * Can access some accounts but not others * Inconsistent permission levels across accounts * Missing accounts in collaborator's dashboard **Solutions:** * Invite collaborator to each account individually * Ensure consistent role assignment across accounts * Verify company access for all relevant accounts * Document access levels for each account *** ## Best Practices for Collaborator Management Follow these best practices to maintain security and efficient collaborator management. ### Security Guidelines **Security Best Practices:** * Grant minimum necessary access for each collaborator's role * Use Read Only access as the default starting point * Regularly audit and review collaborator access * Remove access immediately when team members leave * Document access decisions and changes **Implementation:** * Create access request and approval processes * Establish clear role definitions and responsibilities * Train collaborators on their access levels and limitations * Monitor access patterns for unusual activity **Protecting Account Ownership:** * Limit Owner role to essential team members only * Ensure company access is properly managed * Document company ownership and transfer procedures * Implement approval processes for ownership changes * Maintain backup access methods for account recovery **Ownership Best Practices:** * Keep company access credentials secure * Use multi-person approval for ownership transfers * Document all ownership changes * Maintain contact information for company representatives ### Operational Efficiency **Effective Collaboration:** * Establish clear communication channels for account management * Document roles and responsibilities for each collaborator * Create standard operating procedures for common tasks * Schedule regular team meetings to review account performance * Use project management tools to coordinate activities **Workflow Optimization:** * Assign specific tasks to appropriate role levels * Create approval workflows for important decisions * Implement change management processes * Document best practices and lessons learned **Collaborator Education:** * Provide training on affiliate marketing basics * Explain account features and capabilities * Review security policies and best practices * Demonstrate reporting and analytics tools * Create documentation for common procedures **Ongoing Support:** * Regular check-ins with new collaborators * Provide resources for skill development * Share performance insights and optimization tips * Encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing *** ## Next Steps Once you've mastered basic collaborator management, explore these advanced features and integrations. **Additional Resources:** * [Finding Programs](/knowledge-base/affiliates/finding-programs) - Discover new affiliate opportunities * [Tracking Links](/knowledge-base/affiliates/tracking-links) - Create and manage your promotional links * [Payout Methods](/knowledge-base/affiliates/payout-methods) - Configure how you receive payments * [Invoice Generation & VAT](/knowledge-base/affiliates/invoice-generation-vat) - Handle invoicing and tax requirements **Advanced Features:** * Bulk collaborator management for multiple accounts * Integration with external team management tools * Advanced reporting and analytics for team performance * Automated access provisioning based on role changes Start with a simple collaborator structure and gradually add more team members as your affiliate business grows. Regular access reviews help maintain security while ensuring your team has the permissions they need to be effective.