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Studio Referral Program

Vice Engine · Last updated August 8, 2026 · Applies to Canada and United States studio subscriptions

In plain language: If a new studio signs up with your permanent studio referral code, they get 20% off their first paid month after the trial. After they pay that first real bill, you earn credit equal to half of what they actually paid. We hold that credit for 14 days, then take it off your next Vice Engine bill(s). Credits from more than one referral add up.

1. Who can refer

Any studio with a locked permanent studio join code may be used as a referrer. Rolling / rotating patron join codes are not valid referral codes. Your permanent code is the only code that attributes a studio-to-studio referral, even if you currently use a rolling code for customer joins.

2. How a new studio uses a code

During studio signup, the new studio may indicate they have a referral code and enter the referring studio’s permanent code. Promo codes created by Vice Engine ops (if any) are separate from studio referral codes.

Self-referrals are not allowed (for example, the same owner email referring themselves).
Invalid, unknown, or disabled codes are rejected at signup.
Attribution is stored when the new studio account is created and is not changed if the referrer later updates their permanent code.

3. Benefit for the new (referred) studio

When signup succeeds with a valid studio referral code, the referred studio receives a one-time 20% discount on their first billable subscription invoice after the free trial ends (or on the first paid invoice if there is no trial). This discount does not automatically apply to later months unless a separate Vice Engine promo or ops entitlement says otherwise.

4. Benefit for the referring studio

The referrer earns an account credit equal to fifty percent (50%) of the amount actually paid on the referred studio’s first qualifying paid subscription invoice—not the list price before discounts. Current plan prices are shown at signup and in Account → Subscription and may change over time; referral credit is always based on what was paid on that invoice.

Example (method only): if the referred studio’s first paid month is reduced by the 20% intro, your credit is half of that reduced amount they paid—not half of the full list price.
If the first billable invoice is $0 (fully covered by another discount or not charged), the referral credit is $0.
Credits from multiple referrals stack and reduce future Vice Engine invoices until used.
Credits are applied to the referrer’s billing account and automatically reduce the next invoice(s). Unused balance carries forward.

5. When the credit is earned and held

No referral credit is created at signup or during the free trial.

The referred studio’s first successful paid subscription invoice (non-zero amount paid after trial) creates a pending credit.
That credit is held for fourteen (14) days after payment.
If, during the hold, the payment is refunded, charged back, or otherwise reversed, the pending credit is voided.
If the hold completes cleanly, the credit is issued to the referrer’s Stripe customer balance and appears on subsequent invoices.
If a refund or dispute occurs after the credit was issued, Vice Engine may reverse the credit (which can increase the amount due on a later invoice).

6. What does not qualify

Trial-only studios that cancel before a paid invoice.
Self-referrals and obvious related-party abuse (same owner, shared payment method patterns, or other fraud signals).
Accounts created solely to manufacture credits.
Complimentary / ops-comp’d referred studios that never produce a paid invoice.

Vice Engine may void pending credits, reverse issued credits, suspend referral eligibility, or require manual ops review when abuse is suspected.

7. Complimentary and other ops promotions

Separately from this referral program, Vice Engine operations may assign studio entitlements (for example complimentary access, extended trial, or introductory rates) with their own expiration dates. Those entitlements are not referral credits and may change or end according to the terms set by ops for that studio.

8. Taxes, currency, and non-cash nature

Credits are account credits toward Vice Engine subscription charges only. They are not cash, are not transferable outside your studio billing account, and have no redeemable cash value. Currency follows the Stripe customer/invoice currency for the accounts involved (launch catalog is USD).

9. Changes and contact

Vice Engine may modify, suspend, or end the Studio Referral Program. Continued participation after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms on this page. Questions: use in-product Feedback to Vice Engine ops.