How does referral work? A complete guide for beginners

The principle, clearly explained

Referral is an incentivised recommendation system: an existing customer (the referrer) receives a reward when they persuade a new person (the referred customer) to take out a service, and the referred customer is rewarded too for joining.

In practice, three parties are involved. The brand gives the referrer a unique link or code in their customer area. The referrer shares this link with someone they know who may be interested. The referred customer clicks, signs up and meets the requested conditions (a transfer, a few transactions, or sometimes simply registering). Once these conditions have been met, the brand pays a bonus to both parties.

Why does the brand agree to pay twice? Because a customer acquired through a recommendation costs less than an advertising campaign and is generally more loyal: they were advised by someone they trust. Everyone benefits, provided the referred customer completes all the conditions.

The main types of referral programme

Not all programmes are equal, either in amount or simplicity. Five sectors dominate.

Banking offers the highest bonuses: from 15€ (N26) to 280€ (for the referred customer at Monabanq), including BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Revolut and Trade Republic. It is also the sector with the most demanding activation conditions (minimum transfer, number of transactions).

Insurance (Alan, Direct Assurance, AXA, MAIF) is generally around 50€, or the equivalent in free months in the examples cited. Activation is simple (taking out the policy is enough), but opportunities are rarer: people change insurer less often than bank.

Energy (Engie, TotalEnergies and others) offers from 30€ to 100€, depending on the supplier. As the market has been liberalised, switching is now simple and free.

SaaS and apps (Proton, Dougs, Lovable) tend to reward customers with free subscription months or usage credits rather than euros. They have real value if you use the tool, and none otherwise.

Telecoms (Orange, Bouygues, SFR, Free) pay from 30€ to 100€, depending on the operator and plan taken out, often as a reduction on the bill rather than cash.

Activating a referral, step by step

1. Find a programme. In the customer area of a service you already use, look for the « referral », « invite a friend » or « recommend » section.
2. Retrieve your link. Copy the unique code or link: this is what attributes the bonus to you.
3. Target a suitable referred customer. Someone with a genuine need for the service who is not already a customer. Explain the benefit for them, not just the bonus.
4. Share the link correctly. Send it directly and tell them to use it to sign up rather than searching for the service on Google, otherwise the referral will not be tracked.
5. Meet the conditions. Make sure the referred person knows what they must do after registering (transfer, transactions, deadline), not just open an account.

How much can you really earn?

Earnings depend on your activity. As a referred customer, taking out 3 or 4 useful services during the year (a bank, an insurer, an energy supplier) can easily accumulate 200€ to 500€ in bonuses. As a referrer, making regular recommendations can generate several dozen to several hundred euros per month, depending on your network.

A concrete example from the referrer's perspective, with rates to be checked before each invitation: 5 Fortuneo Gold referred customers at 110€ (550€), 2 BoursoBank referred customers between 20€ and 60€ each depending on your balances (40€ to 120€), 1 Direct Assurance referred customer at 50€, giving 640€ to 720€ over a few months of moderate activity if all conditions are met, with services you would have used anyway.

The pitfalls that make everything fail

This is where most bonuses disappear, and everything is avoidable:

• Conditions not met. The number-one pitfall. The referred customer opens an account but forgets the minimum transfer or the required number of transactions. Result: no bonus, for them or for you. Explain the details before they start.
• Referred customer already a customer. A former customer, even one whose account was closed years ago, is generally not a « new customer ». Have them check their history.
• Link not used. If they search for the service on Google instead of clicking your link, the referral is not attributed. Stress this point.
• Code expired. Some offers are time-limited. Check that your link is active before sharing it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal in France? Yes, entirely. Referral is treated as incentivised word of mouth. Specific rules apply to certain sectors (finance, insurance), but the principle between individuals is permitted.

Can several programmes be combined? Yes, they are independent. Nothing prevents you from being a referred customer at BoursoBank, a referrer at Fortuneo and referring people to Alan at the same time. The only limit is your ability to meet each programme's conditions.

Are bonuses taxable? In principle, all income is taxable. In practice, small occasional amounts are rarely declared. Above a few hundred euros per year, it is best to ask a tax adviser.

Check before taking action: the conditions of the programmes cited as examples often change. Always check the amounts and conditions on each brand's official website before taking action, and consult a tax adviser about tax matters. PlanParrainPromo.fr is not a partner of any of the brands mentioned.

In summary

Referral is a simple, legal and potentially very profitable mechanism once you understand how it works. The key to success is to recommend services you would use anyway, target referred customers with a genuine need, explain the activation conditions clearly, and never present the bonus as the sole argument. Its effectiveness is based on trust, not opportunism.

See also

• Best bank referral programmes 2026: ranking the 7 best offers
• Top 10 most profitable referral programmes in 2026
• Fortuneo vs BoursoBank 2026: which should you choose?