> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.roadmap.so/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.roadmap.so/loyalty-and-rewards/membership-tiers-and-referrals/manage-referrals.md).
# Manage referrals
Reward customers for referrals with Referral Program, and how a referral discount applies once per order.
Use **Referral Program** to reward both the existing customer who refers a friend and the friend who places their first order.
The existing customer receives their reward **once the friend makes their first order**.
### Set the reward for the referring customer
Open the Customer reward settings
From **Referral Program**, find **Customer reward** and select **Edit**.
Choose what to reward
Select one option:
* **No reward** (turns off the customer reward)
* **Points** (enter the number of points)
* **Discount** (configure a coupon-style discount)
If you choose Discount, configure the rules
Fill in the available fields as needed:
* **Percentage** or **Fixed amount**
* **Code prefix** (the beginning of the generated code; the example updates underneath)
* **Applies to** (for example, **Specific products or variants**)
* **Select variants** (optional; select specific variants, or leave blank to match any product). Use **Browse** to pick items.
* **Purchase Type** (for example, **One-time purchase**)
* **Minimum spend**
* **Expires after** (leave as **No expiry** to keep codes active indefinitely)
Save your changes
Select **Save**.
### How a referral discount applies
A referral reward is a single reward for a single referral, so the discount applies **once per order**.
If you set a fixed amount and the order contains more than one qualifying product, the reward is spread across those products rather than repeated on each one. A `$30` referral reward takes `$30` off the order in total, however many qualifying items are in the cart.
**Applies to** and **Select variants** still decide which products qualify. They scope eligibility; they do not multiply the reward.
{% hint style="info" %}
One referral produces one successful referral in your [loyalty analytics](/loyalty-and-rewards/loyalty-analytics.md), counted against the order rather than the number of products the code touched.
{% endhint %}
### Set the reward for the referred friend
The **Friend reward** is what your customer's friend receives to use on their **first purchase**.
Open the Friend reward settings
From **Referral Program**, find **Friend reward** and select **Edit**.
Choose Points or Discount
Pick **No reward**, **Points**, or **Discount**, then configure the same discount rule fields if you choose **Discount**.
Save your changes
Select **Save**.
### Activate your Referral Program
Check Referral status
On the **Referral Program** page, look for the **Referral status** section.
Turn it on
If it shows **inactive**, select **Activate**.
If you're testing, set a small **Points** reward first (for example, 50–200) to verify the referral flow, then switch to a **Discount** once you're ready.
### FAQ
When does the referring customer get rewarded?
The referring customer receives their reward after the friend makes their **first order**.
Do I have to use both rewards?
No. You can choose **No reward** for either **Customer reward** or **Friend reward**, and keep the other one active.
What does “Code prefix” do?
It sets the starting characters for generated discount codes. The example shown beneath the field updates to preview what the code will look like.
Can a referral discount apply more than once on an order?
No. A referral reward applies once per order. If several qualifying products are in the cart, a fixed-amount reward is spread across them so the total taken off matches what you configured.
### Related guides
* [Referral rewards not applying?](/loyalty-and-rewards/troubleshooting/referral-rewards-not-applying.md)
* [What the roadmap.referrer note on a customer means](/loyalty-and-rewards/troubleshooting/what-the-roadmapreferrer-note-on-a-customer-means.md)
* [Loyalty analytics](/loyalty-and-rewards/loyalty-analytics.md)
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