Earnings and Income Disclaimers for Affiliates
When you show income figures or promote money-making offers, you need an earnings disclaimer on top of your affiliate disclosure. What it must say, with a copyable sample.
An earnings disclaimer — sometimes called an income disclaimer — is a specific disclosure that applies whenever your content promotes a way to make money: business opportunities, trading and investing products, “make money online” courses, MLM programs, or affiliate offers that tout income. It is distinct from your affiliate disclosure, and the FTC treats income claims as a high-risk category.
Why income claims are high-risk
Claims about how much money someone can make are objective claims that must be truthful and substantiated. The FTC scrutinizes earnings claims closely because they drive purchase decisions and are frequently exaggerated. If you present income figures, testimonials of big earnings, or “results,” you must be able to back them up, and you must not imply that atypical results are typical.
A disclaimer does not license an unsupported claim
“Results not typical” does not cure a misleading earnings claim. If you show exceptional results, the FTC expects you to disclose what a typical person can realistically expect — prominently, near the claim — not to bury a generic disclaimer.
When you need an earnings disclaimer
- You show or imply income figures or earnings potential.
- You promote business, trading, or investment products.
- You feature testimonials mentioning money earned.
- You run online ads that make income promises (a specific FTC focus).
What a compliant earnings disclosure does
- States that figures are examples, not guarantees.
- Notes that results vary and depend on individual factors.
- Acknowledges risk, including earning less or nothing.
- Sits near the income claim, not only in a footer.
Ready-to-use sample earnings disclaimer
Educational sample, not legal advice. Keep any specific income figures truthful and substantiated, and disclose typical results near the claim.
Pair this with your affiliate disclosure. For finance and crypto specifics, see finance disclosures and crypto disclosures.
Authoritative sources
Last reviewed July 2026. This page is general educational information, not legal or tax advice.