Partner Account
Introduction
Partner Account helps platforms manage independent business partners. Each partner gets their own account with dedicated fund collection, while the platform can operate funds within agreed permissions.
This is ideal for marketplace and supply-chain platforms that need to collect payments on behalf of partners, freeze funds for consumer protection, and execute payouts within defined authorization limits.
💡 For an overview of how Partner Account compares with Group Account and Platform Account, see Account types.
What you can do
- Invite partners to open their own accounts under your platform
- Set operation permissions for each partner through scoped agreements
- Freeze funds when disputes arise
- Execute payouts on behalf of partners
- View partner balances and transaction statements
Example
Figure 1. Structure of Partner Account
Let's imagine a fictitious furniture marketplace called HomeDistrib that manages 200+ independent distributors worldwide. Each distributor is an independent legal entity that needs its own account for receiving customer payments in multiple currencies. HomeDistrib needs to freeze funds when a distributor violates platform policy, and execute payouts to suppliers on the distributor's behalf — all within agreed limits.
User Journey
Figure 2. User journey of Partner Account
1 HomeDistrib sends an onboarding invitation to a new distributor.
2 The distributor completes identity verification and receives an independent account with its own virtual account for fund collection.
3 End customers pay the distributor through the platform, and funds settle directly into the distributor's virtual account.
4 When a consumer dispute is raised, the platform freezes the disputed amount.
5 Once resolved, the platform releases the funds or initiates a refund payout within the agreement scope.
Typical Customers:
- E-commerce platforms managing distributor accounts
- Supply chain platforms managing supplier accounts
- Labor staffing platforms managing employer accounts
Building it with WorldFirst
1. Onboarding
Send an onboarding invitation to each partner. The partner completes identity verification and receives an independent account with its own virtual account for local collections. Once approved, the partner can start receiving payments.
2. Authorization
Set up an authorization agreement with each partner that defines what your platform can do on their behalf — such as viewing balances, transferring funds, freezing funds, or making payouts. Your platform can only operate within the boundaries the partner has agreed to.
3. Collection
Customer payments are directed to each partner's virtual account. Real-time notifications keep your platform and partners informed of every incoming transaction. Each partner's funds are kept separate from other partners and from your platform's own funds.
4. Fund freeze
When a dispute or policy violation occurs, your platform can place a hold on the specific amount in question. The partner's balance splits into available and frozen portions. Once the issue is resolved, the held amount can be released back to the partner or paid out as a refund.
5. Payouts
Create payouts for supplier settlements or consumer refunds using the partner's available balance. Every payout is checked against the authorization agreement to ensure it stays within the agreed scope.
6. Agreement management
Partners can request changes to their authorization scope or revoke access at any time. If a partner revokes authorization, your platform immediately loses operation rights for that account until a new agreement is established.