> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.higherfrequency.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How it works

> These pages explain the rules behind the Freeq Growth Network in plain words.

These pages explain the rules behind the Freeq Growth Network in plain words. They are for brands and creators alike.

* [How credit is decided](https://docs.higherfrequency.io/how-it-works/attribution.md): which creator gets credit for a sale, the evidence we use, and what happens when a sale can't be credited.
* [Trust and fraud protection](https://docs.higherfrequency.io/how-it-works/trust-and-fraud.md): how we check that sales are real, how riskier orders are handled, and how your data is kept separate.
* [Holding periods and disputes](https://docs.higherfrequency.io/how-it-works/holding-periods-and-disputes.md): why commission is held, how long for, and what returns and chargebacks do to it.

## The short version

1. A shopper clicks a creator's link. We record the click.
2. The shopper buys on the brand's Shopify store.
3. We look for evidence linking the order to a click. The **most recent** eligible creator click wins.
4. The creator's commission is held for at least 30 days while returns and payment problems can still happen.
5. When the hold ends, the creator can withdraw the money to their bank through Stripe.

Money always moves through Stripe and our own records. A permanent public record keeps track of who earned each sale, but it never holds money.

New to the words used here? See the [Glossary](https://docs.higherfrequency.io/glossary.md).


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