How to set up and manage partner tiers and permissions in Partnered for scalable programs

If you’re running a partner program and trying to get past the “spreadsheet and hope” phase, setting up real tiers and permissions is the first step to not losing your mind. This guide is for anyone using Partnered who actually wants their program to scale — without endless busywork or turning into the “permissions help desk.”

Let’s cut the fluff and walk through, step by step, how to set up partner tiers and permissions in Partnered, and what actually matters if you want this to work in the real world.

Why Tiers and Permissions Matter (and Where People Screw Up)

Here’s the truth: tiers and permissions aren’t magic. They’re just guardrails. You set them up so your best partners get the access and benefits they’ve earned, and so you’re not hand-holding every single partner. But:

  • Too simple, and you’ll be swamped with requests.
  • Too complex, and nobody (including you) will remember who gets what.

Your goal is to keep things just strict enough to avoid chaos, but not so strict nobody can actually get work done.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Tiers Before You Touch the Tool

Before you click anything in Partnered, sketch out what “tiers” actually mean for your program. Don’t let the tool dictate your strategy; use it to support what works for you.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • How many tiers do you really need? (Hint: Most programs need 2–3. Gold/Silver/Bronze is fine. Don’t get clever unless you have a reason.)
  • What’s the difference — in real terms — between a “Gold” and a “Silver” partner? More leads? Better support? Co-marketing?
  • What do you want to gate with permissions? Is it access to leads, training, marketing resources, or something else?
  • Where will you track tier progress? (If you’re still tracking in a spreadsheet, stop. Partnered can do this.)

Pro Tip:
Don’t create a tier unless you have a real, measurable reason for it. “VIP” or “Strategic” tiers sound nice, but if everyone ends up there, what’s the point?

Step 2: Set Up Tiers in Partnered

Now that you’re clear on your structure, it’s time to actually build it in Partnered.

  1. Go to Partner Tiers in Settings:

  2. Log in, head to the admin/settings area, and look for the “Tiers” or “Partner Levels” section.

  3. Create Your Tiers:

  4. Add each tier you need, using clear names. Avoid internal jargon. If you can’t explain to a partner what the tier means, don’t use it.

  5. Set criteria for each tier. Usually this means revenue, number of deals, certifications, or other measurable stuff.

  6. Assign Benefits (Optional):

  7. If Partnered lets you attach benefits/resources to tiers directly, do it here. Examples: access to partner portal, co-marketing funds, priority support.

  8. Save and Review:

  9. Double-check everything before you hit “publish.” Once partners see their status, it’s hard to walk back mistakes.

Honest take:
This step is easy to overthink. Don’t let “what if we grow to 10,000 partners?” stop you from shipping something that works for your 10–100 partners now. You can always update tiers later — just communicate changes clearly.

Step 3: Set Up Permissions (Without Going Overboard)

Permissions control what partners can do, see, and request in the system. Here’s how to keep it tight and sane:

  1. Map Permissions to Tiers:
  2. In Partnered, you’ll usually assign a permission set to each tier, not each partner.

  3. Decide what each tier actually needs access to. Typical categories:

    • Deal registration
    • Training/content
    • Marketing assets
    • Co-selling or lead-sharing tools
    • Support/contact options

  4. Set Defaults, Not Exceptions:

  5. Most of your partners in a tier should get the same permissions.

  6. Avoid a ton of “special cases” or you’ll be stuck cleaning up permission messes forever.

  7. Test With a Dummy Partner:

  8. Before rolling out, create a test partner at each tier and see exactly what they see. Better to be embarrassed in private than in front of your real partners.

  9. Document Changes:

  10. Keep a simple log (in Partnered, or even a running Google Doc) of what you changed and why. You’ll thank yourself later.

Pro Tip:
If you’re not sure about a permission, err on the side of less access. It’s much easier to grant more later than to take it away.

Step 4: Assign Partners to Tiers (and Keep It Up to Date)

With your structure in place, it’s time to assign partners to the right tiers.

  1. Bulk Assign (if possible):

  2. If you’re migrating, most systems (including Partnered) let you bulk upload or assign partners by CSV or via their API. Use this — don’t go one by one unless you like busywork.

  3. Automate Where You Can:

  4. Some programs set up rules (“If a partner closes 3 deals, auto-promote to Silver”). If Partnered supports this, use it. But don’t automate everything blindly — review promotions at least quarterly.

  5. Communicate Changes:

  6. When you move a partner up or (especially) down a tier, let them know. A quick email explaining what changed and why avoids confusion and bad blood.

  7. Review Regularly:

  8. Set a recurring reminder (monthly or quarterly) to review tier assignments. Partners change — don’t let your tiers get stale.

What to skip:
Don’t waste time on “temporary” tiers or constantly shuffling partners for small changes. Consistency and predictability matter way more than chasing edge cases.

Step 5: Audit and Adjust As You Grow

Your first version won’t be perfect. That’s fine. The trick is to actually look at what’s working (and what isn’t) and make changes without breaking things.

  1. Check Access Logs:

  2. Use Partnered’s reporting to see if partners are actually using what they have access to. If most of your Bronze partners never download a marketing asset, maybe that access isn’t as critical as you thought.

  3. Ask for Feedback (But Don’t Overreact):

  4. Once or twice a year, ask partners if the tiers and permissions make sense. But don’t jump at every complaint — look for patterns, not one-off gripes.

  5. Iterate, Don’t Overhaul:

  6. Tweak benefits, criteria, or permissions as you learn — but avoid massive resets unless something’s really broken.

  7. Document Changes Publicly:

  8. Update your partner portal or handbook so partners know what the rules are. If you change something, update the docs.

Honest take:
Don’t get sucked into the idea that your partner program needs to look like Salesforce’s to be “professional.” Most real-world programs are messy, and that’s OK. Clean, predictable, and simple beats “impressive but confusing” every time.

What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)

Here’s the stuff you should focus on — and what to ignore:

Works:

  • Clear, simple tier names and rules
  • Minimal, role-based permissions
  • Regular, predictable reviews
  • Automating the boring parts (like tier upgrades)

Doesn’t Work:

  • Too many tiers or custom exceptions
  • Manual, one-by-one permission tweaks
  • Complex rules nobody remembers
  • Ignoring partner feedback (or chasing every complaint)

Keep It Simple — and Iterate

Setting up partner tiers and permissions in Partnered isn’t about checking a box or making things look impressive in a board deck. It’s about giving your partners what they need, and not creating a support nightmare for yourself.

Start simple. Document your choices. Watch what happens. Adjust only when you have real data. Don’t get hung up on being perfect — the best partner programs are the ones that actually get used.

Now go make your program scalable, not complicated.