Define Commission
Set up commission rates and structures for your affiliate program
Commission determines what partners earn when they drive results. Configure the right type and duration to attract quality partners and align incentives with your business model.
Commission Basics
Every commission has two components:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Rate | How much partners earn (percentage or fixed amount) |
| Duration | How long partners earn from a referred customer |
Commission Types
Revenue Share
Partners earn a percentage of each sale from customers they refer.
Example: 30% commission means partner earns $30 on a $100 sale.
Revenue Share is the default and recommended type for SaaS products.
CPC (Cost per Click)
Partners earn a fixed amount for each click they drive.
Example: $0.01 per click.
CPL (Cost per Lead)
Partners earn a fixed amount for each qualified lead (signup) they refer.
Example: $10 per lead.
CPS (Cost per Sale)
Partners earn a fixed amount for each sale they generate.
Example: $20 per sale.
Coming Soon
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tiered | Bonuses at milestones | $100 bonus after $100K revenue |
| Hybrid | Combine multiple types | CPC + CPS + milestone bonuses |
These will be available through Group Rewards.
Commission Duration
How long partners continue earning from a referred customer:
| Duration | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| One-time | First payment only | Simple products, one-time purchases |
| 3 months | First 3 months of payments | Short trial periods |
| 6 months | First 6 months of payments | Medium commitment products |
| 12 months | First 12 months of payments | Annual subscription products |
| Lifetime | All future payments | Maximum partner incentive |
| Custom | Configure your own duration | Specific business needs |
Recommendation: For SaaS, use 12 months or lifetime to motivate partners to refer customers who stay, not just customers who sign up.
Setting Your Commission
During Setup
In the setup wizard, you'll configure:
- Commission Rate (%) – e.g., 30%
- Commission Duration – e.g., 12 months
This becomes your default commission for all partners.
Example Configurations
| Business Type | Rate | Duration | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2B SaaS ($50-200/mo) | 30% | 12 months | High LTV justifies generous commission |
| B2B SaaS ($500+/mo) | 20-25% | Lifetime | Lower % but longer duration |
| Consumer SaaS ($10-30/mo) | 30-40% | 6 months | Higher % to attract volume partners |
| One-time purchase | 20-30% | One-time | Simple, predictable |
Commission Calculation
Formula: Commission = Sale Amount × Commission Rate
Example with 30% commission:
| Customer Payment | Partner Earns |
|---|---|
| $100 one-time | $30 |
| $100/month × 12 months | $30/month × 12 = $360 total |
| $1,000/year lifetime | $300/year ongoing |
With Affitor's 3.5% platform fee:
| Sale | Partner Commission (30%) | Platform Fee (3.5%) | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $30 | $3.50 | $66.50* |
*Before Stripe fees (~2.9% + $0.30)
Changing Commission Rates
You can update your default commission anytime in Program Settings.
Important: Changes apply to new referrals only — existing attributions keep their original rate.
Group Rewards (Coming Soon)
Group Rewards will let you assign different commission structures to different partner segments:
- Performance tiers – Higher commission for top performers
- Partner types – Different rates for influencers vs. agencies
- Special promotions – Temporary commission boosts
- Milestone bonuses – Extra rewards at revenue thresholds
Best Practices
-
Be competitive – Research what similar products offer. For AI SaaS, 30%+ is common.
-
Think lifetime value – A 30% commission on a customer with 24-month LTV is very profitable for you.
-
Longer duration = better partners – Lifetime commissions attract partners who promote quality, not just volume.
-
Start generous, optimize later – Reducing rates for new partners is easier than raising them after expectations are set.
What's Next
- Commission Approval & Cash Flow – How commissions are validated and paid
- Payouts – Partner payout schedules and methods