What commission rate should I offer?

**Industry benchmarks:** - **SaaS:** 15-30% recurring or 50-100% of first month - **E-commerce:** 5-15% of sale - **Digital products:** 30-50% of sale Start on the higher end to attract affiliates, then optimize once you have data.

How do I prevent affiliate fraud?

Common fraud prevention measures: 1. **Approval process:** Manually review affiliate applications 2. **Cookie rules:** Block self-referrals and suspicious patterns 3. **Payout delays:** 30-60 day hold allows time to catch chargebacks 4. **Monitor traffic:** Watch for suspicious click patterns 5. **Clear terms:** Explicitly ban coupon sites, trademark bidding, etc.

Should I use an affiliate network or self-host?

**Self-hosted (Rewardful, FirstPromoter):** - Lower fees, more control - Best for: SaaS, smaller programs **Networks (ShareASale, Impact):** - Built-in affiliate discovery - More credibility with pro affiliates - Best for: E-commerce, scaling programs Most SaaS companies start self-hosted and add networks later.

How do I handle FTC disclosure requirements for affiliates?

The FTC requires clear disclosure of affiliate relationships. Your responsibilities: 1. **Include in terms:** Require affiliates to disclose in their content 2. **Provide guidance:** Give them sample disclosure language 3. **Monitor compliance:** Spot-check affiliate content periodically 4. **Enforce violations:** Remove affiliates who refuse to disclose **Sample disclosure:** "This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link." Failure to enforce can result in FTC action against your company, not just the affiliate.

What should I do with affiliates who drive traffic but no conversions?

Before removing underperformers, diagnose the issue: 1. **Check traffic quality:** Are they sending the right audience? 2. **Review their content:** Is messaging aligned with your value prop? 3. **Analyze the funnel:** Are visitors bouncing on your site (your problem) or theirs? **Actions to take:** - **Coach first:** Share what top affiliates do differently - **Set minimum thresholds:** "Must generate 1 sale per 100 clicks" - **Create tiers:** Move low performers to lower commission until they improve - **Graceful exit:** Give 30 days notice before removal Some affiliates need time to find the right angle - give them 90 days before cutting.

👥 Influencer

Affiliate Programs

Build and manage an affiliate program that incentivizes partners to promote your product.

7 min read

Last updated: Jun 28, 2026

💰

"Our affiliate program generates 35% of new revenue with a CAC that's 60% lower than paid ads. Affiliates are essentially a distributed sales team that only gets paid on results."

Head of Growth, SaaS Company

📅 Affiliate Program Launch

Setup Warm-up Outreach

Week 1-2

Define commission structure + terms

⏱ ~6 hours

Week 3-4

Set up tracking + affiliate portal

⏱ ~10 hours

Month 2

Recruit initial affiliates

⏱ ~8 hours

Month 3+

Scale + optimize program

⏱ Ongoing

Week 1-2

Define commission structure + terms

⏱ ~6 hours

Week 3-4

Set up tracking + affiliate portal

⏱ ~10 hours

Month 2

Recruit initial affiliates

⏱ ~8 hours

Month 3+

Scale + optimize program

⏱ Ongoing

Is this for you?

Great fit if...

✓You have product-market fit and steady conversions
✓Your product has clear, communicable value
✓You can afford 15-30% commission rates
✓You have tracking infrastructure in place
✓Your sales cycle is relatively short

Try something else if...

You are still finding product-market fit
Your margins are too thin for commissions
You have a complex enterprise sales cycle
You cannot track conversions accurately

Try Customer Referral Programs for simpler setup →

Not the right fit?

If Affiliate Programs doesn't match your situation, consider these alternative tactics that achieve similar goals:

Customer Referral Programs

Incentivize existing customers to refer new customers with rewards.

intermediate•medium•short term

What to expect

15-30%

Revenue from mature affiliate programs

60%

Lower CAC vs paid acquisition

3-6 months

Time to meaningful affiliate revenue

Quick math: Affiliate programs have compounding effects. Top affiliates often generate 80% of program revenue, so focus on recruiting and nurturing your best performers.

Your commission structure determines who will promote you. Too low and no one cares. Too high and you lose money. Find the sweet spot.

Commission models to consider