The Affiliate Commission Structure Cheat Sheet
Commission models and rate ranges by industry so you design a payout that attracts partners without killing your margin.
Setting affiliate commission rates by gut feel is how programmes die quietly. Partners leave for better-paying offers, or your margin evaporates before you notice. This cheat sheet gives you the commission models, rate ranges by industry, and the structural rules that keep your programme profitable and attractive at the same time.
Whichever of the four models you choose, paying an affiliate creates what the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calls a material connection with a brand, a financial one in this case. Its Disclosures 101 guide says that relationship should be disclosed with each endorsement in plain words such as ad or sponsored, since a note sitting only on a profile page is likely to be missed.
- The Four Commission Models
- Commission Rate Ranges by Industry
- Structural Rules That Protect Your Margin
- What Attracts Serious Affiliates vs Casual Ones
- Common Mistakes That Kill Programmes
- Quick Reference: Rate Floors and Ceilings
Common questions on affiliate disclosure
Does a free product count as payment?
Yes. The FTC guide treats free or discounted products and services as a material connection, so an affiliate who receives them and then mentions a product should disclose it, even without being asked to post.
Do likes and tags need a disclosure too?
They can. The guide says tags, likes, pins and similar ways of showing you like a brand or product can be endorsements, and an affiliate should disclose even when they believe their review is unbiased.
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