Affiliate payout rules template for SaaS (free copy/paste policy)
If you need clear affiliate payout rules, start here. This is a free copy/paste payout policy template for SaaS: payout schedule, refund window, minimum payout threshold, clawbacks, and how adjustments work. Publish this before you recruit affiliates, not after the first payout dispute.
Quick answer
The safest default affiliate payout rules for a SaaS program are: monthly payouts, 30-day refund window, $50 minimum payout threshold, and manual review before payout.
Safe defaults
- • Payouts: monthly
- • Refund window: 30 days
- • Minimum payout threshold: $50
- • Manual review: yes (recommended early)
What this prevents
- • “Why wasn’t this refunded customer paid?” arguments
- • Payout timing misunderstandings
- • Surprise clawbacks
- • Founder panic about long-term obligations
What to include in affiliate payout rules
If someone searches for an affiliate payout rules template, they usually want one thing: language they can publish without creating payout drama later. Keep the policy simple and explicit.
- • Payout schedule: monthly, Net-30, or another fixed cycle
- • Refund window: when commissions become payable
- • Minimum threshold: the balance required before payout
- • Adjustments & clawbacks: what happens after refunds or reversals
- • Manual review: whether payouts can be checked before approval
Copy-paste payout rules
Use this as a starting point. Adjust numbers, but keep the structure. Clarity beats generosity.
Payout schedule
We process payouts monthly. Earnings for a given month are reviewed and paid in the following payout cycle.
Refund window
Commissions are eligible once the refund window closes (default: 30 days). Refunded payments do not earn commission.
Minimum threshold
We pay out once your approved balance reaches the minimum threshold (default: $50). If you are below the threshold, the balance rolls over.
Adjustments & clawbacks
If a commission was already paid for a payment that later becomes ineligible (e.g., a refund), we may deduct that amount from a future payout.
Manual review
We review payouts for obvious anomalies (duplicates, refund patterns, policy violations). This protects both the program and high-quality affiliates.
Where TinyAffiliate fits
TinyAffiliate is manual payouts by design. It tracks Stripe-attributed revenue and generates a clear payout report (CSV) so you can pay affiliates your way.
What a safe payout workflow looks like
- 1. Track conversions and wait for the refund window to close.
- 2. Review anomalies like refunds, duplicates, and policy violations.
- 3. Approve commissions above your minimum threshold.
- 4. Export the payout report and pay affiliates on a fixed schedule.
FAQ
Why do I need payout rules?
Because most affiliate disputes are really policy disputes (timing, refunds, clawbacks). Clear rules reduce confusion and protect trust.
What should affiliate payout rules include?
At minimum: payout schedule, refund window, minimum payout threshold, clawback handling, and whether payouts are manually reviewed before approval.
What payout schedule is safest for SaaS?
Monthly payouts after a refund window closes is a common, founder-friendly default.
Should I do automatic payouts?
Early on, manual payouts are safer. Automate tracking and reporting first, then decide if payouts should be automated later.
How should refunds affect commissions?
Define it explicitly. A simple rule is: refunded payments do not earn commission, and already-paid commissions can be deducted from the next payout.