Affiliate platforms: questions to ask before you migrate (SaaS)
A practical checklist for migrating affiliate platforms in SaaS: what to export, how to compare ledgers, how to handle refunds and clawbacks, and the safest cutover plan.
Read articleOpsMar 13, 2026
Affiliate reporting: metrics that matter (EPC, CAC payback, churn)
A simple reporting stack that tells you if the channel is healthy
Affiliate reporting should not be a dashboard you admire. It should help you make three decisions: which partners to recruit, what to change, and what to stop paying for.
Table of contents
- Definition
- The core questions your report must answer
- Metrics that matter
- Recommended default report
- FAQ
- Related pages
- Final takeaway and next step
Definition
Affiliate reporting is the set of metrics you use to evaluate partner performance and payout health. The goal is to keep the channel profitable and predictable.
The core questions your report must answer
- Which partners drive qualified customers?
- Are we paying for customers who refund?
- How long does it take for commissions to pay back?
- Is ops load growing faster than revenue?
Metrics that matter
- EPC (earnings per click)
- Conversion rate (click to paid)
- Refund rate on affiliate conversions
- Time to first payout (ops friction)
- CAC payback for affiliate sourced customers
- Churn for affiliate sourced customers
Recommended default report
- Top partners by net revenue (after refunds)
- Partner level refund rate
- Payout ledger summary (adjustments and clawbacks)
- New partners activated this month
FAQ
Is EPC enough?
No. EPC can look great while refund rates are terrible. Always pair EPC with net revenue and refunds.
Related pages
- Affiliate payout rules template
- Affiliate clawback policy template
- Affiliate payout schedule generator
- Affiliate payout audit checklist
- Minimum payout threshold for affiliates
Final takeaway and next step
The best affiliate reports are boring. They make problems obvious before partners complain.
Next step today: add refund rate and net revenue to your partner report, not just clicks and signups.
Want this Playbook in your inbox?
I share practical notes on affiliate programs for SaaS.No spam. No hype.
Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.
Ready to launch?
If Rewardful feels like overkill, start simple: signup page + links + Stripe-attributed revenue.
Related posts
Affiliate tracking for subscriptions: what changes vs one-time sales (a practical guide)
A founder-friendly guide to affiliate tracking for SaaS subscriptions: which event earns commission, how to handle trials and plan changes, how recurring commissions work, and the tests that catch broken attribution.
Read article