commission mechanics
Custom Commission
A negotiated rate above the public offer — available to high-performing affiliates who ask.
What is Custom Commission?
A custom commission is a privately negotiated rate, structure, or bonus arrangement offered by a merchant to a specific affiliate — typically a top performer or publisher with a particularly well-aligned audience — that differs from the publicly advertised commission available to all affiliates.
Custom Commission In Practice
Custom commissions exist because affiliate programs are fundamentally a negotiation, even when public terms suggest otherwise. Merchants have margin to offer higher rates to affiliates who deliver high-volume, high-quality referrals — and most affiliate managers are authorised to negotiate with partners who can justify the ask. The case is made with data: EPC, conversion rate, average order value, and monthly referral volume. Affiliates driving 50+ conversions per month are typically in a position to negotiate. The conversation happens directly with the affiliate manager, not through the network dashboard. Custom commissions are structured as elevated base rates, volume-triggered bonuses, or increased commission on a specific product tier.
Example of Custom Commission
An affiliate consistently refers 80–100 Moosend free trial signups per month with a 35% trial-to-paid conversion rate — above program average. After three months of data, the affiliate contacts Moosend's affiliate manager through PartnerStack. Moosend agrees to increase year-one commission from 30% to 40% in exchange for a dedicated review article. The custom rate is applied to the affiliate's account and confirmed in writing.