Find the perfect
commission rate.
We analyze your AOV, margins, LTV, and acquisition targets to calculate the optimal commission rate for your affiliate program.
Your business metrics
We'll calculate the ideal commission based on your economics.
2.6x AOV — strong repeat purchasing
$46.96 gross profit per sale
Commission capped at $35 per sale
Customers save $12.75 per order
Recommended Commission Rate
$11.32 per referred sale
Per-Sale Economics
LTV Advantage
With a 2.6x LTV-to-AOV ratio, each referred customer is worth $220 over time — making a $11.32 commission just 5.1% of total customer value.
Benchmarks
Recommended rates by industry.
Based on data from thousands of Shopify ambassador programs. Click any industry to load its defaults into the calculator.
Commission Strategy
Set the right rate, every time.
Start with your margins
Your commission rate should come out of your acquisition budget. If you'd normally spend 25% on ads, offering 10–15% to affiliates is a no-brainer — you keep the other 10–15%.
Tier your commissions
Offer higher rates to top performers. Start at 10% for new affiliates and bump to 15–20% once they hit milestones. This motivates growth while protecting margins on lower performers.
Factor in LTV
If your customers reorder 3–5x, you can afford a higher first-order commission. The affiliate drives the first purchase — your product drives the repeat revenue.
How It Works
How we calculate your rate.
We analyze your AOV and profit margin to determine how much room you have for commissions
LTV is factored in — higher repeat purchase rates mean you can afford a higher first-order commission
Target CAC caps the commission so you never exceed your acquisition budget
Affiliate discounts are subtracted from effective revenue before calculating margin
The Profit ↔ Scale slider adjusts how aggressively you share margin with affiliates
FAQ
Common questions.
What commission rate should I offer?
It depends on your margins, LTV, and goals. Most Shopify brands offer 10–20%. Use our calculator above — it factors in your specific economics to give a tailored recommendation.
Should I use percentage or flat-rate commissions?
Percentage commissions align incentives — affiliates earn more on bigger orders. Flat-rate works well for high-AOV products ($200+) where a percentage feels too generous.
Why does LTV matter for commission rates?
If customers reorder 3–5x, a $10 commission on the first order is actually a tiny fraction of the customer's total value. High-LTV brands can afford to be more generous upfront to drive volume.
Can I offer different rates to different affiliates?
Yes! Buzzbassador supports tiered commissions. Toggle on 'Generate tiered structure' above to see a suggested setup. Top performers earn higher rates automatically.
What about the affiliate discount — doesn't that eat into margins?
It does, which is why our calculator subtracts the discount before calculating your recommended rate. This ensures the commission is sustainable even after the discount.
Self-serve
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