Payout

What Is a Payout?

A payout is the payment an affiliate or referral partner receives after they earn a commission.

When an affiliate generates a qualifying sale, lead, booking, or other conversion, they may earn a commission based on the program's rules. Once those commissions are approved and eligible for payment, they can be included in an affiliate payout.

In LeadDyno, payouts help you track what each partner is owed, review commission status, and manage payments based on the rules you set for your program.

Payout vs. Commission

Payouts are closely connected to commissions, but they are not exactly the same thing. A commission is the amount a partner earns based on your program rules. A payout is the actual payment or payment record that settles what the partner is owed.

A commission is the amount an affiliate earns from a qualifying referral.

A payout is the actual payment of eligible commissions to the affiliate.

For example, if a travel creator earns 10% on a $500 booking, the commission may be $50. When that $50 is approved and paid to the creator, it becomes part of their payout.

How Do Affiliate Payouts Work?

The payout process typically starts when an affiliate generates a qualifying conversion.

A payout process usually includes a few steps. First, a partner sends a referral through a unique link, code, or tracked source. Then, the referred customer completes a qualifying action, such as making a purchase, booking a trip, signing up for a service, or becoming a customer. Based on the commission rules you set, the partner earns a commission. That commission can then be reviewed, approved, and paid according to your payout schedule.

For example:

1. An affiliate refers a customer.
2. The customer makes a $100 purchase.
3. The affiliate program offers a 10% commission.
4. The affiliate earns $10.
5. Once the commission is approved, the $10 can be included in a future payout.

Businesses may pay affiliates individually or group multiple approved commissions into a single payout.

In short, a payout is the reward that closes the loop between recommendation, referral tracking, commission calculation, and partner compensation.