Question 1

Should I build a custom system or use SaaS like Tapfiliate or Impact?

Accepted Answer

SaaS is the right start for most small programs — you can launch in days for $100–500 per month. Custom makes sense when fees scale painfully (many tools charge by affiliate count or revenue share), when you need commission logic they don't support, or when partner data ownership matters. We help with both and will tell you honestly if SaaS is enough.

Question 2

How does affiliate tracking actually work, and why do cookies fail?

Accepted Answer

Classic tracking sets a third-party cookie on click and reads it at checkout — but Safari's ITP caps such cookies at days and ad blockers strip them entirely, silently costing affiliates commissions. We use first-party cookies plus server-side postbacks keyed to click IDs, so attribution survives blockers, cross-device gaps shrink, and disputes drop sharply.

Question 3

What commission structures can the system support?

Accepted Answer

Anything you can define: flat per sale, percentage of order value, tiered rates that rise with volume, recurring commissions on subscriptions, and multi-tier overrides for sub-affiliates. We generally advise starting simple — one clear rate — because complex structures confuse recruits; the system lets you add sophistication once the program proves itself.

Question 4

How are affiliates paid out?

Accepted Answer

We typically automate payouts via Stripe Connect or PayPal Payouts on a monthly cycle, with a minimum threshold (commonly $50) and a 30–60 day hold to cover refunds and chargebacks before commission is released. The system also collects payout details and tax information during onboarding so finance never chases affiliates by email.

Question 5

How do you prevent affiliate fraud?

Accepted Answer

The common patterns are self-referrals, cookie stuffing, coupon-site poaching of organic sales, and fake or stolen-card orders. We detect them with IP and device matching, conversion-rate anomaly flags, new-customer checks, and hold periods — flagged commissions wait for manual review instead of being paid automatically. Mature programs typically reject a low single-digit percentage of commissions this way.

Question 6

How long does it take to build an affiliate platform?

Accepted Answer

A focused MVP — tracking, one commission model, affiliate portal, and automated payouts — typically takes 6–10 weeks. Multi-tier structures, marketplace-style features, or complex ERP integrations push that to 3–4 months. We always ship the tracking core first, since everything else depends on its accuracy.

Question 7

Can it integrate with my existing store or billing system?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that integration is the heart of the build. We hook into Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, or your custom checkout via webhooks so conversions register server-side in real time, including refund events that claw back commission. Subscription businesses get renewal webhooks driving recurring commissions automatically.

Question 8

What does a good affiliate program cost to run beyond development?

Accepted Answer

Budget for commissions themselves (typically 10–30% of affiliate-driven revenue depending on margins), modest infrastructure costs, and — most underestimated — partner management time for recruiting, answering questions, and providing creatives. Programs with an actively managed partner relationship routinely outperform set-and-forget programs by a wide margin.

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