Plan cash flow for affiliate payouts
Separate recognized commissions from money available to spend.
The scenario
A site records $1,500 in January commissions; 15% reverse and the remaining amount is paid after 60 days.
Expected collection is $1,275, but January bills still need cash. A threshold or delayed close could push collection beyond the assumed date.
Apply it to your own work
Build a month-by-month ledger for earned, approved, payable, and paid amounts. Keep a reserve and reconcile it against actual statements.
What to watch for
The date a dashboard marks a balance approved may differ from the bank deposit date. Plan operating expenses using the latter.
Build a reserve around timing
List expenses by payment date alongside approved and paid commissions. If a partner owes $1,275 in March and you owe $900 in February, the projected March deposit cannot cover the February due date without existing cash.
Mark thresholds, withholding, and payment method issues in a separate column. If one delayed partner would leave the operating balance negative, model a second payout date and adjust commitments before relying on that payment.
Try a related tool
Measure earnings per tracked referral click after refunds and reversals. Use counts and commissions from the same cohort.
