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Understanding Commission Reports and Sales Cycles

30% revenue share for 12 months—learn the specifics

Brandon Austin avatar
Written by Brandon Austin
Updated over 2 months ago

Understanding Commission Reports and Sales Cycles

Learn how to read your commission reports and understand the lifecycle of earnings from customer activity to payout.

Quick Answer

Commission reports in your Affiliate Portal show all customer purchases and your 30% earnings through various stages: pending (under 60-day review), available (ready for payout), and paid (completed). You earn commission on everything customers buy during their first 12 months—lead purchases, sponsor subscriptions, enterprise packages, and more.

Commission Report Overview

Accessing Reports

  1. Log into affiliate.heritageweb.com

  2. Navigate to Reports or AnalyticsCommissions

  3. Select date range to view

  4. Filter by status, customer, or purchase type

Report Components

Customer Information

  • Customer ID: Unique identifier (privacy protected)

  • Sign-Up Date: When they created account

  • Attribution Date: When permanently linked to you

  • 12-Month Window: Commission eligibility period

Purchase Details

  • Transaction Date: When customer made purchase

  • Product Type: What they bought

    • Lead purchases ($29-$395)

    • Sponsor subscriptions ($25/month or $240/year)

    • Pro Bono Unlimited ($500+/month)

    • Enterprise packages (custom pricing)

    • Custom advertising solutions

  • Purchase Amount: Total customer paid

  • Your Commission: 30% of purchase amount

Commission Status

  • Pending: Under 60-day review period

  • Available: Cleared and ready for payout

  • Paid: Included in completed payout

  • Reversed: Refunded or cancelled

The Commission Lifecycle

Stage 1: Customer Activity (Immediate)

When a referred customer makes any purchase:

  • Commission calculated at 30% instantly

  • Appears in reports within 5-10 minutes

  • Shows as "Pending" status

  • Adds to pending balance

Stage 2: Review Period (60 Days)

Heritage Web's quality assurance period:

  • Days 1-30: Initial review and verification

  • Days 31-60: Final review and clawback window

  • Purpose: Prevent fraud, handle refunds, ensure quality

  • Your Action: Monitor but cannot withdraw yet

Stage 3: Available Balance (After 60 Days)

Commission becomes available:

  • Status changes from "Pending" to "Available"

  • Eligible for payout request

  • Must meet minimum threshold

  • Protected from most clawbacks

Stage 4: Payout Request (Manual)

You initiate withdrawal:

  • Request through Affiliate Portal

  • Must meet minimums ($50 PayPal/ACH, $500 wire)

  • Added to next month's payment batch

  • Processed on 1st of following month

Stage 5: Payment Complete

Commission paid out:

  • Status changes to "Paid"

  • Payment sent via chosen method

  • Confirmation email sent

  • Shows in payment history

Understanding Purchase Types

One-Time Purchases

Lead Referrals:

  • Customer buys individual leads at $29-$395 each

  • You earn 30% per purchase

  • Example: $100 lead = $30 commission

Annual Subscriptions:

  • Customer pays $240 upfront for annual sponsor

  • You earn $72 immediately (30% of $240)

  • Full commission on renewal if within 12 months

Recurring Subscriptions

Monthly Sponsors:

  • Customer pays $25/month

  • You earn $7.50/month

  • Continues for up to 12 months

  • Shows as separate line item monthly

Enterprise/Pro Bono Unlimited:

  • Starting at $500/month

  • You earn 30% monthly

  • Higher value recurring commissions

  • Continues through 12-month window

Bulk Purchases

Enterprise Deals:

  • Large organizations with multiple listings

  • Custom pricing arrangements

  • 30% commission on all payments

  • Can be one-time or recurring

Reading Your Reports

Key Metrics to Track

Conversion Metrics

  • Sign-Up to Purchase Rate: What percentage buy something

  • Average Time to First Purchase: Days from sign-up to purchase

  • Customer Lifetime Value: Total spent in 12 months

  • Purchase Frequency: How often customers buy

Revenue Metrics

  • Average Commission per Customer: Total earnings divided by customers

  • Recurring vs. One-Time: Balance of subscription vs. individual purchases

  • Monthly Recurring Revenue: From all active subscriptions

  • Commission per Click: Total earnings divided by clicks

Report Filters

Filter your reports by:

  • Date Range: Custom periods for analysis

  • Status: Pending, available, paid, reversed

  • Customer: Individual customer activity

  • Product Type: Leads, sponsors, enterprise

  • Amount: Minimum/maximum ranges

Important Notes

  • 12-Month Window: Commission only on purchases within first 12 months

  • Permanent Attribution: Once attributed, all eligible purchases credit to you

  • No Commission on Own Purchases: Cannot earn on your own Heritage Web spending

  • Refund Impact: Refunds within 60 days reduce commission

FAQs

Why do some customers show $0 commission? They may have signed up but not made purchases yet, or their 12-month window has expired.

How are refunds handled in reports? Refunds show as negative adjustments. If within 60 days, they're deducted from your balance.

Can I export commission reports? Yes. Use the export function to download CSV files for tax records or analysis.

Why did a commission disappear from pending? Either it moved to "Available" after 60 days, or a refund was processed during the review period.

Do I see what specific leads customers buy? You see purchase amounts and types, but not specific lead details for privacy reasons.

Next Steps

  • Export monthly reports for records

  • Track which customers generate most revenue

  • Identify patterns in purchase behavior

  • Focus on referring high-value prospects

Related Articles

  • Payment Schedule & Minimum Threshold

  • What Happens When Referrals Cancel or Request Refunds?

  • Viewing Affiliate Referral Traffic & Sign-Ups

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