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
Log into affiliate.heritageweb.com
Navigate to Reports or Analytics → Commissions
Select date range to view
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