This article will cover the following:
Payout Model Options
| Payout Model | How It Works | Best For | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Split | Pay the sub affiliate a fixed % of your payout for every conversion. | Long-term relationships with predictable traffic quality. | You earn $50/conversion → sub affiliate gets 70% = $35/conversion. |
| Flat Rate | Pay a set dollar amount per conversion regardless of your payout. | Standardizing payouts across many sub affiliates. | All sub affiliates earn $20/conversion no matter the offer payout. |
| Tiered Rate | Payout increases once the sub affiliate hits a volume threshold. | Incentivizing high-volume publishers. | $20/conversion for first 100 conversions; $25/conversion above 100. |
| Negotiated Rate | Payout agreed individually and documented in a separate agreement. | Premium publishers with proven track records. | Varies per publisher and offer. |
Note:
CAKE does not enforce or calculate sub affiliate payouts automatically. You use CAKE's sub ID reporting to determine what each sub affiliate earned, then pay them according to your own external agreement.
CAKE does not enforce or calculate sub affiliate payouts automatically. You use CAKE's sub ID reporting to determine what each sub affiliate earned, then pay them according to your own external agreement.
Setting Up a Payout Agreement
Before you send traffic with a sub affiliate, document your payout terms clearly. At a minimum, your written agreement should cover:
- Payout model and rate — fixed split, flat rate, or tiered.
- Payment method and schedule — how and when they'll be paid.
- Minimum threshold — whether you have a minimum balance before paying out.
- Reporting access — will you share reports with them or keep data internal?
- Compliance requirements — what traffic types are allowed, what suppression lists apply.
- Dispute resolution — how scrub rate disputes will be handled.
Using Sub Affiliate Reports
1
Go to Reports in your affiliate portal and select Sub Affiliate Report (or filter the main report by sub ID).
2
Set your date range to match your agreed payout period.
3
Review clicks, conversions, CVR, and payout for each sub ID.
4
Export to CSV for reconciliation in an external spreadsheet.
5
Compare your CSV against any data your sub affiliates have reported to identify discrepancies before processing payment.
Tip:
Create a simple tracking spreadsheet that maps each sub ID to the sub affiliate's name, contact details, payout model, and payment history. Update it each payout cycle to catch any patterns early.
Create a simple tracking spreadsheet that maps each sub ID to the sub affiliate's name, contact details, payout model, and payment history. Update it each payout cycle to catch any patterns early.
Reconciliation Workflow
1
At the end of your payout period, run the Sub Affiliate Report in CAKE filtered to the exact billing period.
2
Export the data to CSV.
3
For each sub affiliate, calculate their earnings based on your agreed payout model.
4
Compare CAKE's conversion count against any count the sub affiliate has reported. Investigate discrepancies greater than 5%.
5
Resolve any disputes before processing payment — it's much harder to claw back a payment once it's been sent.
6
Process payment via your agreed method and record the transaction.
Management Tips
- Use descriptive sub IDs. Sub IDs like "pub42_email_us" are infinitely more useful than "42" when you have 50+ sub affiliates.
- Set clear traffic quality expectations upfront. Share your suppression criteria and allowed traffic types before the sub affiliate sends a single click.
- Review scrub rates by sub ID monthly. A sudden spike in scrub rate for one sub affiliate is almost always a traffic source problem.
- Pay on time, every time. Late or inconsistent payments are the fastest way to lose good sub affiliates to competing networks.
- Document everything in writing. Verbal payout agreements lead to disputes. Use a simple written agreement even for informal relationships.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your dedicated CAKE Client Success Manager/Account Manager or contact the CAKE Support Team at support@getCAKE.com.