What should I ask about an affiliate site’s commission payment history?

Request the program statements directly from each partner dashboard, with the seller present on a screen share if possible. Compare the earned total with the amount actually paid, month by month. A gap may be a normal waiting period, or it may mean returns, cancelled orders or disputes. Ask how the seller tracks which clicks or sales came from which page, because the numbers rely on that tracking surviving the sale.

Ask which partners provide most of the income. If one or two programs account for nearly everything, find out how long they have been paying, how they communicate changes, and whether their terms allow the account to change hands. Some programs will not, so ask how the seller knows. Ask whether any program has a payment threshold that the site has not yet reached, and how long that balance has been waiting.

Ask about trouble. Has any program closed the account, withheld payment, or changed rates sharply? Were any commissions clawed back later? Request the emails that explain these events. Last, ask how payments arrive and who they go to. If they go to a personal account or a name other than the business, ask how that would change and when.

Key takeaways

• Match partner statements against actual bank deposits.
• Find out which programs supply most income and whether they allow transfer.
• Ask for any messages about closed accounts, holds or reversals.