Affiliate glossary
B2B SaaS affiliate terms, explained for operators.
A focused glossary for teams running affiliate programs on recurring revenue. Each term connects the definition to attribution, Stripe events, refunds, payouts and partner workflows.
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30 glossary terms
ACV commission
A commission model based on annual contract value rather than monthly invoice amount.
DefinitionAffiliate activation
The process of getting an approved affiliate to publish links, send qualified traffic and understand the program.
DefinitionAffiliate deeplink
A partner link that points to a specific page instead of the homepage or generic signup page.
DefinitionAffiliate net revenue retention
A retention view that measures whether affiliate-sourced customers expand, contract or churn over time.
DefinitionAttribution window
The time period in which a referral interaction can receive credit for a later conversion.
DefinitionChurn adjustment
A commission rule that changes partner compensation when a referred customer cancels or contracts.
DefinitionCommission cap
A maximum payout amount or duration applied to a partner commission rule.
DefinitionCommission clawback
A reversal that reduces or recovers commission after a refund, dispute, downgrade or invalid conversion.
DefinitionCookie window
The period during which a click can receive credit if the visitor later converts.
DefinitionCoupon attribution
Attribution that gives partner credit when a buyer uses a partner-specific coupon code.
DefinitionEarnings per click
Affiliate revenue divided by clicks, used to compare partner traffic quality and offer attractiveness.
DefinitionFirst-click attribution
A rule that credits the first eligible affiliate touchpoint for a conversion.
DefinitionInvoice payout
A payout workflow where the affiliate uploads an invoice before the merchant releases funds.
DefinitionLast-click attribution
A rule that credits the most recent eligible affiliate touchpoint before conversion.
DefinitionMRR commission
A commission calculated from monthly recurring revenue rather than a one-time signup amount.
DefinitionNet revenue commission
A commission calculated from revenue after refunds, credits, taxes, discounts or other exclusions.
DefinitionNon-human click
A click likely generated by bots, scanners, automated previews or abusive traffic rather than a real buyer.
DefinitionPartner application
The submission process where a potential affiliate asks to join a merchant program.
DefinitionPartner portal
The authenticated area where affiliates see links, assets, performance, payouts and program rules.
DefinitionPayout threshold
The minimum approved commission balance required before an affiliate can be paid.
DefinitionQualified referral
A referral that meets predefined quality rules before it becomes commissionable.
DefinitionRecurring commission
A partner reward paid on repeated subscription payments instead of only the first purchase.
DefinitionRefund reconciliation
The process of matching refunds to previous commissions and adjusting balances accordingly.
DefinitionServer-side tracking
Tracking that records conversions from backend events rather than only from browser scripts or pixels.
DefinitionStripe Connect payouts
Affiliate payouts sent through Stripe Connect to verified partner accounts.
DefinitionStripe webhook attribution
The process of connecting Stripe payment and subscription webhooks back to the affiliate referral that created the customer.
DefinitionSubscription expansion
Additional recurring revenue from an affiliate-sourced customer after the initial conversion.
DefinitionTrial-to-paid conversion
The moment a referred trial becomes a paying customer and may become commissionable.
DefinitionTwo-way sync
A data flow where affiliate state and billing or CRM state update each other instead of moving one way only.
DefinitionWebhook retry
A repeated delivery attempt for an event that was not successfully processed the first time.
DefinitionAttribution
Revenue
Partner operations
Building an affiliate program for recurring SaaS?
Use the glossary to align your tracking, commission and payout rules before partners start sending traffic.