Setting Up Your First Partner Hierarchy
Before You Build: Define the Structure
Before configuring anything, map out your hierarchy on paper. How many levels do you need? Who recruits whom? What does each level see in reports? What commission logic applies at each tier? Answering these questions first prevents rework later.
Step 1: Create Master Affiliate Accounts
Master affiliates are partners with recruitment capabilities. They get their own tracking links plus the ability to invite and manage sub-affiliates. Set up their accounts with higher-level access that includes visibility into sub-affiliate performance.
Step 2: Define Sub-Affiliate Linking
- Automatic linking: Sub-affiliates are assigned to a master based on a referral link or code
- Manual linking: Operator assigns sub-affiliates to masters through the admin panel
- Self-registration: Sub-affiliates sign up through a master-branded registration page
Step 3: Configure Role-Based Access
Each level needs appropriate visibility. Masters should see aggregate performance of their sub-affiliates but not individual customer data. Sub-affiliates see only their own traffic and commissions. Operators see everything. Define these access levels before going live.
| Role | Sees Own Performance | Sees Sub-Affiliate Performance | Sees Customer Data | Can Manage Deals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Yes | Yes (all levels) | Yes | Yes |
| Master Affiliate | Yes | Yes (direct sub-affiliates) | No | No |
| Sub-Affiliate | Yes | No | No | No |
Step 4: Assign Commission Logic Per Tier
Each tier gets its own deal terms. Sub-affiliates might earn CPA or RevShare directly. Masters earn overrides. Configure these as separate deal rules tied to the hierarchy level, not to individual partners -- this makes the system scalable as you add more partners.
Start with two levels (master + sub-affiliate) before adding a third. Most programs do not need more than three levels. Each additional level adds commission complexity and reporting overhead.
Step 5: Test Before Going Live
Run test conversions through every level of the hierarchy. Verify that commissions calculate correctly at each tier, that reporting shows the right data to the right roles, and that attribution assigns credit properly. Fix issues in testing -- not after real money is flowing.
Key Takeaways
- Map your hierarchy structure on paper before configuring the platform
- Choose between automatic, manual, or self-registration sub-affiliate linking
- Configure role-based access so each level sees only what they should
- Test commission calculations across all tiers before going live with real traffic
Explore Further
Key terms and tools related to this lesson. Deepen your understanding and see how Track360 supports these concepts.
Publisher
A publisher is an individual or company that promotes an advertiser's products or services through an affiliate program in exchange for commissions on conversions they drive.
CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)
CPA is a commission model where an affiliate earns a fixed payment for each qualifying action, such as a deposit, registration, or purchase, that a referred user completes.
Hybrid Commission
Hybrid commission combines two payout models, most commonly CPA and RevShare, in a single affiliate deal so operators can reward both conversion volume and long-term customer value.
Negative Carryover
Negative carryover is a policy where a negative revenue balance from one period is rolled into the next period and offsets future affiliate earnings before new commissions are paid out.