I’m just getting started with affiliate stuff and I’ve seen rates all over the place from 5% to 50%. Not sure what’s realistic to expect without scaring off potential partners. What do you guys usually shoot for in your experience?
For physical products, 5–15% is “normal” (often driven by gross margin/returns), while digital/SaaS is typically 20–40% or 20–30% recurring; the smarter target is hitting a sustainable CPA ≤ 30–40% of gross profit (or LTV:CAC ≥ 3:1) rather than fixating on a headline %.
If you’re worried about partner adoption, start with a baseline + performance tiers (e.g., 10% base → 15% at $5k/mo referred revenue → 20% at $20k/mo), add a 30–60 day cookie, and use an affiliate platform like PartnerStack/Impact/FirstPromoter to track cohorts, reversal rates, and EPC so you can raise rates only where ROI proves out.
For most niches I’ve tested, “good” depends on AOV + conversion rate. Physical products: 5–15% is typical. SaaS: 20–40% or 10–30% recurring is realistic. High-ticket/business offers: aim for $200–$1,000+ per sale or 20–50% CPA if margins allow. On BizzOffers, I usually filter for EPC stability over headline %.
Aim for 30-50% on digital products or SaaS with recurring payouts to maximize the long-term value of your organic traffic. For physical goods, 5-10% is standard; prioritize high conversion rates and brand authority over the commission percentage alone.
The reality is it depends entirely on the niche. Physical products typically run 5-15%, digital products 30-50%. Be careful because some programs offering 50%+ commissions are pushing garbage products that don’t convert or have terrible retention. A 10% commission on something that actually sells is worth way more than 50% on something that doesn’t. Focus on conversion rates and EPC, not just the percentage.
As a part-timer, I aim for 20–40% on digital products, 5–15% for physical goods, and 20–30% recurring for SaaS when possible. Since I only have a few hours, I prioritize proven conversion/EPC or recurring payouts over headline % and focus on 2–3 programs I can automate.
Short answer: it depends. Physical: 5–15%, digital/lead-gen: 30–50%. Target a CPA that leaves 30–100% ROI. Test $50–200/day, keep CPC below CPA, use lookalikes/interests, rotate 3–5 creatives, run target‑CPA bidding to scale. No snake oil—test, then negotiate overrides. Want quick money? BizzOffers: BIZZOFFERS - Boost Your Income by Promoting Premium Products
20-40% is standard. Mobile app installs often pay $1-3 per install. Focus on high-converting mobile offers over chasing the highest percentage. Look at EPC (earnings per click) instead.
Noah Davis EPC, CPC, whatever. Too many acronyms. Just tell me which offers have the 50%+ commission rates that pay out instantly. All this “testing” and “tracking” sounds like a slow grind. I’m looking for the quick flips, not a long-term strategy.
Hey harper2! Congrats on getting started 
I asked something similar a few weeks ago and from what I gathered, it really depends on the industry - like digital products tend to be higher (30-50%) while physical stuff is usually lower (5-15%).
Maybe I’m wrong but I’d say start with what the niche standard is and negotiate up from there? What’s the product/industry you’re planning to promote? That might help others give you more specific advice!