Event-Based Commission
An event-based commission is a payout triggered by a specific action or event rather than a simple sale. Events can include demo completions, free trial sign-ups, contract renewals, or upsells.
An event-based commission structure pays partners when a predefined action or event occurs in the customer lifecycle, rather than solely on a closed sale. These events might include a qualified lead submission, a product demo completion, a free-trial activation, a contract renewal, an upsell, or even a customer reaching a usage milestone.
This model is particularly useful in B2B SaaS where the sales cycle is long and multi-staged. Paying only on closed-won deals can discourage partners from contributing to earlier funnel stages where their influence is valuable. Event-based commissions recognize and reward those contributions.
Designing event-based commissions requires careful selection of qualifying events, clear definitions of what counts, and robust tracking to prevent gaming. The events should align with behaviors that genuinely advance the customer toward long-term value.
PartnerPulse's commission engine supports event-based triggers out of the box. You can define custom qualifying events via webhooks or CRM integrations, set commission amounts for each event type, and let the system calculate and queue payouts automatically.
Set up event-based commissions in PartnerPulse
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Set up event-based commissions in PartnerPulseRelated Terms
Commission Structure
A commission structure defines how and how much partners are paid for generating results. Structures vary from flat-rate payments to percentage-based revenue shares and can include tiers, bonuses, and accelerators.
Pay-Per-Lead (PPL)
PPL is a compensation model where partners earn a fixed amount for each qualified lead they deliver. It rewards lead generation regardless of whether the lead ultimately converts into a paying customer.
Pay-Per-Sale (PPS)
PPS is a commission model where partners earn a payout only when their referral results in a completed sale. It is the lowest-risk model for vendors because costs are tied directly to revenue outcomes.
Recurring Commission
A recurring commission pays partners on an ongoing basis for as long as the referred customer remains a paying subscriber. It aligns partner incentives with customer retention and is common in SaaS partner programs.