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.
Pay-Per-Sale (PPS), also known as cost-per-acquisition (CPA) in advertising contexts, is a commission model that pays partners exclusively when their referral or promotional effort results in a confirmed sale or subscription. No sale means no commission, making PPS the lowest-risk model for the vendor.
PPS is the most common model in affiliate and referral programs because it perfectly aligns partner incentives with business outcomes. Partners are motivated to drive not just traffic or leads but actual paying customers, which means they self-select for quality over quantity.
The trade-off is that PPS can be less attractive to partners, especially those who contribute to early-funnel awareness. Content creators and influencers who generate awareness may not receive credit if the actual conversion happens through a different channel. Combining PPS with event-based or multi-touch attribution can help address this imbalance.
PartnerPulse supports PPS commissions calculated as a flat amount or percentage of sale value, with configurable attribution windows, clawback rules for refunds, and automatic payout queuing upon confirmed conversion.
Set up PPS commissions in PartnerPulse
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Set up PPS commissions in PartnerPulseRelated Terms
Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
PPC is a compensation model where advertisers or vendors pay a partner a fixed amount for each click generated through the partner's promotional efforts, regardless of whether the click leads to a conversion.
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.
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.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where businesses reward external partners (affiliates) for driving traffic, leads, or sales through unique tracking links. Affiliates earn a commission each time their promotion results in a desired action.