Commission tiers let you define exactly how creators earn from sales, save the setup once, and reuse it every time you onboard a new affiliate. Different rates for different creator segments, applied in seconds.
How to create a commission tier
Open your campaign in Track and select the creator you want to add to your affiliate program.
Click Add to affiliate program and select Create new tier.
Name your tier with something descriptive like "VIP Creator 15%". You'll see this name when assigning future creators, so make it easy to identify.
Select your Shopify store to connect this tier to the right storefront.
Choose your commission type:
Percentage - Creators earn a percentage of each sale. Great for scaling with order value (e.g., 10% of a $100 order = $10 commission).
Fixed amount - Creators earn a set dollar amount per sale, regardless of order value (e.g., $5 per order whether it's $50 or $500).
Set your reward structure:
First sale commission - The rate creators earn when they bring in a brand-new customer.
Repeat sale commission - Optionally set a different rate for subsequent purchases from the same customer. For example, 10% on first sales and 5% on repeat orders.
Configure payout settings:
Fulfilled orders only - Enable this to only pay commission after orders are shipped. This protects you from paying on cancelled or returned orders.
Add optional tracking parameters:
Discount code - Attach a code the creator can share with their audience
UTM parameters - Add custom UTMs to affiliate links for deeper analytics
Gift order - Link a gift order if you're combining commissions with product seeding
Click Save and your tier is ready to use.
Reusing tiers across creators
Once saved, your commission tier becomes a template. The next time you add a creator to your affiliate program, you can select the existing tier from the dropdown instead of building one from scratch.
This is where tiers really shine at scale. Onboard 5 creators or 500 - the setup takes seconds each time.
Pro tip: Create 2-3 standard tiers upfront for your most common scenarios (like "VIP 15%", and "Product Launch 20%"). This way, adding new affiliates becomes a one-click operation.
How commissions are calculated
All commissions are based on net revenue - the order total after any discount codes are applied, minus shipping, taxes, returns, and refunds.
Example: A product costs $100. The customer uses a 10% discount code, so they pay $90. If the creator's commission rate is 20%, they earn $18 (20% of $90).
FAQs
FAQs
What's the difference between percentage and fixed amount commissions?
Percentage commissions scale with order value (10% of a $100 order = $10). Fixed amounts stay the same regardless of order size ($5 commission whether the order is $50 or $500). Percentage works best when you want creators to push higher-value purchases. Fixed works best for consistent, predictable payouts.
Can I set different rates for first sales vs. repeat sales?
Yes. You can set one rate for when a creator brings in a new customer, and a different rate for repeat purchases from that same customer. For example, 10% on first sales to incentivize new customer acquisition, and 5% on repeat orders.
How does the fulfilled orders setting work?
When enabled, creators only earn commission after you fulfill and ship the order in Shopify. This protects you from paying commission on cancelled or returned orders.
Can different creators on the same tier have different terms?
No. All creators assigned to a tier share the same commission structure. If you need different terms for certain creators, create a separate tier.
Can I edit a tier after creating it?
Yes, but changes won't affect creators already assigned to that tier. If you need to update terms for existing creators, create a new tier and reassign them.
Can a creator belong to multiple tiers?
No. Each creator can only be assigned to one commission tier at a time.
How many tiers can I create?
As many as you need. There's no limit, so create different tiers for different creator segments, products, or campaigns.
When do creators start earning commissions?
Commissions are attributed within 5 minutes of a purchase in Shopify. However, payouts are processed monthly and only after the hold period you've configured has passed.