What it means
In affiliate marketing, lifetime commission a commission model where the affiliate earns a percentage of all future payments from a referred customer for as long as the customer remains active. Also called recurring commission.
Why it matters
Whether you're launching a new affiliate program or scaling an existing one, understanding lifetime commission helps you make better decisions about commission structures, partner recruitment, and growth tactics. Most SaaS founders run into this concept early and benefit from a clear mental model before they start building.
See also
Related terms in the affiliate marketing glossary that connect to lifetime commission:
- Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) -- The predictable monthly revenue from active subscriptions. MRR is the basis for calculating recurring affiliate commi...
- Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) -- A structure where affiliates earn commissions not only from their own referrals but also from referrals made by affil...
- Multi-Tier Commission -- A commission structure with multiple levels where affiliates earn from their direct referrals (tier 1) and from refer...