Also known as: Payout Grid, Commission Grid
A Rate Card is the broker's published schedule of standard partner payouts, broken down by model and by geo tier. It states the baseline CPA, CPL and revenue-share figures a partner can expect before any custom negotiation.
A Rate Card is the broker's standardised payout schedule, broken down by payout model and by geo tier. It publishes the baseline a partner can expect: for example Tier-1 CPA at one figure, Tier-2 and Tier-3 lower, with parallel CPL and revenue-share figures. For the broker, this consistency makes partner economics defensible across dozens of affiliates and gives affiliate managers a reference floor.
For the partner, the card is the starting point of negotiation, not the final word. Knowing the published baseline reveals how much room exists to negotiate upward. A high-volume affiliate with demonstrable traffic quality uses the card rate as the floor and pushes for a custom rate above it, evidenced by conversion quality and lifetime value. Accepting the card rate without demonstrating quality typically leaves real payout on the table.
Get the broker's published CPA, CPL and RevShare figures by geo tier.
Treat the published baseline as the opening bid, not the ceiling.
Gather traffic-quality and LTV data that justifies a premium.
Push for a custom rate supported by your evidence.
Record the agreed custom rate in a signed insertion order.
Why it matters for partnership: The Rate Card is the starting point of every deal. Knowing the published baseline tells a partner how much room there is to negotiate up, and lets brokers keep their partner economics consistent and defensible across dozens of affiliates.
A broker's rate card lists Tier-1 CPA at $250, Tier-2 at $120 and Tier-3 at $60. A high-volume affiliate uses it as the floor and negotiates a custom Tier-1 rate of $350 based on their traffic quality.
| Aspect | Card Rate | Negotiated Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets it | Standard / new partners | Proven high-quality partners |
| Level | Published baseline | Above card |
| Basis | Fixed schedule | Traffic quality and LTV |
Treat the rate card as the opening bid, not the ceiling. Proven quality traffic almost always earns above card.
Accepting the card rate without demonstrating your traffic quality, leaving significant payout on the table.
It is the standard baseline, but top partners routinely negotiate custom rates above it based on volume and quality.