Also known as:Spread Sharing, Spread Revenue Share, Spread Rebate
What is Spread Share?
Spread Share is an IB compensation model where the broker pays the partner a fixed percentage of the spread the client already pays, without adding any mark-up. The client trades on the broker's standard pricing, and the IB's cut is carved out of the broker's own margin rather than added to the client's cost.
Because the price the client sees is unchanged, spread share is the most transparent IB model. A client who came through your link pays exactly what they would pay opening an account directly, yet you still earn on their activity. The broker simply shares a slice of revenue it was already collecting.
Key takeaways
You earn a % of the unchanged raw spread, not an add-on
Client pays identical pricing to a direct account
Most transparent IB model, strongest for retention
Typical shares run 20%-50% of standard spread
Tight raw spreads shrink the pool you share
Suppose a broker charges a 1.2-pip spread on EUR/USD and offers you a 40% spread share. On a standard lot, 1.2 pips is about $12 of spread revenue, so your share is roughly $4.80 per lot per round turn. A client trading 50 lots that month earns you about $240, with zero cost penalty to the client.
The model's honesty is also its constraint: if you partner with a broker offering ultra-tight raw spreads, the pool you share is small, so a competitive percentage still yields modest revenue. Choosing a broker with a healthy but fair standard spread matters as much as the percentage itself.
How it works
The client trades on the broker's normal spread with nothing added. The broker measures the spread revenue each referred client generates per round turn, applies your agreed percentage, and credits your share from its own margin.
Because your income comes out of the broker's existing spread rather than an added mark-up, the client's cost is identical to a direct account. That makes spread share volume-based like a mark-up, but non-conflicting on price: the client has no incentive to shop elsewhere purely on cost.
The size of your earnings depends on two levers, the percentage and the broker's underlying spread. A generous 50% share of a razor-thin raw spread can pay less than a 30% share of a normal standard-account spread, so you evaluate the whole package, not just the headline percentage.
1
Agree a share percentage
You and the broker fix your cut of the standard spread, commonly 20% to 50%.
2
Client trades standard pricing
Referred clients pay the broker's normal spread with no mark-up added.
3
Broker meters spread revenue
Each completed round turn generates spread revenue the broker records per client.
4
Broker pays your share
Your agreed percentage of that spread revenue is credited to your partner account from the broker's margin.
Why it matters for partnership: Spread share lets clients keep the exact pricing they would get direct while you still earn, which builds trust and boosts retention. It removes the cost objection entirely, so it is the cleanest model to market honestly.
An IB with Pepperstone takes a 40% spread share on a standard account where EUR/USD averages a 1.2-pip spread. A referred client trades 50 standard lots in a month. The 1.2-pip spread is about $12 per lot, so the IB earns roughly $4.80 per lot, about $240 for the month, while the client pays exactly the same price as any direct Pepperstone standard-account trader.
Spread Share vs Spread Mark-up
Factor
Spread Share
Spread Mark-up
Source of pay
Broker's own margin
Extra pips on the client
Client cost
Unchanged from direct
Higher than direct
Marketing angle
No hidden markups
Must justify added cost
Revenue ceiling
Capped by raw spread size
You set the mark-up
Retention effect
Strong, no price penalty
Weaker if aggressive
Pro Tip
Lead your marketing with a clear promise of no hidden mark-ups and identical-to-direct pricing; it removes the cost objection and builds trust that compounds into retention.
Common Pitfalls
Pairing a spread-share deal with a broker that runs razor-thin raw spreads can leave you with almost no revenue despite high client volume, because there is little spread to share.
FAQ
Does spread share cost my client anything extra?
No. Your share comes out of the broker's margin, so the client pays the same standard spread they would pay opening an account directly.
What percentage of the spread do IBs usually get?
Deals commonly range from 20% to 50% of the standard spread, depending on the broker and your expected volume.
Is spread share the same as spread mark-up?
No. Spread share pays you a percentage of the unchanged spread, while mark-up widens the client's spread and gives you the added pips.
Why is my spread-share revenue low despite high volume?
The broker likely offers very tight raw spreads, so the revenue pool you share from is small even though the trading volume is high.
Do I earn on spread share whether or not my client profits?
Yes. It is volume-based and accrues on each completed round turn regardless of the client's trade outcome.
Is spread share better for client retention than mark-up?
Usually, because the client pays no cost penalty, which removes a major reason to switch to a cheaper provider.
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