What is Sub-Affiliate Link?

A sub-affiliate link is a unique tracking URL a Master IB uses to recruit other affiliates rather than end-clients. Anyone who registers as a partner through it is tagged as a Sub-IB, and the Master IB then earns an override — a percentage of every commission that Sub-IB later generates.

The link is the technical anchor of a multi-tier (multi-level) partner structure. A normal tracking link points a retail trader at a broker's account-opening page; a sub-affiliate link points a would-be marketer at the broker's partner sign-up page and hard-codes the Master IB's ID as their upline. From that moment the broker's CRM knows two facts: this new partner belongs to you, and a slice of their earnings must be routed upward to you.

Key takeaways

Recruits partners, not traders — the person who signs up becomes your Sub-IB.
Your override is a % of the Sub-IB's commission, funded by the broker, not deducted from them.
Two-tier plans commonly pay ~10%; some brokers stack 3+ tiers (e.g. 10/5/2%).
Multi-tier plans are restricted or banned in several regulated jurisdictions — check the broker's entity.
Your income scales with your downline's success, so training and support are direct ROI.

Overrides are usually paid as a fixed percentage of the sub-IB's commission, not of the trader's deposit or volume — an important distinction. Suppose your broker runs a two-tier plan with a 10% override. A Sub-IB you recruited earns $10,000 in IB commission for the month; your override is $1,000, and it is deducted from the broker's margin, not clawed back from your Sub-IB. Some networks stack three or more tiers (10% / 5% / 2%), so a large recruited network can compound into meaningful passive revenue.

Multi-tier structures are common in Forex and CFD partner programs (Exness, RoboForex, XM, FXTM, and Vantage all run some form of sub-IB or multi-level plan) but are restricted or banned in several regulated markets, so the link's availability depends on the broker's entity and your jurisdiction.

How it works

When a broker enables a multi-tier plan, it issues you a second link (or a second link type inside your partner cabinet) flagged for partner recruitment. The parameters look similar to a normal referral link but resolve to the affiliate sign-up flow and write your partner ID into the new partner's `upline` field.

Once that relationship is stored, the broker's attribution engine calculates commissions bottom-up. It first works out what each trader owes their direct IB (the Sub-IB), then applies your override percentage to that figure and credits your account. Payouts to you and to your Sub-IB are independent — the override is funded by the broker, so your earning does not reduce theirs. The tier depth, the override percentages, and any caps are all set by the broker's partnership agreement, which you should read before you build a downline.

Enable the multi-tier plan

Confirm your broker offers a sub-IB / master-IB structure and request access in your partner cabinet; many enable it only after you hit a volume or referral threshold.

Generate your sub-affiliate link

Copy the dedicated recruitment link (distinct from your trader referral link) and, where supported, append a sub-ID so you know which channel each recruit came from.

Recruit and onboard sub-IBs

Share the link with bloggers, signal providers, and community owners who have their own audiences, then equip them with creatives, funnels, and training.

Sub-IBs drive their own traders

Each recruited partner uses their own tracking links to sign up and fund traders, generating first-tier commission.

Collect the override

The broker calculates each Sub-IB's commission, applies your override percentage, and credits your account on the normal payout cycle.

Why it matters for partnership: It is the engine of multi-tier IB marketing: you scale by recruiting other marketers, not just traders, and earn an override on volume you never sourced yourself. Support your sub-IBs and your passive income compounds with their success.

Formula

Sub-Affiliate Commission = Sub-IB Total Commission × Master IB Override %

Real World Example

You run a Forex education channel and recruit five signal providers through your Exness Master-IB link. In one month they collectively earn $18,000 in first-tier IB commission from their own traders. On a 10% override, Exness credits you $1,800 that month — income sourced entirely from traders you never contacted, on top of your own direct referrals.

Direct referral link vs. sub-affiliate link

Aspect	Direct referral link	Sub-affiliate link
Who it targets	Retail traders	Other affiliates (Sub-IBs)
What you earn	CPA / RevShare on the trader	Override % on the Sub-IB's commission
Income type	Active — you source each client	Passive — your downline sources clients
Regulatory exposure	Standard IB rules	Often restricted/banned (multi-tier)

Pro Tip

Don't just hand out the link — give sub-IBs your best-converting creatives, funnels, and training, because their revenue is the base your override is calculated on.

Common Pitfalls

Sharing your sub-affiliate link with ordinary retail traders who have no audience produces zero second-tier commission and burns your recruiting effort on people who will never build a downline.

FAQ

How is a sub-affiliate link different from my normal referral link?

Your normal link signs up traders and pays you on their activity. A sub-affiliate link signs up other partners and pays you an override on the commissions those partners later earn.

Does earning an override reduce my Sub-IB's commission?

No. In standard multi-tier plans the broker funds the override from its own margin, so your Sub-IB is paid in full and you are paid on top.

How much do multi-tier overrides typically pay?

First-tier overrides commonly sit around 5%–15% of the Sub-IB's commission, with deeper tiers paying progressively less. Exact rates are set by each broker's partnership agreement.

Are multi-tier IB programs legal everywhere?

No. Several regulators restrict or prohibit multi-level partner structures, so availability depends on the broker's licensed entity and your jurisdiction. Always confirm before recruiting.

Can my Sub-IBs recruit their own sub-IBs?

Only if the broker's plan has three or more tiers. In a two-tier plan the structure stops at your direct recruits, and you earn only on their activity.

Is override income passive?

It is more passive than direct referrals because your downline sources the clients, but sustaining it requires ongoing support and training of your sub-IBs — an unsupported downline tends to churn.

Reviewed by the Revenika Editorial Desk Last updated August 5, 2026