Affiliate Marketing ROI Calculator
Calculate your affiliate program profitability, break-even point, and optimal commission structure.
12-Month Affiliate Program ROI
186%
$156,000 net profit
Total Revenue
$360,000
$30,000/mo
Total Commissions
$54,000
$4,500/mo
Total Sales
3,000
Effective CPA
$28.00
Profit/Sale
$52.00
Revenue per Affiliate/Mo
$1,200
Breakeven Sales/Mo
41
Industry Benchmarks
Top affiliate programs average 10-15% commission rates. Programs with 50+ active affiliates typically see 3-5x ROI within 12 months.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your product price, cost, and desired commission rate to calculate per-sale economics.
Add program management costs including platform fees, manager salary, and creative assets.
Set your active affiliate count and average monthly sales per affiliate.
Review total program profitability, effective CPA, and comparison to direct marketing costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical affiliate commission rate?
Commission rates vary widely by industry. Digital products typically pay 20-50%, SaaS pays 20-30% recurring, physical products pay 5-15%, and fashion/retail pays 8-12%. The key is ensuring margins support the commission while remaining attractive to affiliates.
How do I calculate affiliate marketing ROI?
Subtract total program costs (commissions, platform fees, management) from affiliate-generated revenue, then divide by total costs. Include customer lifetime value for subscription products to get a more accurate picture.
What percentage of revenue should come from affiliates?
Mature affiliate programs typically generate 15-30% of total e-commerce revenue. Start with a target of 5-10% in year one and scale from there. Over-reliance on affiliates (above 40%) creates channel concentration risk.
How many affiliates do I need for a successful program?
Quality matters more than quantity. Most programs follow an 80/20 rule where 20% of affiliates drive 80% of sales. A program with 50-100 active affiliates producing consistent sales is more valuable than 1,000 inactive ones.
What are the hidden costs of running an affiliate program?
Beyond commissions, budget for: affiliate platform fees ($200-2,000/month), program manager salary, creative assets, fraud prevention tools, and affiliate recruitment costs. These typically add 15-25% on top of commission payments.
Why Use This Calculator
- Determine optimal commission rates for profitability
- Calculate break-even on affiliate program costs
- Compare affiliate vs other acquisition channels
- Forecast program growth and revenue contribution
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Growth Lead, Fintech Startup