SaaS affiliate programs with lifetime commissions — read the fine print

A few SaaS affiliate programs advertise lifetime commissions: you earn a percentage of every payment for as long as the customer stays. It is an attractive pitch — but compare the whole package before assuming it wins.

The trade-offs to check

• Rate: lifetime programs often pay 10-20%. A 30% rate for 12 months can out-earn 15% lifetime unless customers stay for years.
• Survival clauses: some lifetime terms end if the program changes, the account goes dormant, or the company is acquired.
• Attribution: lifetime commission on a 7-day cookie is worth less than 12-month commission on a 60 days window.

The realistic comparison

Most SaaS customers either churn in the first year or stay for a long time. A 30% recurring for 12 months — the current Tasskel structure — applies under the active reward rule, which is where most of the lifetime value variance lives. It is simple, predictable, and easy to forecast.

What to ask any program

1. What exactly ends the recurring term?
2. Is the rate on the gross or net payment?
3. What happens to my commissions if the program terms change?

Tasskel's terms are written down in a public program schedule: 30% recurring for 12 months, 60 days window, $20 minimum payout. Apply here.