Supplement Affiliate Commission Rates | Harmonia
Set a flat $ or flat % commission per program. Compare the two, see general 10% to 20% benchmark ranges, and why the 20% platform fee is billed on top to you.
The short answer: you set the commission for each program yourself, as either a flat $ amount per sale or a flat % of the order. There is no platform-wide supplement affiliate commission rate. You choose the number, your athlete earns it in full on every real attributed sale, and the 20% platform fee is billed to you on top, never taken out of what the athlete keeps. This guide covers how to pick between flat $ and flat %, what general benchmark ranges to use as context, and how to anchor the number to your own margin.
You set the rate, per program
Commission on Harmonia is brand-decided, one number per program. When you launch a program you enter either:
- A flat dollar amount per sale, for example $10 per order.
- A flat percentage of the order, for example 15%.
That published rate is the same for everyone who applies to that program, so terms stay transparent. You can edit it freely before you publish. Tiered rates, different rates per product (SKU-level), and retainer arrangements are not part of v1, so the choice is deliberately simple: one flat $ or one flat %.
The commission is what the athlete earns, in full
The number you set is the athlete's payout, with nothing deducted. The 20% platform fee is separate and billed to you on top. Set $50 per sale and the athlete keeps $50; your total cost is $60. More on the math below and in how our fee works.
Flat $ vs flat %: which fits your offer
Both models pay only when an athlete drives a real attributed sale. The difference is how the payout behaves as order value moves.
| Flat $ per sale | Flat % of order | |
|---|---|---|
| What you set | A fixed dollar amount, e.g. $10 | A percentage, e.g. 15% |
| Cost per sale | Predictable, the same every order | Scales up and down with the cart |
| Best when | Prices sit in a tight range; you want a known cost per sale | Order values vary a lot; carts often hold multiple items |
| Watch out for | A small order can cost a high effective rate; a large order, a low one | A large multi-item cart can pay more than you expected |
When a flat $ amount fits
A flat dollar amount works well when your products are priced closely together, say a single-product line or a subscription at one or two price points. You know your exact cost per sale, which makes forecasting easy. Example: a $45 protein bag with a $9 flat commission is a clean 20% effective rate, and it stays $9 whether the customer buys once or reorders.
When a flat % fits
A percentage fits when carts vary, like a supplement brand where some customers buy one item and others stock a full stack. The payout tracks the sale, so a bigger order rewards the athlete proportionally without you re-pricing the program. Example: 15% pays $6 on a $40 order and $18 on a $120 stack.
$50commission you set $50athlete keeps, in full $60your total cost, fee on topGeneral benchmark ranges (context, not our rate)
These are broad industry reference points to help you reason about a number. They are not rates Harmonia sets, recommends, or enforces, and your right figure may sit outside them.
- Percentage programs in supplements and wellness commonly land in the 10% to 20% range.
- Flat $ programs often map to a similar effective rate, for example $8 to $12 on a typical $40 to $60 order.
- Lower rates can fit high-volume, low-margin staples; higher rates can fit premium products with strong margin and repeat purchase.
Benchmarks are a starting point, not a target
Copying a range without checking your own numbers is how a program loses money. Anchor the rate to your gross margin, average order value, and how often customers reorder, then sanity-check it against the general ranges above.
Anchor the number to your margin
A simple way to choose:
- Start from gross margin per order. Know what is left after product cost and fulfillment.
- Pick a share of that margin you are willing to pay for a sale you would not otherwise have made.
- Add the 20% platform fee on top so you cost the program at the true total, the commission plus the fee.
- Factor in repeat purchase. If customers reorder, you can pay more on the first sale because lifetime value covers it.
Example: a $60 order with $36 gross margin. A $9 flat commission plus the $1.80 fee costs $10.80 against $36 of margin, leaving room while still rewarding the athlete fairly.
How the fee sits next to the commission
The commission and the platform fee are two separate lines, and keeping them separate is the point.
You set the commission. Say $50 per sale. Your athlete receives the full $50. We add a 20% platform fee, $10, on top, billed to you. Your total cost is $60. The fee is charged only when an athlete drives a real attributed sale.
We invoice you monthly via Stripe Billing, net-30, on the 1st of the following month: the commission your athletes earned plus the 20% platform fee. Athletes are paid from the cleared commission once your invoice clears. There is no subscription, no setup fee, and no commission bond. See how our fee works for the full breakdown, and setting commission for the in-product steps.
What is deferred past v1
To keep the first version simple, three mechanics are intentionally not available yet:
- Tiered commissions (a higher rate after a volume threshold).
- SKU-level commissions (different rates per product).
- Retainers (a fixed payment separate from per-sale commission).
For now, one flat $ or one flat % per program covers the launch cohort cleanly. If you need different economics for a distinct group of athletes, run a separate program with its own published rate.
Next steps
- New to the channel? Start with affiliate marketing for wellness brands.
- Ready to launch? Follow start an affiliate program for a supplement brand.
- Want the fee math in detail? Read why the fee is on top.
FAQ
Should I pay a flat dollar amount or a percentage?
Use a flat $ amount when your products are priced in a tight range and you want a predictable cost per sale, for example $10 on a $40 to $60 order. Use a flat % when order values vary a lot or carts often include multiple items, so the payout scales with the sale. Both pay only on a real attributed sale, and you set whichever fits before you publish the program.
What commission rate do supplement brands typically offer?
There is no platform-wide rate; you set your own per program. As general industry context, many supplement and wellness programs land in the 10% to 20% range, or an equivalent flat dollar amount per sale. Treat that as a starting reference, not a Harmonia-set number. The right figure depends on your gross margin, average order value, and repeat-purchase rate.
Can I set a different commission per athlete?
Commission is set per program, so every athlete in a program earns the same published rate. That keeps terms the same for everyone who applies. If you want different economics for a different group, run a separate program with its own commission.
Can I change my commission later?
You can edit the commission freely before you publish a program. After athletes have applied or are live, treat a change as a new published rate going forward; commission already accrued on past sales is not affected. Changing terms on people mid-program is a trust cost, so plan a number you can sustain.
Is the 20% fee taken out of the commission?
No. Your athlete receives the full commission you set. The 20% platform fee is added on top and billed to you, never deducted from the athlete. Set $50 per sale and the athlete keeps $50; your total cost is $60. The fee is charged only when an athlete drives a real attributed sale.