Separate platform commission from partner commission
Platform affiliate commission and a separately negotiated partner commission are two different receivables. The platform governs its payout; the agency must calculate, reconcile, and collect the amount owed under its merchant or supplier agreement.
Illustrative example: a $30 sale with 10% platform commission and an additional 8% partner commission produces $3 and $2.40 respectively, before any relevant adjustments. If the agreement instead says 18% total, do not add another 18% on top of the platform amount. Write down exactly what the rate means.
Why partner commission is easy to miss
An account may sell products from several shops, and one partner may operate several shops. Rates can vary by product and attribution. Refunds arrive later, while initial and final payments may arrive weeks apart. A single monthly total hides all four problems.
Build separate checks for unmatched orders, unresolved rates, reporting dates, and overdue receipts. A small exception list reviewed every week is easier to resolve than a month-end argument over a number neither side can reproduce.
Step 1: associate each order with the right partner
Start with a partner directory and its shops. Use shop matching for ordinary orders, product-specific rules for exceptions, and explicit order assignment where necessary. More specific assignments should take precedence over broader defaults.
Keep an unmatched-order queue and explain the rule behind each match. A new shop or changed product link can otherwise leave legitimate sales outside the statement. Clear those exceptions before closing the period, and retain the original identifiers so both sides can follow the same records.
Step 2: calculate commission order by order
Use an explicit rate hierarchy: order override, product rate, shop default, then partner default. Where paid-attributed orders use a different rate, configure it separately. An intentionally entered 0% rate is a rule; a missing rate is unresolved information.
For a combined platform-plus-partner agreement, subtract the applicable platform portion to determine the additional partner amount. Keep mixed-attribution orders pending when the supported data cannot justify a split. See paid versus organic orders before applying attribution-dependent rates.
Step 3: agree on the period and confirm the statement
A partner may settle weekly, twice monthly, monthly, or on a custom schedule. Specify the event date, time zone, refund treatment, currency, and exchange rate. Generate a draft with the included orders, GMV, applied rates, and calculated commission.
After both sides reconcile it, preserve the confirmed statement. Handle later refunds or corrections through a documented adjustment process rather than silently changing the agreed amount. Detailed records make disputes easier to resolve than a total pasted into a message.
Step 4: track initial and final payments separately
Record the total due, initial-payment percentage and amount, due date, remaining balance, and final due date. When money arrives, record the actual amount and date with supporting evidence. An 80% initial payment is an example of a possible agreement, not a universal rule.
Assign overdue follow-up to a named person and establish an escalation schedule with the partner. Statement confirmation answers what is owed. Receipt registration answers what has arrived. Treating those as the same action makes outstanding balances unreliable.
Use the Business center for a repeatable process
Star Captain's Business center connects partner records, shop associations, rate rules, settlement periods, and receipts. It shows unmatched or unresolved amounts for review instead of treating them as zero. Confirmed statements preserve the agreed order set and financial values.
Profit & cost uses calculated commission for the operating view; settlement records follow collection. A statement does not create the income a second time, and receiving its balance does not create another sale. The profit tracking guide explains how costs fit into that separate view.
Six habits that reduce settlement disputes
Write down rates, attribution treatment, dates, refunds, payment stages, and exchange-rate rules before work starts. Clear unmatched orders weekly. Keep confirmed statements traceable. Set a cutover date so already settled historical business does not reappear as a new receivable.
Limit partner terms to the people who need them, and reconcile commission with the profit view without duplicating it. Before collection, verify the agreement and receipt history. A clear audit trail saves more time than repeatedly rebuilding the same spreadsheet.
Frequently asked questions
How do platform and partner commission differ?
Platform commission follows the affiliate payout process. Partner commission is owed under the agency's separate agreement and needs its own calculation, reconciliation, and collection records.
How do we calculate partner commission accurately?
Match orders to partners, apply the most specific valid rate, handle paid attribution as agreed, and leave missing or ambiguous rules pending. Then reconcile the included records for the period.
What should we check when statements disagree?
Start with the event date and time zone, refund treatment, account and order scope, and exchange rate. Compare order IDs after the definitions match.
How should initial and final payments be set?
Use the agreement with each partner. Store amounts and due dates separately, then record actual receipts. A default percentage in software is not a payment agreement.
Does a settlement statement determine profit?
Star Captain separates operating income from collection. Calculated commission feeds Profit & cost; the statement and receipts track whether the agreed amount has been paid.
Can every employee see settlement terms?
No. Business-center access is restricted by organization and role. Verify the intended permissions during setup rather than sharing partner terms in a general team report.
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