If you’ve spent any time in affiliate marketing, you’ve probably encountered the term “recurring affiliate commissions.”
It sounds incredibly enticing—earning ongoing commissions month after month, year after year, from just one sale. But is this model truly sustainable, or is it just another cleverly disguised scam?
Today, I’ll share my personal experiences and insights into recurring affiliate commissions, highlighting both their potential and pitfalls.
My name is Ali , and I’ve been deeply involved in affiliate marketing since 2018.
Through my blogs AffMaven and others, I’ve tested hundreds of affiliate programs and have seen firsthand the good, the bad, and the downright ugly sides of this industry.
Let’s check out recurring affiliate commissions and see if they’re genuinely a path to sustainable passive income or a risky trap.
What Exactly Are Recurring Affiliate Commissions?
Before we evaluate their legitimacy, let’s clearly understand what recurring affiliate commissions are.
Unlike traditional one-time affiliate commissions (where you earn a single payment per sale), recurring commissions provide continuous earnings each time your referred customer renews a subscription or membership.
Here’s how it typically works:
At first glance, this model sounds perfect—steady passive income flowing into your account month after month.
But is it really that simple? Or is there a darker side to recurring commissions?
How Recurring Commissions Benefit Affiliates
Recurring commissions offer several attractive benefits:
1. Passive Income Potential
The greatest appeal of recurring commissions is passive income. Instead of constantly chasing new sales every month, you can build a stable income stream that grows as you gain more subscribers.
Once you’ve referred a customer who stays subscribed for months or even years, you continue earning without additional effort.
2. Long-Term Stability
Recurring revenue provides stability. Unlike one-time commission models that require continuous effort to maintain earnings, recurring revenue accumulates over time. Each new subscriber adds incremental growth to your monthly earnings.
3. Scalability
Recurring models scale beautifully. As your subscriber base grows steadily over months or years, so does your income potential—without proportionally increasing your workload.
4. Predictable Earnings
With ongoing subscriptions, you can better predict future earnings. This helps you plan budgets effectively and invest strategically in growing your affiliate business.
Clearly, recurring commissions have substantial advantages for affiliates looking for long-term success. However, there’s another side to consider.
Legitimate Programs vs. Scams: What’s the Difference?
While legitimate companies like SaaS providers (e.g., ConvertKit, SEMrush), web hosting (Hostinger), and membership platforms (Teachable) offer genuine recurring commission opportunities, many affiliates have experienced scams disguised as lucrative recurring revenue programs.
From my personal experience since 2015 (almost 10 years now), I’ve encountered numerous cases where affiliates were misled by deceptive promises of lifetime recurring payments.
Let’s check out legitimate programs versus scams clearly:
| Factor | Legitimate Programs | Scam Affiliate Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Product Quality | Real products/services with genuine value | Fake or nonexistent products/services |
| Commission Transparency | Clear payment terms | Hidden clauses & vague terms |
| Communication | Responsive & transparent | Unresponsive & evasive |
| Stability | Consistent monthly payouts | Sudden commission declines |
| Reputation | Positive reviews & proven history | Negative reviews & complaints |
The Dark Reality: Scams in Recurring Commissions
Unfortunately, scams involving recurring commission structures are common and affiliates often fall victim due to attractive promises of lifelong passive income streams.
Here are some common scam scenarios I’ve personally witnessed:
1. Scrubbing Commissions (“Shaving”)
One widespread yet rarely discussed practice is “scrubbing,” where advertisers intentionally remove valid leads or sales from your account to reduce payouts. Sadly, this practice happens frequently behind closed doors in affiliate marketing circles.
I’ve personally experienced making around $2,000/month from a reputable company’s recurring program. After eight months of consistent payments, they suddenly started declining my commissions drastically.
Upon inquiry, they claimed customers stopped paying but when I reached out directly to those customers myself, I discovered they were still active subscribers paying regularly.
This practice is unfortunately common: affiliates get “scrubbed” quietly without transparency or recourse. Companies often claim customers canceled subscriptions when they haven’t just to avoid paying affiliates their rightful share.
2. Red Flags: Spotting Recurring Commission Scams
To protect yourself from falling victim to scams disguised as lucrative recurring commission opportunities, watch out for these red flags:
A. Unrealistic Payout Promises
If an affiliate program promises excessively high lifetime commissions (e.g., 80%+ forever) without clear justification about how they’re sustainable financially, be cautious. Legitimate companies balance generous payouts with realistic business economics.
B. Lack of Transparency
Transparency is crucial in legitimate programs. If an advertiser refuses to disclose clear terms around tracking methods, cookie durations, payout thresholds or commission structures—it’s likely hiding something unethical.
C. Fake Products & Services
Some scammers create fake subscription services solely designed to attract affiliates eager for recurring revenue streams. Always verify the authenticity of products you’re promoting by checking reviews and customer feedback.
D. Sudden Commission Declines (“Scrubbing”)
As mentioned earlier from my own experience, if you notice sudden unexplained drops in your monthly recurring payments despite stable subscriber numbers it’s likely “scrubbing.” Advertisers might falsely claim customers stopped paying while secretly pocketing profits themselves.
Legitimate Recurring Affiliate Programs Worth Considering
Despite potential risks associated with scams in this industry segment—there are still many trustworthy companies offering genuine opportunities:
These reputable companies maintain transparency regarding tracking systems and payout structures—ensuring affiliates receive fair treatment consistently over time.
How I Tracked & Recovered $1,900 Recurring Commissions
When I noticed my recurring commission payments dropping suddenly, I needed proof fast. RedTrack became my secret weapon for monitoring affiliate payments accurately.
I set up server-side tracking with RedTrack’s universal script on my domain to monitor conversions across multiple programs. Within weeks, I spotted discrepancies between reported and actual customer subscriptions.
🔍 RedTrack’s conversion path reports revealed:
RedTrack’s custom dashboards helped me document each transaction with timestamps and conversion IDs. When I presented my evidence, affiliate managers couldn’t deny facts.
Now I run weekly reports to catch “scrubbing” attempts early. My recurring commission tracking connects directly to affiliate networks via postback, ensuring near-zero discrepancy between network data and my records.
How to Safeguard Yourself from Recurring Commission Scams
While scams exist within every industry—including affiliate marketing—you can significantly reduce risk by taking proactive steps:
Final Thoughts: Sustainable Income or Scam Risk?
Recurring affiliate commissions can be a legitimate way to earn passive income, but they come with risks. The affiliate marketing industry, especially in SaaS and IT Service industry affiliate programs often lacks transparency, making it fertile ground for scams.
To safeguard yourself:
- Understand the Model: Know how recurring commissions work.
- Spot Red Flags: Watch for unrealistic promises, lack of transparency, and sudden commission drops.
- Research: Investigate companies before promoting them.
- Track Earnings: Use reliable Affiliate Trackers to monitor your commissions independently.
- Diversify: Spread your efforts across multiple programs.
By being diligent and cautious, you can build a sustainable income stream while avoiding the pitfalls of deceptive practices.
“Success in affiliate marketing is not about chasing the quick buck, but about building lasting value.”
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Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase something that we recommend at no additional cost for you (none whatsoever!)
