Definition
Affiliate-driven MRR
Affiliate-driven MRR is the share of monthly recurring revenue brought in by affiliates. It is the number that says whether a program is a channel or a gadget.
You measure in recurring revenue rather than sale counts, because the channel's value lies in duration: three customers who stay two years beat ten who leave in month two, and a sales count cannot tell the difference.
The number only becomes a decision once set against the channel's full cost: commissions paid, the tool subscription, and any percentage the platform takes. That total does not compare to an advertising budget the same way — it is entirely variable and triggers after the sale, where advertising is paid upfront with no guarantee.
The threshold that matters is crossed when affiliate MRR durably exceeds the cost of the channel. The question then stops being “does this work” and becomes “how do I recruit more affiliates like these” — a very different problem, solved by distribution rather than tooling.
Related terms
Recurring commission
A recurring commission is paid on every subscription payment, not just the first. It is the standard model in SaaS affiliate marketing.
Lifetime commission
A lifetime commission keeps paying for as long as the referred customer pays, with no time limit. It is the most generous form of recurring commission.
EPC (earnings per click)
EPC is the average revenue a click earns the affiliate: commissions earned divided by clicks sent. It is the first number an affiliate looks at.