Payouts

The Payouts page is the place where you control the full payout workflow from start to finish. You can use it to set up affiliate payout methods (PayPal and custom/manual methods), connect PayPal for automated payout sending, configure payout schedules (auto payouts), pay affiliates in batches, record external/manual payouts, and review previous payouts with their statuses so your payout records stay accurate.

How payouts work in Affilitrak

Affiliates earn commission from approved referrals, and those earnings build up as an amount that is ready to be paid. The Payouts page reads that payable amount and helps you decide how and when to pay each affiliate. If you pay through PayPal, the app can send payouts directly once PayPal is connected and the affiliate has valid payout details. If you pay outside the app, such as by bank transfer or check, you can still record that payment in the app so balances and payout history remain correct.

In practical terms, the payout lifecycle is simple: affiliates earn commission, commission becomes payable, you process or record a payout, and the payable balance is reduced while a payout record is stored for tracking and reporting.

What you should set up before sending payouts

Before processing payouts, your store should have at least one payout method configured and at least one affiliate with a payable balance. If you want direct in-app sending, PayPal must be connected and authorized. Each affiliate should also have complete payout details for the method they selected, otherwise they may appear in upcoming payouts but fail validation at processing time.

Understanding the main parts of the Payouts page

The page usually starts by showing upcoming payouts, which are affiliates who currently have money ready to pay. From there, you can choose who to pay and process payouts in a batch. The settings area on the same page controls payout methods, PayPal connection, and automatic payout scheduling. A previous payouts area gives historical records so you can verify what was paid, when it was paid, in which currency, and with what status.

This layout allows you to both execute payouts and manage payout configuration without leaving the page.

Affiliate payout methods and what they mean

Affilitrak supports PayPal and configurable custom payout methods. PayPal is the method used for direct payout sending through the app. Custom methods are flexible method definitions you create yourself, such as bank transfer or another local payment process, with your own fields for data collection. These custom methods are useful when you want affiliates to provide destination information in a structured way even if the actual transfer is done outside Affilitrak.

When affiliates have a method selected and their details are complete, payout operations are much more reliable because the app can validate where funds should go before you submit a batch.

Connecting PayPal and why it matters

PayPal connection is required for direct PayPal payout sending and for automated PayPal payout schedules. The connection flow sends you through PayPal authorization and returns you to the app with an active connection state. If this connection is missing, expired, or incomplete, PayPal payout actions cannot run successfully.

If you can open the Payouts page but cannot complete PayPal actions, the issue is usually authorization-related rather than commission-related. Reconnecting PayPal is often the fastest fix when authorization tokens expire or account permissions change.

How to use the custom/manual payout option

For store owners who don't want to or cannot use PayPal for one reason or the other, you can use the other payout method (custom/manual). Here's how to set it up;

• - Go to the Payouts page on the app and navigate to settings

• - Toggle on "Affiliate payout info form."

• - Hit the add method button.

• - Type in the name of the payment method and add a description(optional)

• - Hit the "Add a field" button and add a payout collection field then hit done and save it.

With all these setup, a payout form will be created in your affiliates' portal you'll be able to collect their payout information for the manual payout method.

Automatic payout scheduling

Automatic payouts let you choose a repeating schedule so payouts run with less manual work. You select a frequency such as weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly, then specify the matching day settings. The app uses this schedule to determine upcoming payout timing and process eligible affiliates when auto payouts execute.

Even with scheduling enabled, payout readiness still matters. Affiliates without valid payout details or without a payable balance may be skipped, so schedule setup should always be paired with method and data quality checks.

Running manual batch payouts

Manual batch payouts are best when you want direct control over who gets paid right now. You review upcoming payouts, choose the affiliates, and then submit the payout action. If you use PayPal, the app processes the payout through PayPal and stores processing records. If you use an external payout path, the app records what you already paid outside Affilitrak and updates balances accordingly.

This makes manual runs ideal for end-of-period reviews, one-off corrections, or controlled payout windows where finance teams want explicit confirmation before sending.

External/manual payouts and reconciliation

External payouts are the right choice when the transfer happens outside Affilitrak, for example with direct bank payments or checks. Recording external payouts keeps your ledger clean because the affiliate’s payable balance is reduced and a payout history record is created. That means reporting remains consistent even when payment rails are external.

Without recording external payouts, your balances and payout history will drift from reality, so external recording should be part of your normal accounting workflow whenever off-platform payments are used.

Currency behavior on payouts

Payouts follow your store currency configuration, but PayPal has a limited set of supported payout currencies. If your configured currency is not supported by PayPal payouts, the payout flow uses a supported fallback currency so the payout can still be processed. This prevents hard failures caused by unsupported currency combinations and keeps payout execution stable.

For operational planning, it helps to treat payout currency compatibility as a setup concern rather than a payout-day surprise.

Reading payout history and statuses

Previous payouts act as your audit trail. Each record captures important details such as amount, destination context, status, and time of processing. You can use this history to confirm successful processing, investigate pending/processing states, and reconcile payout totals against your internal accounting records.

When questions come up from affiliates about whether they were paid, this history is usually the first and most reliable source of truth.

Common payout problems and how to think about them

If a payout does not process, the root cause is usually one of three categories: method setup, destination detail quality, or PayPal authorization. Method setup issues happen when payout methods were never configured or were configured inconsistently. Destination quality issues happen when affiliates selected a method but left required fields incomplete. Authorization issues happen when PayPal is disconnected, misconfigured, or no longer authorized for payouts.

Diagnosing in that order is usually the fastest path: first verify method availability, then verify affiliate details, then verify PayPal connection and authorization state.

Best way to operate payouts day-to-day

A stable payout process starts with method setup, followed by early data collection from affiliates, and then a small controlled payout test before scaling. Once this foundation is in place, use scheduled payouts for consistency and manual batches for exceptions. Keep external payout recording disciplined so balances and historical records remain trustworthy.

When these habits are followed, payouts become predictable, transparent, and much easier to support across finance, operations, and affiliate management teams.