Commission Model
How commissions are earned, when they're paid, and what can cause a reversal.
Drapier operates on a cost-per-order (CPO) model. You earn a commission on every sale you drive through your tracking links.
How commissions work
When a consumer clicks your tracking link and makes a purchase within the 30-day attribution window, a commission is created for each item in the order. The commission amount is shown in dollars on your dashboard and via the API.
Each line item in the order generates its own commission. If a consumer clicks your link to one product but adds others to the cart, you earn commission on the entire order.
Commission amounts are never negative — if an item does not qualify for a commission, it is simply excluded.
Commission lifecycle
Every commission moves through a series of states from creation to payment. The lifecycle ensures that returns, cancellations, and fraud are handled before you're paid.
stateDiagram-v2
[*] --> PENDING: Order placed with<br/>valid click attribution
PENDING --> APPROVED: Shipment confirmed
PENDING --> REVERSED: Order cancelled<br/>before shipment
APPROVED --> LOCKED: Return window<br/>expires (14 days)
APPROVED --> REVERSED: Customer returns<br/>item
LOCKED --> PAYABLE: Invoice cycle<br/>begins (1st of month)
LOCKED --> REVERSED: Late return or<br/>chargeback
PAYABLE --> INVOICED: Monthly invoice<br/>generated
INVOICED --> PAID: Payment processed
REVERSED --> [*]
PAID --> [*]States explained
PENDING — The order was placed and attributed to your click. Awaiting shipment confirmation. Typical duration: 1--3 days.
APPROVED — The order has been confirmed and shipped. Subject to the 14-day return window.
LOCKED — The return window has expired. The commission is locked for payment. Exceptional reversals (late return, chargeback) are still possible but rare.
PAYABLE — Eligible for the upcoming monthly invoice.
INVOICED — Included in a generated invoice. Payment terms are Net 15.
PAID — Payment has been processed. This is the final state.
REVERSED — The commission was cancelled. Possible reasons:
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
order_cancelled | Order cancelled before shipment |
order_refunded | Customer returned the item |
chargeback | Payment dispute by the customer |
fraud | Fraudulent order or click activity detected |
Lifecycle timing
Under normal conditions, a commission moves from creation to payment in approximately 30--45 days:
| Stage | Duration | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| PENDING to APPROVED | 1--3 days | ~3 days |
| APPROVED to LOCKED | 14 days (return window) | ~17 days |
| LOCKED to PAYABLE | up to 14 days (wait for 1st of month) | ~31 days |
| PAYABLE to INVOICED | < 1 day | ~31 days |
| INVOICED to PAID | 15 days (Net 15 terms) | ~46 days |
Viewing commissions via the API
Fetch your commissions with optional status filtering:
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_abc123..." \
"https://api.drapier.io/api/v1/commissions/me?status=PAYABLE,INVOICED&dateFrom=2026-01-01"{
"data": [
{
"id": "com_v3k8m2",
"orderId": "ord_9xp4r1",
"productTitle": "Prada Galleria Saffiano Leather Mini Bag",
"brand": "italist",
"salePrice": 1895.00,
"commissionAmount": 240.00,
"currency": "USD",
"status": "PAYABLE",
"subId": "homepage-hero-banner",
"clickedAt": "2026-03-14T09:22:15Z",
"orderedAt": "2026-03-14T09:45:33Z"
}
],
"summary": {
"totalCommissions": 240.00,
"count": 1
}
}Key points
- You earn a commission on every attributed sale.
- Commissions are shown as dollar amounts — you don't need to calculate anything.
- A 14-day return window protects against returns before commissions become payable.
- Commissions can be reversed if the underlying order is returned, cancelled, or flagged.
- Invoices are generated monthly, with Net 15 payment terms.