The Essential Glossary of Gig & Affiliate Payment Terms
From affiliate commissions to gig worker incentives, payment terminology can get confusing fast — especially when your platform operates across borders and industries.
This glossary breaks down the most essential terms every gig or affiliate payout team should know in 2025. Whether you're managing influencers, contractors, or commission-based partners, this list will help your team stay aligned and sound like pros.
Key Terms You Should Know
Affiliate Program
A structured marketing initiative where individuals or companies promote a brand and receive commissions for referred sales or leads.
Commission
The payment an affiliate receives for generating a specific action — such as a sale, click, or signup. Often based on a percentage of revenue or a fixed amount.
Conversion Window
The timeframe in which a referred action (e.g. sale) must occur for the affiliate to receive credit. Often set to 7, 30, or 90 days.
Cookie Duration
The length of time a tracking cookie remains active on a user’s device after clicking an affiliate link. Impacts whether the affiliate earns credit for the action.
Referral Bonus
A one-time or recurring incentive paid to a user who successfully refers another user or contractor to the platform.
Revenue Share
A payout model where affiliates or gig partners earn a percentage of the revenue they help generate — common in SaaS, fintech, and marketplaces.
Flat Fee Payout
A fixed commission amount paid per action, independent of revenue. Used for lead generation or tiered reward programs.
Net Terms (Net-7, Net-30, etc.)
The delay between when a transaction occurs and when a payout is issued. For example, Net-30 means payout occurs 30 days after the tracked event.
Minimum Payout Threshold
The lowest amount an affiliate or gig worker must earn before becoming eligible for payout. Helps platforms reduce transaction fees and administrative overhead.
Chargeback
When a customer disputes a transaction, the affiliate’s commission is often reversed. Platforms must account for this risk in commission logic.
1099-NEC
The U.S. tax form issued to independent contractors (including affiliates and gig workers) who earn $600 or more in a calendar year.
W-9 / W-8BEN
Tax forms used to collect information from U.S. (W-9) and non-U.S. (W-8BEN) affiliates or freelancers before issuing payments.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The identity verification process used to comply with financial regulations. Platforms must collect and validate KYC documents before issuing payments in many jurisdictions.
Multi-Currency Support
The ability to pay out in different currencies depending on the user’s location. Essential for global affiliate and gig programs.
Payout Frequency
How often a platform disburses funds to affiliates or freelancers — weekly, biweekly, monthly, or on-demand.
Payment Method
How a payout is delivered — e.g., bank transfer, PayPal, prepaid card, digital wallet, or crypto.
White-Label Payout Platform
A customizable solution that allows your brand to offer payouts through a third-party provider while maintaining a fully branded experience.
Why This Glossary Matters
Understanding payment language helps teams:
- Avoid miscommunication with affiliates and gig workers
- Stay compliant with tax and regulatory obligations
- Choose payout methods that align with partner preferences
- Improve transparency and trust across your network
Bookmark this glossary or send it to your team — it’s the kind of resource that gets smarter with every use.
Talk to the Experts Who Speak Your Language
i-payout has helped hundreds of platforms streamline their affiliate and gig payouts — across borders, currencies, and compliance zones.
Whether you're launching a new referral program or scaling a global workforce, we can help you translate complexity into clarity — and build a payout experience people trust.
