CPS advertising: paying for completed sales

Cost per sale (CPS) pays partners when a purchase is completed. It is the model closest to pure outcome: the advertiser pays only when revenue exists.

Fixed fee or revenue share?

• Fixed fee — a set amount per order. Simple for partners, predictable for advertisers, but blind to basket size.
• Revenue share — a percentage of order value. Aligns incentives with larger baskets, but makes partner earnings less predictable.
• Hybrid — a smaller fixed fee plus a share, or different rates for new versus returning customers.

Returns, cancellations and validation

Sales can be reversed. CPS programs usually define a validation period (for example, after the return window closes) before a conversion becomes payable. Be explicit about:

• which order statuses are payable
• how returns and cancellations are handled
• how long validation takes
• whether new-customer orders pay differently

Attribution

Shoppers often research across several visits and sites. Decide in advance how conflicts are handled — for example, last-click within the attribution window — and apply the rule consistently. Coupon and cashback sites can capture credit for purchases that were already happening; many programs set specific rules or rates for them.

What makes CPS offers attractive to partners

• competitive conversion rates (fast checkout, trusted payment options)
• clear validation timelines
• product feeds and creatives that partners can use
• regular reporting on reversals, with reasons