Revenue Share Calculator
for Partner Programs

Most SMB referral partnerships land between 10% and 25% of first-year revenue. Simple referrals (an introduction, nothing more) sit at the low end; partners who help sell or implement earn the high end. Above 30%, the deal usually stops making sense unless the partner owns the entire customer relationship.

First-year (or first 12 months of billings) is the cleanest default for SMBs. Lifetime payouts compound into a margin problem and complicate every future pricing change. If a partner pushes for lifetime, cap it or convert the relationship into a reseller structure with different economics.

An engaged partner in a working motion typically sends 2-3 qualified introductions a month. Most partners in a neglected program send zero. The difference is systematization: clear economics, easy handoff, and a monthly touchpoint, not more partners.

Five active partners each sending 2-3 qualified introductions a month generates pipeline most seed-stage sales teams cannot match, at a fraction of the $120K-$180K fully loaded cost of a hire. The calculator above lets you run your own numbers side by side.