Setup

With Commissions extension for Easy Digital Downloads and AffiliateWP enabled, there will be a new option registered in Affiliates → Settings → Integrations that allows you to choose whether commissions in EDD are affected by any referral commissions generated by AffiliateWP.

If you enable the Adjust EDD Commissions setting, the commission amount will be calculated from the purchase amount minus any referral commissions.

For example, if you have a $100 purchase that generates a $10 affiliate referral, the commission calculation will be based off of $90, not $100.

The post Commissions – AffiliateWP first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

Reports for all commissions are found under Downloads > Reports > Commissions. The report can be filtered using the filter options above the report.

Reporting Shortcodes

Below are four shortcodes that can render reports to individual logged in users.  The screenshot below shows what they render.

• [edd_commissions_overview] renders a grid of unpaid earnings, paid earnings, revoked rarnings, unpaid sales, paid sales, and revoked sales.
• [edd_commissions_graph] renders a chart showing earnings and sales, filterable by date.
• [edd_commissioned_products] renders of a list of the vendor’s items with the number of sales.
• [edd_commissions] renders unpaid commissions, listing item, amount, rate, and date.

The post Commissions – Reports first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

When setting up your shippable product, locate the “Commissions” metabox, and you will see options for how shipping fees should be split up. 

Available settings in product for splitting shipping fees:

Note: for any of the following Shipping-Split settings to be used, you must be using “Percentage” as the Commission Type. Flat Rate Commissions will not split up shipping fees.

– Use Site-Wide Default.

This option will split the Shipping fees based on the setting you’ve chosen in Downloads →Settings → Extensions → Commissions. 

– Split based on rate.

This option will use the commission rates in the product to split the Shipping fees among Vendors/Receivers. For example, if a Vendor/Receiver has a commission rate of 50%, they will earn 50% of the shipping fee as well. 

– Pay to 1st user.

If a specific Vendor is actually shipping the product, use this option. This option will pay the entire shipping fee to the first person listed in the “User(s)” field. While the commissions for the product’s price will still be split up based on the Rate(s), the Shipping fee will be paid entirely to the first listed Vendor/Receiver. If 1 person is shipping the item and you want them to get the entire shipping fee, make sure they are first in the User(s) field. Note that the Frontend Submissions extension will put the vendors in the User(s) field first for items submitted by that Vendor. 

– Pay to store. 

If the store (you) is shipping the item, use this option. You (the store) will get the entire shipping fee so you can use it to actually pay for shipping fees.

Site-Wide defaults for Shipping Fee split options with Commissions:

The Commissions extension has default settings which will be used by ship-able products which have the “Shipping” set to “Use Site-Wide Default”. You can find those by navigating to Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions. 

These are the available options and what they mean:

– Split Shipping according to rates in product.

Choosing this option will cause Shipping Fees to be split using the Commission rates set up in the product in the “Rate(s)” field. Again, this option will only be used if the product being purchased is set to “Use Site-Wide Default” for the Commissions → Shipping option. Otherwise it will use the chosen setting in the actual product’s settings.

– Pay Shipping to 1st receiver in product.

If a specific Vendor is actually shipping the product, use this option. This option will pay the entire shipping fee to the first person listed in the “User(s)” field. While the commissions for the product’s price will still be split up based on the Rate(s), the Shipping fee will be paid entirely to the first listed Vendor/Receiver. If 1 person is shipping the item and you want them to get the entire shipping fee, make sure they are first in the User(s) field. Note that the Frontend Submissions extension will put the vendors in the User(s) field first for items submitted by that Vendor. Again, this option will only be used if the product being purchased is set to “Use Site-Wide Default” for the Commissions > Shipping option. Otherwise it will use the chosen setting in the actual product’s settings.

– Shipping Fee paid to store

If the store (you) is shipping the item, use this option. You (the store) will get the entire shipping fee so you can use it to actually pay for shipping fees. Again, this option will only be used if the product being purchased is set to “Use Site-Wide Default” for the Commissions → Shipping option. Otherwise it will use the chosen setting in the actual product’s settings.

The post Integration Guide: Commissions and Simple Shipping first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

Calculation Base

A key element in understanding how money is divided is the Calculation Base setting in the settings area for the Commissions extension.

Single Vendor

First we’re going to look at scenarios where there is a single vendor. This will help understand the sequence of events.

Let’s make up a scenario where there is a product for $100, and the Vendor gets 10%.

Subtotal (default)

If we choose Subtotal (default) then 

• the store owner will get $90 
• the Vendor will get $10.

Now let’s throw in a discount of 10%. With Subtotal (default)

• the store owner only gets $80. 
• the Vendor still gets $10

In this scenario the Vendor did not help cover some of the expense of the discount.

Total without Taxes

Using Total without Taxes and having no discount, it’s the same as our first scenario

• the store owner will get $90
• the Vendor will get $10. 

Now if we add in the 10% Discount, the Vendor will help carry that load. The total is reduced to $90 before being divided up. 

• The store owner will get $81
• the Vendor will get $9.

Total with Taxes

With this option we’ll still assume there is a product for $100, and the Vendor gets 10%, but now we’ll add in a 10% tax. This makes our total $110.

• the store owner will get $99
• the Vendor will get $11

Now let’s add in a 10% discount. This brings the total down to $99. 

• the the store owner will get $89.10
• the Vendor will get $9.90

Multiple Vendors, One Product

It’s possible to have one product with more than one vendor. In this case we’ll look at two vendors, each with a different commission rate.

To have a Download have more than one vendor with more than one vendor you’ll want to find the Commission metabox on the admin page for a Download. Users are comma separated and you’ll need to put in their WordPress user IDs. Rates are also comma separated, in the same order as the WordPress users.

Let’s make a scenario with a single Download for $100, but use the example in the screenshot, one vendor gets 10% and the other gets 5%.

Subtotal (default)

If we choose  Subtotal (default) calculation base then 

• the store owner will get $85 
• the first vendor will get $10
• the second vendor will get $5

Now let’s throw in a discount of 10%. With  Subtotal (default)

• the store owner only gets $75. 
• the first vendor still gets $10
• the second vendor still gets $5

In this scenario the vendors did  not help cover some of the expense of the discount.

Total without Taxes

Using  Total without Taxes and having no discount, it’s the same as our first scenario

• the store owner will get $85
• the first vendor will get $10. 
• the second vendor will get $5

Now if we add in the 10% Discount, the Vendor will help carry that load. The total is reduced to $90 before being divided up. 

• The store owner will get $76.50
• the first vendor will get $9.
• the second vendor will get $4.50

Total with Taxes

With this option we’ll still assume there is a product for $100, but now we’ll add in a 10% tax. This makes our total $110.

• the store owner will get $93.50
• the first vendor will get $11
• the second vendor will get $5.50

Now let’s add in a 10% discount. This brings the total down to $99. 

• the the store owner will get $84.15
• the first vendor will get $9.90
• the second vendor will get $4.95

Multiple Products

When dealing with multiple products, when working to calculate the totals, do the math on each product individually, using the formulas above. Then you can simply add the totals from the various products together to get the values you need.

The post Commissions – Rate Calculations first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

Do I have to pay vendors through PayPal?

Paying vendors through PayPal is supported but not required. Commissions allows you to generate a CSV payout file, but this file format is supported by many platforms.

Can I pay vendors through Stripe?

Unfortunately not at this time. Want this feature? Let us know!

Can I pay vendors through Moneybookers?

Yes, Moneybookers supports the Commissions CSV payout file.

Can I pay vendors through Payoneer?

Not at this time. Want this feature? Let us know!

Can I pay vendors instantly during checkout?

It’s possible via the 3rd party extension PayPal Adaptive Payments.

Can I revoke commissions when orders are refunded?

Yes, this is done automatically if the “Revoke on Refund” setting is enabled. If it’s not enabled, you can do it manually via the commission details. See the Commissions – Refunds doc for details.

How many vendors can I have?

There is no limit to the number of vendors you can have.

Can I export commission records to a CSV file?

From your Commissions page at Downloads → Commissions, there is a button in the top left that says Generate Payout File. See Commissions – Payouts for details.

Can I pay commissions through PayPal without PayPal Payouts?

Yes, though you will have to process commission payouts one vendor at a time. The process would look like this:

1. Generate export file
2. Manually send payout to each vendor for the amount shown in the file.

Does Commissions work with Frontend Submissions?

Yes! See Integration Guide: Commissions and Frontend Submissions for details.

Can commissions be calculated before or after tax?

Yes, using the “Calculation Base” setting under Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions → Calculation Base.

Can commissions be calculated after discounts?

Yes, using the “Calculation Base” setting under Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions → Calculation Base.

The post Commissions – Frequently Asked Questions first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

Set Up Instructions:

EDD Commissions and EDD Frontend Submissions extensions should both be
installed and activated in the “Plugins” page in your WordPress Dashboard.

How the integration works:

When your Vendors submit a new product for sale through Frontend Submissions, commissions will automatically be enabled for that product and the commission recipient will automatically be set to that Vendor. Their commission rate in the product itself will be left blank and the default commission rate will be used. The amount that is automatically applied is either based on the Default rate from the Commissions settings or User Global Rate. These default rates are used when the rate in the product settings is left blank.

Note: The Commission Rates inside the product setting is not automatic, if black it utilizes one of the default rates but if the rate is set, it will override the default and global rates.

User Rate

User rates can be set on a per-user basis. This would be used if you want to set different rates for different vendors. If you want all users to have the same commission rate, the user rate would be left blank. This setting will override the Default Rate set in the Commisions settings.

When your Vendors submit a new product for sale through Frontend Submissions, commissions will automatically be enabled for that product and the commission recipient will automatically be set to that Vendor. Their commission rate in the product itself will be left blank. This means that their commission rate will fall back to their User Rate, which you can configure for each Vendor by editing their user profile under: Users → User’s Global Rate

Commissions Default Rate

The commissions’ default rate applies to all commissions where the User Rate and Product rate are blank.

This can be set under: Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions → Default rate

More details about setting commissions rates can be found here.

Override Site Default and User Default rate

If you wish to override the Site Default and User Default rates for any individual product, set the rate in the product itself by editing that product and going to the “Commissions” metabox. There, you can enter a commission rate for that Vendor for that specific product only.

Note: The Product rate is used first. If it is blank, then the User rate is used. If that is also blank, the Site default rate is used.

Setting Vendor Paypal Emails upon registration

If you are paying your Commissions through Paypal and want to make sure your Vendors enter a Paypal email when registering, there is a field available when both Frontend Submissions and Commissions are active. Navigate to
EDD FES → Registration Form → Add Extension Created Fields → Paypal Email

The post Integration Guide: Commissions and Frontend Submissions first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

Rate Types

Flat Rate

Flat Rate is very simple, for every sale the vendor gets a certain amount.  It doesn’t matter if the sale is $10 or $100, the vendor gets whatever the site owner has set. Flat Rate is only configured in the Per-Product settings.

Percentage Rate

With a percentage rate the vendor gets a piece of the sale which varies based on the size of the sale. This rate can also be calculated at different times in the payment process. For example, it could be calculated on the subtotal, on the total before tax, or on the total after tax.

Under Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions you’ll find a section called Commissions Settings. In there is a drop down menu titled Calculation Base. This allows the site owner to determine when the percentage is calculated.

Global Settings

The global settings for Commissions are under Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions.

Within this section you can set the Default Rate as a percentage. You do NOT need to enter the % in the field.

You may also set the Calculation Base. The options for this are:

• Subtotal (default)
• Total With Taxes
• Total Without Taxes

NOTE: This does NOT automatically set up commissions for anyone, it simply creates some base settings as tools when you DO set up commissions on a single product.

Per-Product Settings

Each Download contains Commissions section in the Edit Download page that can be used to over-ride the global Commissions settings. This box has a checkbox to enable commissions. When that box is checked you’re given several options.

Commission Type: This can be Percentage or Flat rate.

Users(s): This is for the User ID(s) that should get commissions.  If there is more than one User, the IDs should be comma separated.

Rate(s): This is where you may over-ride the global setting. If the Commission Type is set to flat then the number entered is in currency, rather than a percentage.

The post Commissions – Configuring Vendor Rates first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

As long as the commission hasn’t actually been paid out it’s very easy for Easy Digital Downloads to manipulate the sale record and adjust the payout properly. Once the commission has been paid out your only option is to ask the vendor nicely to return the money. This can be awkward, so here’s a workflow that can keep the headaches away.

The important thing is to have a return policy with a shorter time frame than your commissions payout time.

Setting Up Refund Terms

Under Downloads → Settings → Misc you’ll find the Terms of Agreement settings. This is where you would put in your refund policy. You may use the Easy Digital Downloads Terms of Agreement as an example. For this document we’ll use 14 days as an example timeframe.

Setting Up Commission Terms

Commission terms need to be communicated to your vendors, but there isn’t a specific way it must be done. You could create a page and print them there, include them in a signup email, or any other way that works for you. The key is that they’re properly communicated to your vendors.

To help avoid refund issues, make your commission payout time frame longer than your return time frame. For example, if your return time frame is 14 days as we mentioned above, then make your commission payout time frame 30 or 45 days after the sale.

Handling Refunds

When a sale is made, payment from the customer is collected, but the commissions are not paid out automatically, they’re simply noted in Easy Digital Downloads.

When you refund a payment that has commissions we’re able to simply edit the payment and revoke the commission because we haven’t paid the vendor their commission yet. Here’s the process:

Step 1: Find and View the Payment

You can find the order on the Payment History page. Click View Order Details.

Step 2: Find the Commission Record

Under Payment Notes you’ll find a record of commissions being recorded. Click on the View link. This should take you to a listing of one, see below.

Step 3: Revoke the Commission

While viewing the commission, hovering over it will make a menu appear that contains the Revoke link. This will NOT delete the commission, but merely mark it revoked, so that it won’t appear in any list to be paid.

Wrapping Up

When the site owner goes to pay out commissions they can use the date chooser to only select commissions that are older than whatever term they have set for their vendors. It also ignores all revoked commissions.

The post Commissions – Refunds first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

The Commissions extension is often paired with Frontend Submissions, but this is NOT required. Commissions can be paid to any WordPress user at either a flat rate or a percentage of the sale.

Setup

Once Commissions is activated, settings will exist in two places:

EDD Settings:

Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions

Product Settings:

Downloads → All Downloads → Edit → Commissions

Setup Steps:

1. Configure sitewide settings

Navigate to: Downloads → Settings → Extensions → Commissions

Default rate: Default commission rate for products with commissions enabled. See Configuring Vendor Rates for details.

Calculation Base: Set how the commissions are calculated. See Configuring Vendor Rates for details.

Allow $0.00 commissions: By default, EDD records commissions even if the value of the commission is $0.00. While this may be useful for tracking purposes in some situations, some users may find it confusing. If you prefer not to see $0.00 commissions, disable them here.

Revoke on Refund: Automatically revoke any unpaid commissions when a payment is refunded.

Recurring Payments Commissions: When using Recurring Payments, this option will record commissions for subscription renewal payments.

2. Configure commissions on each individual product

Navigate to: Downloads → All Downloads → Edit → Commissions

Each product needs commissions enabled as well as one or more vendors added to the product’s commission settings. See Configuring Vendor Rates for details on these settings.

3. Email Notifications

By default, vendors will be notified via email for each sale of a product they are receiving a commission on. This can be disabled or customized under Downloads > Emails. See the email settings for details on editing emails.

It’s recommended only one email is enabled, not both. Have both enabled will cause duplicate emails.

Commission Earned: Sends email on a per-commission basis

Commission Earned on Order: Sends all commissions earned in a single email. This prevents duplicate emails if someone earns multiple commissions from a single order.

Default Email:

4. Export and pay vendors

On a regular basis (monthly is suggested), export your commissions report and pay your users. See Exporting and Paying vendors for details on this process.

(Optional) Vendor Commissions Page

The [edd_commissions] shortcode can be used to allow vendors to view commissions and export their commission data. See Vendor Commissions Page for details.

The post Commissions – Setup & Overview first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.

There are currently two recommend methods for handling payouts:

1. Manual Payouts

This could be in the form of a check, cash, any online payment platform (Venmo, CashApp, Facebook, etc.), or PayPal.

2. PayPal Payouts

PayPal Payouts allows you to pay vendors in bulk via PayPal using a CSV file generated by EDD Commissions.

Your PayPal account must be approved for Payouts by PayPal before it will work with your account. See these prerequisites to get PayPal Payouts configured.

Vendor PayPal Email

By default, the Commissions extension will use the email associated with a user’s WordPress account as their PayPal email. If you need to change the email used to pay a user (because their account address is different than their payment address), go to that user’s profile in the WordPress admin, scroll to the bottom, and enter their email in the field titled “User’s PayPal Email”.

Downloading Your Payout File

On the Commissions screen at Downloads → Commissions, there is a button in the top left that says Generate Payout File.

Clicking this option will open a small form, allowing you to select a date range as well as a minimum balance vendors must have to be included in this payout. For example, it may not be worthwhile to pay vendors until they’ve accumulated a balance of more than $1.00. The Minimum field accepts only integers (1 not 1.50 for example).

Once you click Generate File you’ll be asked to download a .csv file containing the PayPal emails and amounts for all commissions.

The .csv file will look something like this:

Once the CSV is downloaded, it’s configured to immediately upload to PayPal Payouts or it can be used for for any other method you prefer.

Submitting PayPal Payouts

See Send payouts from Payouts Web for instructions on how to use the CSV payout file with PayPal Payouts.

The post Commissions – Payouts first appeared on Easy Digital Downloads.