We asked ten experienced affiliates and affiliate managers one question: How do you handle negative carryover in deal negotiations? Here are their answers, lightly edited for clarity.
"It's a dealbreaker unless the EPC is exceptional"
— Super-affiliate, UK casino niche, 8 years
"I stopped accepting negative carryover on RevShare deals about three years ago. The math just doesn't work when one bad month can wipe out six good ones. My rule: if the program won't do a monthly reset, I ask for hybrid CPA+RevShare at a lower RevShare rate. Most will negotiate."
"Ask for a carryover cap, not a full waiver"
— Affiliate manager, tier-1 operator
"From the operator side, a full waiver is a hard no — it creates moral hazard. But a cap at 3x your average monthly commission? We'll do that. Affiliates never ask for it, but it's almost always available."
"New programs are more flexible"
— Affiliate, crypto niche
"Newer programs desperate for volume will drop negative carryover in the first conversation. Established brands won't budge. Know which you're dealing with before you start negotiating."
"Document everything"
— Affiliate lawyer and consultant
"Whatever you agree — monthly reset, cap, waiver — get it in writing in the IO. Verbal confirmations from affiliate managers mean nothing when the manager leaves the company."
What to actually ask for
- Monthly reset (carryover zeroes each calendar month)
- Carryover cap (e.g. maximum 2x monthly average commission)
- Hybrid CPA+RevShare where negative carryover only applies to the RevShare component
- Written confirmation in your insertion order, not just email