2- or 3-level depth
Configure exactly how deep your tree goes. Most programs run 2 levels (direct + indirect); influencer / agency programs sometimes go 3.
Multi-tier commissions
Pay people for the people they bring in.
Multi-tier (sometimes called MLM-style) lets a level-1 affiliate earn a smaller cut on the affiliates they recruit. HeldSway supports 2- and 3-level structures with per-level rates, caps, and rule overrides — without forcing you onto a custom plan.
- 2- or 3-level depth
- Per-level rates
- Override caps to prevent runaway costs
Why this matters
Most platforms gate multi-tier behind their priciest plan.
- You want a 10% / 3% / 1% structure to incentivize recruitment, but the platform charges $249/month to enable it.
- When you do enable it, the calculations are opaque — you cannot tell who earned what at which level.
- Caps and brakes are missing, so a runaway viral moment turns into a 6-figure commission liability you cannot pay.
- Affiliates do not trust the math because the only "audit trail" is a CSV export with no rule trace.
How it works in HeldSway
Multi-tier with the brakes built in.
Per-level commission rates
Level 1: 10% on direct sales. Level 2: 3% on the recruits' sales. Level 3: 1%. Configure each rate independently, in flat or percentage terms.
Override caps
Cap the total payout per conversion (e.g. "no more than 18% across all levels combined"). Prevents stacked rules from eating your margin in a viral spike.
Per-conversion rule trace
Every conversion shows the full attribution path: which affiliate referred whom, what each tier earned, and which rules fired. Exportable for affiliate disputes.
Recruitment links
Each affiliate gets a unique signup URL for recruiting downstream partners. HeldSway tracks the recruitment graph automatically — no manual mapping.
Tier visibility in portal
Affiliates see their own downstream tree, including who they recruited and what those partners are earning the upline. Drives engagement honestly.
How it works
Going multi-tier without going off the rails.
- 01
Define the structure
Pick your depth (2 or 3 levels) and the rate at each level. Set a per-conversion cap so multi-tier never exceeds your unit economics.
- 02
Hand out recruitment links
Each existing affiliate gets a recruitment URL in their portal. Anyone who signs up via that link is auto-attributed to them as a level-1 recruit.
- 03
Watch the tree grow
HeldSway visualizes your tree, attributes every conversion to the correct levels, and pays everyone on the same schedule as the rest of the program.
More from HeldSway
Pairs naturally with
Reward recruitment without losing control.
Spin up a free trial, configure a 2- or 3-level structure with caps, and run a test conversion to see the rule trace.