Payments overview
Roster offers flexible payment options to help brands efficiently compensate their ambassadors for referral commissions. Whether you need fully automated payments, direct PayPal integration, or the flexibility to use your own payment systems, Roster provides the tools to calculate, track, and manage commission payments at any scale.
Overview
This guide introduces Roster's payment capabilities and helps you understand which payment method best fits your brand's needs. Whether you're just getting started with ambassador payments or looking to optimize your existing process, you'll find the information you need to make an informed decision.
Payment Options in Roster
Roster provides three distinct payment methods, each designed for different brand needs and workflows:
1. Automated Payments
Best for: Serious brands who want fully automated, scheduled payments with zero manual intervention.
Key Features:
- Fully automated scheduling and processing
- Secture payment wallets for ambassadors
- Automatic ACH transfers from your bank account
- Real-time payment status tracking
- Proactive ambassador notifications
- Built-in ambassador tax compliance (W-9/W-8BEN, 1099s)
Available on: Growth, Pro, and Enterprise plans
Learn more: Automated payments guideAutomated payments guide
2. PayPal & Venmo Payments
Best for: Brands who want to send payments directly from Roster with manual control over each batch, using PayPal's trusted infrastructure.
Key Features:
- Send payments without leaving Roster
- Support both PayPal and Venmo payout options
- Real-time payment status updates
- Batch processing for multiple ambassadors
- Manual control over when payments are sent
- Complete payment history in Roster
Available on: All Roster plans
Learn more: PayPal & Venmo guidePayPal & Venmo guide
3. External Payments
Best for: Brands who process payments through their own systems (ACH, store credit, Stripe, checks, etc.) and want Roster for commission calculation and tracking only.
Key Features:
- Use any payment platform or method
- Detailed CSV exports with all payment data
- No additional Roster platform fees
- Complete flexibility in payment timing and method
- Manual control over when payments are sent
- Complete payment history in Roster
Available on: All Roster plans
Learn more: External payments guideExternal payments guide
How Payments Work in Roster
Regardless of which payment method you choose, Roster provides a consistent foundation for commission management:
Commission Calculation
Automatic Commission Tracking:
- Roster calculates commissions automatically from referred orders
- Support for percentage, fixed, and tiered commission structures
- Custom commission overrides for specific ambassadors
- Flexible approval workflows (automatic or manual)
Commission Management:
- View all commissions by program, ambassador, or time period
- Approve or reject individual commissions
- Filter by status (pending, approved, paid)
- Set minimum payout thresholds
Payment Organization
Unsent Payments View:
- Aggregated view of all approved, unpaid commissions
- Filter by program, date range, minimum amount, or tags
- See total owed to each ambassador
- Drill down to individual commission details
Payment Batches:
- Organize payments into logical groups
- Unique batch IDs for tracking
- Export batch details for accounting
- Complete audit trail
Ambassador Portal Integration
Payment Visibility:
- Ambassadors see payment history in their portal
- View payment status and amounts
- See which referrals generated each payment
- Track earnings over time
Timeline Events:
- Payments automatically appear on ambassador timelines
- Visible to both brands and ambassadors
- Complete historical record
Key Differences Between Payment Methods
Feature | Automated Payments | PayPal & Venmo | External Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
Plan Availability | All plans | All plans | All plans |
Setup Complexity | Low | Medium | Low |
Manual Intervention | None after setup | Batch initiation required; reguarly fund PayPal account | Mark as sent + external processing |
Payment Platform | Roster | PayPal/Venmo accounts | Your choice |
Scheduling | Fully automated | Manual per batch | Manual per batch |
Status Tracking | Real-time | Real-time | Manual |
Fees | Per-payment fee; 1099 filing fee | PayPal per-transaction fees | Your platform's fees |
Ambassador Setup | Wallet setup required | PayPal/Venmo info required | Payment info per your method |
Pre-Funding | Automatic ACH transfer | Manual PayPal balance | Depends on your platform |
Payment Methods | Bank, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Pre-paid Visa, Amazon Gift Card | PayPal, Venmo | Any method you choose |
Choosing the Right Payment Method
The best payment method depends on your brand's size, plan, workflow preferences, and payment requirements.
Choose Automated Payments if you:
✅ Want to eliminate all manual payment processing ✅ Prefer predictable, scheduled payment cadences ✅ Have a large or growing ambassador base ✅ Want ambassadors to manage their own payment preferences ✅ Need built-in tax compliance (W-9/W-8BEN, 1099s) ✅ Value real-time payment status tracking ✅ Want to reduce operational overhead
Getting Started: Automated payments guide
Choose PayPal & Venmo Payments if you:
✅ Want to send payments directly from Roster ✅ Prefer manual control over each payment batch ✅ Have ambassadors who use PayPal or Venmo ✅ Need real-time payment status tracking ✅ Want integration without full automation ✅ Are comfortable with per-transaction fees ✅ Don't mind pre-funding PayPal balance
Getting Started: Send PayPal & Venmo paymentsPayPal & Venmo payments guide
Choose External Payments if you:
✅ Have an existing payment platform you prefer ✅ Need payment methods not supported by Roster integrations ✅ Want Roster for commission calculation only ✅ Offer store credit, gift cards, or custom payment types ✅ Process through accounting or payroll systems ✅ Need international payment platforms (Wise, Payoneer, etc.) ✅ Want maximum flexibility in payment timing and method ✅ Prefer to avoid per-payment platform fees
Getting Started: External payments guideExternal payments guide
Need Help Choosing?
If you're still unsure which payment method is right for your brand, we're here to help. Reach out to your customer success manager or email us at [email protected]
We can review your specific needs, ambassador base size, payment preferences, and budget to recommend the best payment solution for your brand.
What's Next?
Reivew each of the three payment methods' guides to see which option is best for your brand.
- Automated payments guideAutomated payments guide
- PayPal & Venmo guide PayPal & Venmo guide
- External payments guideExternal payments guide