When 23-year-old accounting student Tolga in Gaziantep, Turkey asked ChatGPT "how much does 20% affiliate commission pay," the answer was "it depends." Tolga opened Excel and calculated the real number. This post shares his exact spreadsheet: dollars per month per cafe, Turkish lira equivalent, and the 10-cafe totals.
Commission Per Plan
thMenu Pro is $29/month, Platinum is $59/month. The cafe using your coupon gets a 5% Stripe discount (Pro $27.55, Platinum $56.05), but your commission is calculated on the pre-discount price: $5.80/month for Pro, $11.80/month for Platinum.
This is lifetime — paid every month as long as the cafe stays subscribed. Annual plans ($290 Pro, $590 Platinum) drip the $58 commission over 12 months at $4.83/mo, reducing refund risk.
10 Cafes = $75/Month: Tolga's Sheet
The math: 6 Pro monthly ($5.80 × 6 = $34.80), 3 Platinum monthly ($11.80 × 3 = $35.40), 1 Pro annual drip ($4.83). Total $75.03/month. Average per cafe ~$7.50 — that's the "10 × $7 = $70" figure in marketing copy.
At ~33.5 TRY per USD, that's roughly 2,513 TRY/month of passive income — ~30,000 TRY/year. You earn this whether you're studying, sleeping, or doing literally anything else.
What the Cafe Gets: The 5% Discount Logic
The cafe saves $1.45/month (Pro) or $2.95/month (Platinum) — roughly $17–$35/year. Your commission isn't taken from their pocket; it comes out of Stripe processor fees and thMenu's marketing budget.
This lets you pitch honestly: "you'll pay less, and I'll still make money." Tolga closed 7 of his first 10 cafes in week one because he looked owners in the eye saying exactly that sentence.
FAQ
How long does the commission last? Lifetime — every month the cafe stays subscribed. Refunds trigger a clawback for that month.
When do I get paid? After a 60-day hold, you can request payout. Manual bank transfer or Wise (USD or local currency).
What about taxes? In the US, you'll get a 1099-NEC if you earn $600+/year. Outside the US, treat it as self-employment income per local rules.
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