If you work as a virtual assistant for clients in the US, Australia or Europe, you already earn in dollars. So it makes sense to look for side income that also pays in USD, ideally from the same kind of clients you already serve. The problem: many "dollar-paying" affiliate programs are hard to cash out from the Philippines, take months to pay, or quietly require a big audience.
This guide gives you a checklist, then shows how one free program built with Filipino VAs in mind answers each point.
Disclosure: this article is published by Tuncer Technologies OPC (Davao City), which operates the partner program we recommend below. Use the checklist on any program, including ours.
The USD affiliate checklist for Filipino VAs
1. Can you actually receive the money in the Philippines?
Before anything else, look at the payout methods. Some programs only pay to a US bank account or a US tax form you cannot complete. Look for PayPal or international bank transfer, and ideally a peso option such as GCash or Maya for when you want pesos.
2. What is the minimum payout?
A USD 100 threshold is a long wait when each commission is small. A lower threshold means your money moves sooner.
3. How long is the hold?
Almost every honest program holds commission for a period so refunds can be handled. Thirty days is common. Be wary of programs that never say when you will be paid.
4. Is the commission on price or on NET?
"Up to X% of NET" and "X% of the sale price" are different numbers. NET is what the company actually receives after refunds, payment fees, taxes and direct costs. Neither is wrong; just compare like with like.
5. Does it pay once or keep paying?
One-time commission ends at the sale. Recurring commission (on hosting or subscriptions, for example) pays again when the customer pays again, within the program's window.
6. Does it fit your VA contract?
Many VA and agency contracts limit side work or recommendations to clients. Read yours first. If in doubt, ask your client or agency directly.
7. Are the rules public?
You should be able to read the terms, the disclosure rules and how income is reported before you sign up.
How the Tuncer Technologies partner program answers the checklist
Payouts from the Philippines. Choose PayPal, bank transfer, GCash or Maya in your dashboard. Transfer fees, where they apply, are deducted from the payout. If you want dollars to stay dollars, PayPal or a bank account that accepts USD is the simpler route.
Currency. The program keeps commission in the currency of the sale: a USD sale gives a USD commission, a peso sale gives a peso commission. Your clients abroad see their own local price at checkout.
Threshold and hold. Commission is pending for 30 days after the customer pays, then approved and paid weekly once your approved balance is at least USD 25 or ₱1,000.
Rates, always on NET. From the program's public rules:
- Web hosting: up to 25% of NET on each payment for 12 months (recurring).
- Website packages (Starter Online USD 229, Business Ready USD 449, Business Pro USD 749): up to 15% of NET on each paid invoice.
- Website, app and business email setup services: up to 10% of NET on each paid invoice.
- Premium domains (.co, .io …): up to 20% of NET.
Monthly tiers add +3 to +10 points when you refer more NET in a calendar month, with a hard cap of 25% of NET per sale.
What you sell. A catalogue of 130+ products from tuncertech.com: websites, online stores, booking sites, hosting, business email, app packages, AI automation, maintenance and more. You make the introduction; Tuncer Technologies does the work.
Public rules. The Partner Terms, disclosure guide and income disclosure are open to read before you join.
Why VAs are in a good position
You see your clients' businesses from the inside. You notice the contact form that has been broken for weeks, the domain that expires next month, the team still sending invoices from a free Gmail address. A referral is a well-informed suggestion, not a cold pitch.
Some practical ways VAs use the program:
- Send a free website check. Your dashboard can build a tracked link to the free website check at tuncertech.com, a polite way to start the conversation.
- Send a payment link. If a client says "just send me something I can pay", create a payment link for the right package in your dashboard. The sale is credited to you.
- Use ready client messages. The Content Studio at /dashboard/studio (log in first) has short client messages with your link and a commission disclosure already filled in.
Example only: the maths in dollars
Example only, with made-up numbers. If a website project invoice for a US client leaves a NET of USD 1,000, up to 10% is up to USD 100. If a year of hosting leaves a NET of USD 100, up to 25% is up to USD 25, and the share repeats if they pay again within 12 months. These are illustrations, not a forecast. Many partners earn nothing. See the income disclosure.
Taxes and paperwork
Commission is income. In the Philippines, self-employed and freelance income is generally taxable, and you may need to register with the BIR. Rules change and every situation is different, so ask an accountant rather than relying on a blog post, including this one.
How to start
- Sign up free with your email or one tap with Google. You must be 18 or older.
- Read the page for VAs and BPO pros for the products that fit overseas clients.
- Add your payout method (PayPal, bank, GCash or Maya).
- See every product and how it pays on Ways to earn.
- When a client actually needs a website, hosting or email, share your link and tell them plainly you may earn a commission.
Related reading: virtual assistant side income in the Philippines and high-ticket affiliate programs for freelancers.
FAQ
Does this program pay in US dollars?
Commission stays in the currency of the sale. A USD sale gives you a USD commission, paid once your approved USD balance reaches USD 25. Peso sales are paid in pesos once you reach ₱1,000.
Can I receive USD commission through GCash?
GCash and Maya are payout options, alongside PayPal and bank transfer. Transfer fees, where they apply, are deducted. If you want to keep dollars as dollars, choose PayPal or a USD-capable bank account.
Do I need a big audience?
No. There is no follower minimum. Most VAs refer the clients and contacts they already work with, and only customers who pay count.
Will my client pay more because I referred them?
No. Your commission comes out of the company's share of the NET. The customer pays the normal list price. On social media, add #ad to posts with your link; in direct messages, simply say you may earn a commission.