How do you do an affiliate program for a subscription based business where you don't know the LTV of the customer and don't have cash on hand to pay the affiliate up front?

The Life Time Value (LTV) of a customer is something you generally use for LOCAL marketing. For example, if I produce lead generation websites for a Dentist, I will need to help that dentist get to know more about his typical customer. What does the average client spent per year with the dentist. How often does the average customer visit the dentist? These kinds of metrics with help the dentist understand the Lifetime Value of that client. With that knowledge, as a marketer, I know what I can reasonably charge the dentist, for the leads I generate for him/her.Affiliate marketing is a little different. Your focus is on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), where you market for certain keywords, so that those LOOKING for what you are promoting, find YOUR webpage, where they can be turned into customers.Having said all that, you may need to get creative, in coming up with the money to pay subscription costs, but the advantage is that YOU don’t have to come up with products to promote. Your subscription gives you access to the products the affiliate company already has.I hope that helps!