With each new program that your Affiliates join, their loyalty and commitment to you fades. It is between the Network and the Affiliate. Through this relationship, the Netowork is able to refer it's Affiliates to you and other merchants. No matter which Affiliate solution you choose, there are going to be costs involved with setting it up and running it. Most solution providers charge a setup fee ranging anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Most providers also charge a monthly fee or an annual fee for support, maintenance and data hosting.
This fee is a set percentage of the commission amount you pay Affiliates. Now, check writing may seem like a nice, convienient service. You don't have to write the checks out, put a stamp on them and drop them in the mailbox. You could pay your Administrative Assistant, Secretary, or Intern to stay a few extra hours to assist in writing and sending the checks out and save yourself hundreds of dollars. You also need to consider that since the network is writing the checks, you may be required to keep a minimum balance or reserve in an account with them that they can use to pay the Affiliates and themselves.