CPA networks, like affiliate networks, recruit affiliates by offering comprehensive access to merchants and other services. These affiliates, or publishers, provide lead generation of prospective customers for the online merchants, and in exchange are compensated through a cost per action commission that varies depending on the value of the transaction. The lines of communication and means of recompense for the publisher’s lead generation are routed through the CPA network, for simplicity and efficiency. The CPA network may receive a portion of the commission the publisher earns for the lead generation, in which case the CPA network is also compensated on a cost per action basis, or they may collect a fee from the merchant in exchange for access to the CPA network’s large quantity of affiliate partners.