honestly, this is one of those setups that sounds too good to be true until you actually see it work. you're right about not paying upfront - the risk is basically zero, which is the whole appeal for most people starting out.
Commission rates for digital stuff usually sit around 30-50%. Anything less and you'll struggle to get decent affiliates interested. Don't lowball it - the good ones know their worth.
The real trick is pairing the product with the right audience. for hypnosis audios, you want people in wellness, meditation, sleep or anxiety spaces who already have an engaged following. A single strong affiliate in the right niche can outperform fifty random ones without breaking a sweat.
earnings? All over the place. one month you might see nothing, the next a single partner brings in more than you expected. quality over quantity, every time.