Enter your deal and get a recommendation, plus all five structures side by side so you can see what the pick costs versus the alternatives.
Clients stay about two years. Step-down pays well in year one, rewards retention in year two, then stops. Payouts on this deal range from $4,800 (flat fee) to $9,000 (step-down).
One-time payment of 8% of first-year value
10% of first-year collected revenue
7% of collected revenue for the client lifetime
10% on first $50k, 7% next $50k, 5% above $100k
10% year one, 5% year two, 0% after
Simplest to administer. Best when deals are similar in size and you want predictable partner costs. Risk: overpays on small deals, underpays on large ones.
The convention for professional services. Caps your exposure at one year of revenue and aligns the partner’s incentive with deal size. The referral fee calculator shows where your deal falls in the published ranges.
Rewards partners for sending clients who stay. Best for MSPs and SaaS where monthly revenue continues. Higher total payout, but spread over time and only on cash collected.
Tiered rates reward larger deals; step-downs reward longer retention without paying forever. More complex to administer manually, which is why automated fee plans exist.
Each tool answers a different question. Start with the one that matches where you are right now.
"What’s a fair fee for this deal?"
Four inputs, a defensible dollar range. Start here if you’re negotiating a specific referral.
"When do I actually pay?"
Month-by-month view of accruals, payouts, and clawback exposure. Use after you’ve picked a structure.
"What goes in the contract?"
A one-page template with fill-in brackets. Use the fee and structure you chose above.
"What does this look like from the partner’s side?"
Show partners projected annual earnings before they commit.
Structure conventions from Sakas & Company, Elinkages, Consulting Success, and Promethean Research. See the referral fee benchmarks for verified ranges by industry.
Recurring percentage over a long client lifetime. But total payout isn’t the only consideration. A structure that pays more also costs more, and the best choice balances partner motivation with your margin.
Yes. Many firms use a flat fee for small introductions and a percentage for larger deals, or a percentage that steps down after year one. The fee plan builder supports all of these.
Percentage-based structures handle variance better than flat fees. Tiered rates specifically address this by adjusting the rate as deal size grows.
This tool is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and published industry conventions. Consult a qualified professional before making compensation decisions.