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Business & contracts 2 signers 3 pages 16 blanks to fill in

Referral Agreement Template

Reward partners and finders for introducing new clients — with clear rules on which referrals count, how much is paid, and when.

Use This Template — Free See the Agreement Signers don’t need an account
Referral agreement
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. VergeHR adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Referral agreement — page 1 of 3
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Referral agreement — page 2 of 3
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Use This Template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from VergeHR eSignature.

What is a referral agreement?

A referral agreement (or finder's fee agreement) sets the terms when someone outside your business sends you new clients: an accountant who recommends your IT services, a web designer who passes on hosting customers, a past client who becomes an informal ambassador, or a partner business serving the same market. Writing it down avoids the most common disputes — whether a client really came from the referrer, how the fee is worked out, and whether it's still owed after the relationship ends.

This template defines a qualifying referral: a written introduction of a client who wasn't already yours and who signs or pays within a protection period you set, with the first valid introduction winning if two referrers name the same client. You choose a percentage commission — on the first order or for a set number of months — or a fixed fee per client. It sets out monthly payment with a statement, no fee on unpaid or refunded amounts, a yearly right to check the numbers, honest conduct and disclosure rules for the referrer, independence and non-exclusivity, confidentiality, ending on notice, and fees surviving for referrals already made. Both parties sign and initial every page.

Best for
Referral partners, affiliates, finders and introducers
Signed by
Your company and the referrer
Fee
A percentage of what the client pays, or a fixed fee per client
Exclusive?
No — both sides may work with others
Length
2 pages, initialled on every page

When to Use a referral agreement

  • A service business paying partner firms for client introductions
  • An agency rewarding freelancers who pass on work they can't take
  • A software company running a simple referral partner programme
  • A consultant paying a finder's fee to a well-connected contact
  • Two complementary businesses referring clients to each other (sign one agreement each way)

What You Fill In

16 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: company, referrer.

1 The parties

  • Company (your business)*
  • Company address
  • Referrer (business or person)*
  • Referrer address

2 The referrals

  • Start date*
  • Products or services to refer clients for*
  • Territory or client type

3 The fee

  • How the referrer is paid* A percentage of what the client pays · A fixed fee per client
  • Currency*
  • Commission (%)
  • Commission paid for (months)
  • Fixed fee per client
  • Fee paid within (days) of the client paying*

4 Other terms

  • Referral stays valid for (months)*
  • Notice to end the agreement (days)*
  • Governing law*

5 Who signs

  • Company signature and date, job title, initials on every page
  • Referrer signature and date, job title, initials on every page

What the referral agreement Covers

  1. Referrals
  2. Qualifying referrals
  3. Referral fee
  4. Payment
  5. Conduct
  6. Independent parties
  7. Confidentiality
  8. Term and ending the agreement
  9. General

Using the referral agreement, step by step

1 Describe what referrals are for

List the products or services the referrer earns a fee for, and optionally limit referrals to a territory or client type — for example "restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area".

2 Choose the fee

Pick a percentage of what the client pays and set the commission period in months (leave it empty to pay on the first order only), or pick a fixed fee per client. Set how many days after the end of the month the fee is paid.

3 Set the protection period

Choose how long a referral stays valid. If the introduced client signs or first pays within that many months of the written introduction, the referrer earns the fee.

4 Add notice and governing law, then send

Set the notice period for ending the agreement and the governing law. Send it to the referrer; VergeHR places both signature, job-title and initials boxes and files the signed copy in Files.

Tips Before You Send It

  • Ask referrers to introduce clients by email, copying you — the agreement requires a written introduction, and email gives you a timestamp.
  • Reply to each introduction within 10 days to confirm whether you accept it as new, as the agreement expects.
  • Some industries restrict paying referral fees, or require them to be disclosed to the client — for example in regulated financial, legal, healthcare and property services. Check before you agree to pay.
  • Keep your fee calculations simple and send a statement with each payment. It heads off most disputes.
  • If the referrer will actively sell for you, a sales representative or reseller agreement may fit better.

Sign It Online In Minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. VergeHR builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in Files and emailed to everyone.
Use the referral agreement Template — It’s Free

Referral agreement: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a referral agreement and a sales agent agreement?

A referrer only makes introductions and is paid when a client comes through. A sales agent or representative usually actively sells, may have targets, and sometimes negotiates for the business. This template does not let the referrer make promises, quote prices or sign anything for you.

Is the referrer still paid after the agreement ends?

Yes, for clients introduced before it ended, provided the referral still qualifies — for example the client signs or first pays within the protection period — and the fee is worked out in the normal way. The exception is where the agreement was ended because the referrer seriously breached the conduct section.

What if two people refer the same client?

Only the first valid written introduction qualifies. A client who was already yours, or already in active discussions with you, doesn't qualify at all.

Is a referral agreement signed electronically valid?

In the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, electronic signatures are generally valid for ordinary commercial contracts like this one. VergeHR keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF.

Can I change the wording?

You fill in the parties, products, territory, fee, periods and governing law. If you need different clauses, draft your own agreement and upload it to VergeHR eSignature; you can still place the signature boxes in the editor.

Is this template free?

Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in VergeHR. The referrer doesn't need a VergeHR login to sign.

Use This Template — Free