Excerpted from Our Recognized Expert Referral Fee Agreement

Recognized Expert Recommendations: In order to become a Recognized Expert at The Center, a prospective Recognized Expert must be specifically recommended by an existing Recognized Expert or Principal Advisor who vouches for the professionalism and integrity of the prospective Recognized Expert.  

Primary Service Expertise: Recognized Expert and The Center agree that, while Recognized Expert may offer a variety of products and/or services from their business, Recognized Expert will be represented on The Center’s website as offering one primary product or service line and up to one secondary line, unless otherwise agreed.

Sales Referrals from The Center to Recognized Expert: Commencing as of the Effective Date of this Agreement and continuing in effect until this Agreement is terminated by either party, The Center may, from time to time, and in its sole and absolute discretion, make “Sales Referrals” to Recognized Expert of certain clients (“Referred Clients”). “Sales Referrals” are introductions of Referred Clients from The Center to Recognized Expert. Unless otherwise agreed, The Center will not cultivate, negotiate, close, or otherwise be involved in the sale of Recognized Expert’s services to Referred Clients. Nor will The Center perform any work relating to the services that Recognized Expert provides to Referred Clients. Except as with a Managed Referral below, Recognized Expert will own the client relationship with Referred Clients for the work Recognized Expert does.   

“The Center’s Outright Referral”: The Center has no continued contact with the Referred Client regarding Recognized Expert’s services after The Center has referred the client. Recognized Expert owns the client relationship with respect to the specific services for which The Center referred Referred Client to Recognized Expert’s and for which services Recognized Expert performs. 

“The Center’s Managed Referral”: The Center has an existing and/or ongoing relationship with the Referred Client and stays connected with the Referred Client and Recognized Expert for occasional calls or meetings to manage and facilitate the relationship between the Referred Client and Recognized Expert. Recognized Expert agrees to not solicit Referred Client for business, for itself or others, outside of the scope of service originally referred without the written permission of The Center. The Center owns the client relationship. 

Compensation for Sales Referrals: Subject to The Center’s compliance with the remaining provisions of this Agreement in each case, and subject to Recognized Expert’s acceptance of such Referred Clients, Recognized Expert agrees to compensate The Center as follows: 

• For The Center’s Outright Referrals, 10% of the contract value between Recognized Expert and Referred Client for the first year of services Recognized Expert provides to Referred Client. Recognized Expert shall provide evidence to The Center of the contract value between Recognized Expert and Referred Client at the time the contract is executed and shall pay the referral fee within 30 days of the date on which Recognized Expert first receives revenue from Referred Client. If the contract value is paid to Principal Advisor in installments, Principal Advisor shall likewise pay The Center’s referral fee in pro-rated installments.  
• For The Center’s Managed Referrals, Recognized Expert agrees to pay The Center a commission on Recognized Expert’s revenue received from Referred Client for three (3) years beginning from the date on which Recognized Expert first receives revenue from Referred Client. The commission shall be 15% for the first year, 10% for the second year and 5% for the third year calculated as follows: 
• For the purposes of calculating the compensation, Recognized Expert’s revenue includes fees that Referred Client pays for Recognized Expert’s direct service to Referred Client. No commission shall be paid on Referred Client’s reimbursements to Recognized Expert for third-party fees or expenses (e.g. stock photography, software, travel, etc.). Recognized Expert shall provide evidence to The Center of the contract value between Recognized Expert and Referred Client at the time the contract is executed and shall report Sales Referral revenue and pay commissions to The Center by the 20th day of each month for the previous month’s revenue. 

Referrals from Recognized Expert to The Center: In the event Recognized Expert’s clients and prospects have business needs beyond the scope of Recognized Expert’s expertise or interest, Recognized Expert agrees to, when reasonable and appropriate, refer Recognized Expert’s clients and prospects to The Center to help meet their needs. Recognized Expert may also refer other potential Recognized Experts to the Center. For such client, prospect or other potential Recognized Expert referrals (each considered a “Recognized Expert Referral”), the Parties agree as follows:  

“Recognized Expert’s Outright Referral”: Recognized Expert has no continued contact with the Recognized Expert Referral regarding The Center’s services after Recognized Expert has referred the Recognized Expert Referral. The Center owns the client relationship with respect to The Center’s services for which Recognized Expert referred Recognized Expert Referral to The Center and for which services The Center Performs. 

“Recognized Expert’s Managed Referral”: Recognized Expert has an existing and/or ongoing relationship with the Recognized Expert Referral and stays connected with the Recognized Expert Referral and The Center for occasional calls or meetings to manage and facilitate the relationship between the Recognized Expert Referral and The Center. The Center may solicit Recognized Expert Referral for business, for itself or others, outside of the scope of service Recognized Expert provides. Recognized Expert and The Center jointly own the client relationship. 

Compensation for Sales Referrals: Subject to Recognized Expert’s compliance with the remaining provisions of this Agreement in each case, and subject to The Center’s acceptance of such Recognized Expert Referral, The Center agrees to compensate Recognized Expert as follows: 

• For Recognized Expert’s Outright Referrals, 10% of the contract value between The Center and Recognized Expert Referral for the first year of services The Center provides to Recognized Expert Referral. The Center shall provide evidence to Recognized Expert of the contract value between The Center and Recognized Expert Referral at the time the contract is executed and pay the referral fee within 30 days of the date on which The Center first receives revenue from Recognized Expert Referral. 
• For Recognized Expert’s Managed Referrals, The Center agrees to pay Recognized Expert a commission on The Center’s revenue received from Recognized Expert Referral for three (3) years beginning from the date on which The Center first receives revenue from Recognized Expert Referral. The commission shall be 15% for the first year, 10% for the second year and 5% for the third year calculated as follows: 
• For the purposes of calculating the compensation, The Center’s revenue includes fees that Referred Client pays for The Center’s direct service to Referred Client. No commission shall be paid on Referred Client’s reimbursements to Recognized Expert for third-party fees or expenses (e.g. stock photography, software, travel, etc.). The Center shall provide evidence to Recognized Expert of the contract value between The Center and Recognized Expert Referral at the time the contract is executed and report Sales Referral revenue and pay commissions to Recognized Expert by the 20th day of each month for the previous month’s revenue. 

Industry Information-Sharing: Recognized Expert agrees to periodically provide The Center with nonprofit industry information developed by Recognized Expert such as blogs, articles, presentations, videos, webinars, social channels and other resources related to the industry for The Center to post or link to on The Center’s website and/or other places as mutually agreed-upon between The Center and Recognized Expert. The Center agrees to attribute such information to Recognized Expert to help promote Recognized Expert’s business. 

Duration of Agreement: The duration of this agreement is for one year and will automatically renew for additional one-year periods unless notified by either party in writing 30 days prior to the expiration of the term. 

Termination: This Agreement may be terminated by either party, with or without cause, with 30-days prior written notice.

For more information and a confidential conversation about how you can become a Recognized Expert, please contact us.