Client Referral Program

What is a referral?

If you provide me with the name of a person, or induce a person to call me, such that my conversations with that person lead to a contract, you'll receive a referral fee, subject to the additional rules below.

When a fee may not be paid

Professional recruiters. The fee will not be paid if the contact person is a professional recruiter or if you are a professional recruiter, unless there is no other recruiting fee involved.  Recruiting bonuses issued to employees from client companies, however, do not affect the fee.

Not a specific individual. The fee will not be paid if the referral is simply the name of a company or a job title (e.g. VP Software) within a company. The referral must be a specific person.

Existing client. The fee will not be paid if the contract is with a current or previous client, although if the contracting party is sufficiently different (e.g. a different department within an existing client) or if the referral is sufficiently important (e.g. a strong personal reference) then the fee will still apply.

Existing prospect. The fee will not be paid if the person is someone I knew or had already contacted, although if the referral is sufficiently important, for example, it helped turn an uninterested prospect into a client, the fee will still apply.

Not hiring manager. To prevent a conflict of interest, I can't pay a fee if you are the hiring manager.

When a fee is paid

A fee is always paid if I judge the referral to be important, regardless of the above restrictions, so long as it doesn't violate the law or the policy of the hiring company.

The person does not have to be the one with whom I eventually obtain the contract so long as the referral was a material lead.

There is no limit between the time of the referral and the time the contract is signed. If you make a referral that leads to a contract years later, the fee will still apply.

Amount of the Fee

The fee is a one-time payment of 10% of the gross revenue of all contracts with that client, up to a total payment of $1000. Since contracts are rarely less than $10,000, the typical fee will be $1000.

Two or More Qualifying Parties

If two or more people assist in referring me to a single client, the fee will be split evenly.

Effective Date

This program has been in effect since January 1, 1996.

Legal and Contractual Restrictions

Unfortunately, the fee cannot be paid if any laws prohibit it or if rules within the client company prohibit it.

In the Event of a Dispute

If there is any dispute over a fee, I will be the sole arbiter, subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It's in my best interest, however, to pay the fee if there is any doubt.