Guide
How to Sign a Referral Agreement Online
Referral agreements define commission structures for business referrals.
Steps
- 1
Draft referral terms with commission structure
- 2
Send to referral partner
- 3
Partner reviews and signs electronically
- 4
Both parties receive signed agreement
- 5
Clear record of agreed commission terms
Try it with curl
curl -X POST https://signb.ee/api/send \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"content": "# Your Document\n\nContent here...",
"senderName": "Your Name",
"senderEmail": "you@email.com",
"recipientName": "Recipient",
"recipientEmail": "recipient@email.com"
}'Legal validity
Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (US), eIDAS Regulation (EU), and Electronic Communications Act (UK). Every Signbee document includes a SHA-256 tamper-proof certificate.
More details
Referral agreements are essential for any business that pays commissions for introductions. Without a signed agreement, disputes over who referred whom and what percentage is owed become impossible to resolve.
What to include in a referral agreement: - Definition of a qualifying referral (what counts?) - Commission percentage or flat fee per referral - Payment trigger (when the referred client signs, pays, or reaches a milestone) - Payment timeline (net-30, quarterly, upon collection) - Duration of the agreement and renewal terms - Exclusivity provisions (if any) - Non-circumvention clause (preventing the referrer from being cut out) - Termination conditions and post-termination commissions
Common commission structures: - Percentage of first deal: 5-20% depending on industry - Recurring commission: Monthly percentage for the life of the client - Flat fee: Fixed amount per qualified referral - Tiered: Higher percentages for higher-value referrals
The signed agreement should clearly document which structure applies. The SHA-256 certificate proves the exact terms agreed to, preventing disputes months later when commissions are due.
Frequently asked questions
What commission percentage is standard for referral agreements?
It varies by industry. SaaS referrals typically pay 10-20% of the first year's revenue. Professional services pay 5-15% of the first engagement. Real estate referrals are typically 20-25% of the agent's commission.
Can referral agreements be signed electronically?
Yes. Referral agreements are standard business contracts and are fully valid with electronic signatures under ESIGN, eIDAS, and ECA.
Related resources
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