Understanding Our Referral Fee Program

When you bring us a financial services opportunity—whether a money transmitter seeking licensing support, a payments platform needing compliance infrastructure, or a correspondent bank relationship requiring negotiation—our referral fee model is designed to align our success with yours. We charge based on the value we deliver at each stage of the relationship.

The Three-Milestone Model

Our referral fees are structured around three key milestones in a typical engagement:

Milestone 1 (25%): At the time you sign a referral agreement with us and commit to our introduction or deal-making services.
Milestone 2 (25%): At due diligence completion—when the partner (bank, platform, service provider, etc.) has conducted their investigation into your company and approved you to move forward.
Milestone 3 (50%): Upon signing the final commercial agreement (banking relationship, platform access, service contract, etc.).

This structure reflects the reality that value is created progressively: an introduction has value, but a vetted and approved relationship has significantly more value. We invest our time and reputation upfront, but our largest fee component is earned only when the relationship is fully executed.

How Payment Works in Practice

Let's walk through a real example with a hypothetical engagement fee of $18,000:

Day 1 (Referral Agreement): You pay 50% ($9,000) as an advance to secure our commitment and begin introductions. This is a non-refundable application and processing fee; we're vetting your company and identifying partners.
Due Diligence Approval: When your partner completes their review and green-lights you, the first refundable milestone (25%) is due. In this example, $4,500. If you choose not to proceed with the partner before this stage, the $9,000 advance is not refunded, but this second payment is not owed.
Contract Signing: Once the final commercial agreement is signed, the final 50% ($9,000) is due. This is fully earned because the engagement is complete and you've received the full value of our relationship and expertise.

Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Fees

The distinction matters:

Non-refundable fees cover our initial assessment, due diligence on your company, partner research, and relationship development. If you don't move forward, these costs are borne by us.
Refundable fees (Milestones 2 and 3) are earned only if you complete the relationship. If a deal falls through after you've paid Milestone 1 but before Milestone 2, we credit those fees against future engagements with us or return them at our discretion.

Package Upgrade Option

If you've engaged us on a smaller referral and want to expand to a larger scope—say, adding international correspondent relationships after securing your primary domestic relationship—you can upgrade to a larger package within one year. You'll pay only the difference in fees, with full credit for what you've already invested.

Alternative: The Global Advisory Program (GAP)

Our referral fee program works well for discrete transactions and introductions. However, if you're building a financial services business with ongoing need for multiple relationships, expert guidance, and scalable access to our network, consider our Global Advisory Program (GAP). GAP is an annual retainer that provides unlimited access to our introductions, negotiation support, and strategic advice—often a better value if you're pursuing multiple licensing jurisdictions or banking relationships.

Get Started

Ready to engage our referral network? Contact us with details about the opportunity you'd like to explore. We'll discuss the scope, provide a detailed fee proposal, and outline the timeline for moving forward.