Business introduction fees: agree the terms first

An introduction is not automatically a payable instruction

A contact, a lead submission and an accepted fee agreement are different things. Before disclosing a private opportunity, agree who appoints you and who will pay. Confirm that the proposed payer has authority to accept the obligation. Do not assume that a buyer’s budget contains an introduction fee.

Write down the commercial mechanics

Record exactly which opportunity is covered and what counts as a successful introduction. Address prior relationships, repeat transactions, co-brokers and conflicts. Make the payment trigger measurable rather than relying on a broad promise to “look after you”.

• Fee basis, currency and any VAT treatment.
• Who pays and when payment becomes due.
• Evidence of the introduction and exclusions for existing contacts.
• Duration, fee sharing and dispute process.

Keep permission and confidentiality separate

Ask permission before sharing a person’s private details or business documents. An introduction record in EBITDA Market is a timestamped account record. It is not a counterparty-signed agreement or automatic protection against circumvention. Keep the actual signed terms and correspondence separately.

Check regulated boundaries

Introductions concerning investments, lending or other financial arrangements may fall within regulated activities. The FCA discusses introducing exclusions, but they are fact-specific. Do not rely on calling a service an introduction to avoid obligations. Check the intended activity with a qualified adviser and the relevant firm’s permissions.