For businesses · 5 min read
How referral commission works for Nigerian B2B firms
What a fair referral commission looks like, when it should be paid, and how to write terms nobody can argue about later.
Why referrals beat cold outreach
Most B2B deals in Nigeria start with a recommendation. A client trusts an accountant, a lawyer or a former colleague more than any advert. Referrals are the cheapest, most trusted sales a business can make, yet most firms leave them to chance: a thank-you, maybe a gift at Christmas, and no record of who sent what.
A referral commission turns that goodwill into a simple deal: you pay the person who opened the door only when the client pays you. No retainer, no salary, no guesswork.
Flat fee or percentage?
A flat fee (for example ₦50,000 per signed client) works when your deals are similar in size. It is easy to explain and easy to budget.
A percentage of the first payment works when deal sizes vary widely. Set a cap so one very large deal doesn't cost more than you planned.
Whichever you choose, write it down before the first introduction and keep it the same for everyone on the same programme.
When to pay
Pay after the client has paid you, not when they sign. That protects your cash flow and removes arguments about clients who sign and never pay.
Say how long the introduction counts. A protection window, such as six months from when you accept the introduction, means the introducer still gets paid if the client takes a few months to decide.
Terms that prevent disputes
Most referral arguments come from three questions: was this client already ours, did the introducer actually speak to them, and what exactly was promised? Good terms answer all three in writing.
On Vouchd the client confirms the introduction themselves, your existing clients are protected from being claimed, and the commission terms are locked onto each introduction the moment it is registered.
Fewer salespeople, more reach.
Free for the first 30 days after approval.