A finder's fee agreement needs ten clauses: the parties; what counts as an introduction; the fee and the base it is calculated on; when the fee is earned; when it is paid; how long the introduction is protected; what happens if two people introduce the same company; non-circumvention; disclosure to the client and professional limits; and termination. The template below states each in plain English. Download it, fill the brackets and have a lawyer review it for your state.
- Define the fee base precisely: deal value, the payment to the company, or the payer's own fee.
- Say when the fee is earned (signature, delivery, payment) and when it is paid.
- Date every introduction and set a protection period.
- Disclose the fee to the client, and carve out anyone whose rules bar it.
The ten clauses, in plain English
Fill each bracket. The wording is a starting point, not legal advice.
| Clause | What it should say |
|---|---|
| 1. Parties | [Payer] and [Finder], with legal names and addresses. Say whether the finder acts personally or through a firm. |
| 2. Introduction | An introduction is a written registration naming the company and a contact, made with the company's agreement, before the payer was already in contact with it. |
| 3. Fee and base | The fee is [X]% of [the deal value / the amount paid to the company / the fee the payer receives], up to [cap] per company. Excludes taxes and reimbursed expenses. |
| 4. When it is earned | The fee is earned only when [the company signs / delivers / is paid] and the payer has received payment. |
| 5. When it is paid | Within [30] days after each payment the payer receives, with a statement of the amount received. |
| 6. Protection period | An introduction is protected for [12] months from registration, and for any deal signed in that period. |
| 7. Competing introductions | The first dated registration wins. The payer tells the finder promptly if the company was already known, with the date of the earlier contact. |
| 8. Non-circumvention | The payer will not contact the company to avoid the fee or ask anyone else to. |
| 9. Disclosure and limits | The finder discloses the fee to the company. No fee is paid where law or professional rules bar it (for example to a bankruptcy trustee or an auditor of the company); the finder may decline the fee. |
| 10. Term and termination | Either party may end the agreement on [30] days' notice; protected introductions survive for their protection period. |
Download the template
Download the finder's fee agreement template (Markdown). It holds the ten clauses above with brackets to fill, a signature block and a disclosure line for the client. Open it in any editor or word processor.
What to check before you sign
- The base: "10% of the deal" and "10% of our fee" are very different amounts.
- Clawback: whether the fee is repaid if the deal is reversed, and for how long.
- Who decides attribution, and whether you are told if the company was already known.
- Your own rules: CPAs, attorneys, registered representatives and estate professionals have limits. See can CPAs and attorneys accept referral fees.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules vary by state and profession; check yours before you accept or pay a fee.
Origin's own partner terms
Origin's partner programme pays 50% of what Origin earns on the deal for a company you introduced, up to $100,000 per company, after the deal completes, and confirms your share in writing before the company signs. Its terms are on that page, not in this template.
Common questions
What is a finder's fee agreement?
A contract in which one party agrees to pay another a fee for introducing a counterparty who then does a deal. It sets the fee, the base, when it is earned and paid, and how the introduction is protected.
Is a referral fee agreement different?
Mostly in name. A referral fee agreement covers the same clauses; professional rules sometimes use "referral fee" for a specific kind of payment.
Does a finder's fee agreement need to be notarised?
Usually not. It needs to be in writing and signed by both parties; check your state's rules for any deal type you work in.
Can I use this template for a securities deal?
Not without advice. A finder in a securities transaction can face broker-dealer registration questions; take advice before you agree a fee.
Sources and further reading
Origin Data Partners is an independent data partner. We work with buyers, and a buyer may pay us when a deal closes.