Compensation Advice

[Mitonner]

Hello all,
I need advice on compensating someone who has been helping me get some jobs. They have negotiated reasonable prices and have access to people needing a photographer. Is there a percentage that is standard? I don't want to seem unappreciative-if you know what I mean...

Thanks in advance,
Jennifer

[ssim]

Was this a formal arrangement where you asked them to go out and do door knocking for you or did it just sort of happen.

When I decided to go full time I contracted a small marketing firm to do some of the door knocking for me and obtain the names of those that would be genuinely interested. We did a contract and rather than a percentage it was a flat fee. Any subsequent jobs that got as a result of the work that she did for me, I was not obligated to share any of the proceeds with her.

It is not uncommon to provide a finders-fee for some jobs. I have provided a commission of 10-15% of the initial job that they had a hand in getting for me. I have only done this on jobs where this finders fee on jobs that had a reasonably high billing. It didn't seem worthwhile, imo, to provide a check to someone for a few dollars if that is all that they got for me. You could consider an honorarium of some sort that would just cover the work that they did. This is not reflective of any sort of percentage but just an overall financial thank you.

I do find it worthwhile to do this. I have one person that continues to refer customers to me and I feel it is partly due to the fact that I reward them for doing so.

[stathunter]

I would suggest that paying them is always a good thing. There is a big motivation for people to refer people who pay them well. Money always talks........a universal language. Make them feel compensated and appreciated.

[michael_]

very interesting sheldon, out of interest what sort of figure are we talking for the marketing firm? its something i have been thinking about in a round about way but until you said it it hadnt clicked.

[Mitonner]

Thanks for the input. I think 15% sounds reasonable. There hasn't been anything formal, just the catering manager who was asked to provide a photographer. This has the opportunity to turn into more jobs, so I do want to play nice! :)

Jennifer