Small Deal
$500,000
WP fee 10%: $50,000Referral Fee 10%
You earn
$5,000
Refer a business. Earn a finder's fee. Do nothing else.
If you work with founders — as an accountant, attorney, advisor, or operator — there's a good chance one of them is thinking about selling. Tell us. We'll handle the rest. You get paid up to 15% when they close.
What it looks like
Real payouts on real deal sizes.
Concrete numbers beat abstract promises. Here's what the 15% looks like on typical digital business sales.
Mid-Market
$2,750,000
WP fee 9.8% [Blended Rate]: $270,000Referral Fee 12.5%
You earn
$33,750
Large Exit
$10,000,000
WP fee 7.5% [Blended Rate]: $750,000Referral Fee 15%
You earn
$112,500
Examples only. Exact fees depend on deal size and structure. WP commission rates scale with transaction size — your referral fee applies to whatever we collect.
Know a buyer instead?
Refer a buyer
Refer a buyer. Earn 10% when they close.
Not every referral is a seller. If you know someone actively looking to acquire a digital business, refer them to our buyer network. When they close a deal through Website Properties, you earn a 10% referral fee on our commission — same tracking, same 1099, same payout process.
How it works
Four steps. Two minutes of your time.
After the intro, everything is on us. You get status updates and a check at close.
01
Introduce
Submit the form below with the business owner's name and contact info — or just ping us an email intro. You only do this once per referral.
02
We engage
Our team reaches out to your contact within one business day, always mentioning you as the source. Professional, no pressure, no mention of commission.
03
They list
If they decide to list with Website Properties, we log your referral in our system and send you a written confirmation. You're tied to that deal from signing forward.
04
You get paid
When the deal closes and we collect our commission, you receive up to 15% — wired within 10 business days. We issue a 1099-NEC at year-end.
One of our referral partners earned $50,000 on a single email intro.
It was a 15-minute introduction. They did no follow-up. When the deal closed 11 weeks later, we wired them the fee. Real story, real number.
Who this is for
Built for people who work with business owners.
If founders trust you with anything else, they'll trust your broker recommendation too.
CPAs & Accountants
Your clients trust you with their financials. When one of them mentions they're considering selling their online business, send them our way. We do the heavy lift; you collect the fee.
M&A Attorneys
You often know about an exit before the broker does. Refer the client, stay involved on the legal side, earn on top of your legal fees. No conflict — we're the broker, you're counsel.
Advisors & Consultants
If you consult for digital founders, your recommendation carries real weight. Make the intro. Earn for the trust you've already built over years of client work.
Operators & Community
If you run a podcast, newsletter, or community for digital business owners, the referral program turns your audience into recurring income. Our highest-earning referrers usually have founder audiences.
The promise
Zero effort after the intro. Zero risk if nothing happens.
You don't need to explain Website Properties. You don't need to walk them through the sales process. You don't need to follow up. If they decide not to list with us, or if the business doesn't sell, you owe nothing and there's no clawback. The only thing that happens when a referral closes is a payment to you.
How we track it
Professional mechanics, start to finish.
Every part of the program is built to be audit-ready and CPA-approved.
Attribution
Every referral is logged against your name in our CRM within 24 hours. Written confirmation emailed.
Tracking
Quarterly pipeline updates on every referral — status, stage, expected close date, estimated payout.
Payout
Paid by check or wire within 10 business days of deal close. You choose the method.
1099 Tax
Referral fees reported on a 1099-NEC at year-end. Clean, professional, audit-ready.
What partners say
Real quotes, real checks.
"A colleague mentioned a favorable experience with Website Properties, so I referred a SaaS founder from one of our portfolio companies. They produced the desired result for everyone involved and made us look that much better for having made the intro."— Portfolio Director, Family Office
"I'm a CPA. When a client mentioned they were thinking about selling their e-commerce brand, I sent them to Website Properties. Six months later I got a check for $42,000 and my client got the exit they wanted. Easiest referral fee I've ever earned."— CPA, Pacific Northwest
"I host a podcast for digital founders. The WP referral program has become a meaningful revenue stream on top of sponsorships — and my audience genuinely appreciates the introduction to a trusted advisor."— Podcast Host, SaaS Community
Referrer FAQ
The questions professionals ask.
Clear answers on fees, timing, attribution, and taxes.
How is "up to 15%" calculated?
Standard referral fee is 15% of the commission WP collects from the seller. On some deal structures the fee may be lower — for example, if the transaction is unusually complex. Any reduction is disclosed upfront before you commit. We never reduce the fee retroactively.
When do I get paid?
Within 10 business days of deal close and WP's fee collection. Paid by check or wire — your choice.
What counts as a "closed" deal?
A deal is closed when the purchase agreement is fully executed, the wire clears, and WP is paid. Earnouts are paid to you at the time WP is paid on the earnout portion.
Is this a 1099 payment?
Yes. Referral fees are reported on a 1099-NEC at year-end. We collect W-9 info when your first referral closes.
What if I refer someone who's already in WP's system?
We'll check. If the person is already an active client or has been contacted by us in the last 90 days, the referral doesn't qualify. If they're a cold record we haven't spoken to in more than 90 days, you get credit.
Can I earn referral fees on multiple deals?
Yes. There's no cap on how many you can refer or how much you can earn. Some partners earn six figures annually from referrals.
What if my referral isn't ready to sell today but lists with you 18 months later?
If they mention you at signup, you're still credited. We recommend following up with us when you know they're ready so we can flag the file.
Do I need to disclose to the business owner that I'm earning a fee?
Ethically, yes — especially if you're a licensed professional (CPA, attorney) with a duty of disclosure to your client. We provide a disclosure template if needed.
What if I'm a licensed broker?
Then our Co-Broker Program is a better fit. Different structure, different split (75/25), different level of involvement. See the Co-Broker page for details.
For context
Who you're referring them to.
What we do for sellers
- Complete sales process from free valuation through close
- 50,000+ curated buyer network — real operators, PE, family offices, strategics
- Performance-based fee structure — sellers pay nothing upfront
Who we are
- 24+ years of digital M&A experience, founded 2002
- 600+ deals closed, $650M+ in represented transaction value
- Senior-led team of former operators — meet the team
Refer now
Refer a business owner.
Two minutes. Fill in what you know. We'll take it from here.
Expect to refer multiple clients over time? Become a standing referral partner →