How quickly is a referred business contacted?

Introductions are worked promptly, but no specific response or funding timeline is promised, because timing depends on the business, the documentation, and the providers reviewing the file.

Do I have to tell my client I may be compensated?

Disclosure is good practice for everyone and is required outright for many licensed professionals and firm policies. Confirm what your own license or firm requires.

What if my client is already in the system?

Submissions are checked against existing files so the same business is not worked twice. If the business is already active, you will be told.

How Does a Commercial Finance Referral Relationship Actually Work?

By First Capital FundingPublished September 1, 2026Last reviewed September 1, 2026

The mechanics of a referral relationship matter more than the label on it. Knowing exactly what happens after you make an introduction is what lets you decide whether it is appropriate to make one at all.

Short Answer

You introduce a business that has agreed to be contacted. The brokerage contacts the owner, clarifies the objective, collects documentation, structures the request, and submits it to independent third-party funding and lending providers. The owner reviews whatever options come back and decides. You are kept informed at a level the owner is comfortable with, and compensation — if any — is earned only if a transaction actually funds, under the written partner agreement.

The sequence

Consent: the business owner knows you are making the introduction and agrees to be contacted.
Introduction: you pass the business through your partner link, referral code, or a direct handoff.
Intake: the brokerage contacts the owner and establishes the objective, amount, timing, and constraints.
Documentation: the file is built from what the owner provides. Nothing is fabricated or assumed.
Structuring: the request is shaped into the product categories that plausibly fit.
Placement: the file goes to independent third-party providers whose criteria it matches.
Decision: the owner reviews the options and chooses whether to proceed.
Close and compensation: if a transaction funds, partner compensation is handled under the agreement.

What the partner should and should not do

Do	Avoid
Explain that you are making an introduction to a brokerage	Describing the brokerage as a lender or the funder
Describe categories of financing in general terms	Quoting rates, terms, amounts, or timelines
Confirm the owner consents before passing details	Passing contact details without the owner's knowledge
Disclose that you may be compensated if a deal funds	Implying the introduction is free of any interest
Ask the brokerage questions on the client's behalf	Negotiating or representing the provider's position

How much visibility a partner gets

Partners are generally told whether the business engaged, whether the file is progressing, and whether it closed. Detailed financial information about the business belongs to the business, and is shared only within the limits the owner is comfortable with and the agreement permits.

Not every introduction funds

Files stall for ordinary reasons: the owner changes plans, the numbers do not support the request, or the timing moves. A partner program that implies otherwise is not describing the business accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly is a referred business contacted?: Introductions are worked promptly, but no specific response or funding timeline is promised, because timing depends on the business, the documentation, and the providers reviewing the file.
Do I have to tell my client I may be compensated?: Disclosure is good practice for everyone and is required outright for many licensed professionals and firm policies. Confirm what your own license or firm requires.
What if my client is already in the system?: Submissions are checked against existing files so the same business is not worked twice. If the business is already active, you will be told.

Key Takeaways

Consent first, then introduction, intake, structuring, and placement.
The brokerage never issues the financing; third-party providers decide.
Partners describe categories, never rates, terms, or approvals.
Compensation is earned only if a transaction actually funds.

Programs That May Fit

Interested in partnering with First Capital?

First Capital Funding works with referral partners, affiliates, and ISO partners who introduce businesses seeking commercial financing. Terms are provided in writing during onboarding, and compensation is contingent on a transaction funding. No earnings or approvals are promised.

See the Partner Program Call (215) 410-5973