OK, so let me start by saying I own a small business, and it took years of trial and error to figure out websites, SEO, marketing, and lead generation. I realized that I enjoy the marketing side of business just as much as the work itself.
I run a small upholstery business and work on RV interiors pretty often, but I don’t do RV mechanical repairs. Because of that, I thought it would make sense to network with local RV repair shops and other small businesses so we could send work back and forth.
I reached out to a few people with the idea, but honestly, most of them weren’t interested. Some even seemed offended that I brought it up.
So my question is: if I’m sending someone a $1,000+ job they wouldn’t have had otherwise, why is it considered wrong to ask for a small referral fee or percentage in return?
I’m genuinely curious how other business owners see this. Is it just the way I approached it, or do people really dislike referral agreements that much?