Knoxville, Tennessee · Mon–Sat 10a–7p, by appointment · 865.359.0228
— Partner FAQ
Everything partners ask,
How referrals work, who can be paid and who can't, how payouts run, and how approval works. If you don't see your question, email us and you'll get a real answer from a real person.
— HOW REFERRALS WORK
Sending someone our way.
How do I send a referral?
Two ways. Use your personal referral link, or log in to your partner dashboard and submit the form there. Either way it takes about a minute. The person you're sending has to know it's coming. You'll confirm you have their permission, and we email them directly. We never text a referred person.
What happens after I submit someone?
We reach out to them by email, usually within one business day, and always within the response window for professional partners. Your dashboard updates as the referral moves so you're never left wondering. You see the status, not the substance of their situation.
Can I refer someone without being an approved partner?
Yes. The referral form is open to anyone. You just won't have a dashboard or tracking until you're approved, so apply first if you plan to send people more than once.
What should I never include in a referral?
No Social Security numbers, account numbers, financial details, or tax documents. Just their name, how to reach them, and enough context for us to be useful. Anything sensitive goes through the secure client portal after they become a client, not through a referral form.
— APPROVAL
Getting approved, and staying approved.
How does the approval process work?
Melissa reads every application personally, usually within two business days. She's looking for a values match and a profession fit. You'll get an email either way, and if you're approved your welcome email has your dashboard link and referral link.
Why do some professions land in the unpaid tier?
Because of the law, not because we don't like you. Attorneys, real estate agents, mortgage professionals, title and escrow, insurance professionals, financial advisors, and CPAs can never be paid a referral fee, so they're enrolled as professional partners instead. Everyone is welcome. Not everyone can be paid.
Can my approval be revoked?
Yes, if the relationship stops being a fit. If that happens we'll tell you directly, close out any pending referral statuses, and settle any earned payout that's already payable.
— COMMISSION RATES
Who gets paid, and for what.
What are the commission rates?
Affiliate partners earn 20% of collected revenue on Academy enrollments only. Your exact rate is stated in your partner agreement, and it never changes without written notice. Tax preparation, tax resolution, credit services, ITIN, bookkeeping, business formation, registered agent, and Brand Co builds are never commissionable, for anyone, in any tier.
Why is the Academy the only commissionable service?
Because of how the regulated work is licensed. Paying for a referral tied to tax preparation, resolution, or credit services crosses lines set by federal and state rules, so we simply don't do it. The Academy is a training product, which makes a straightforward affiliate relationship possible.
Do professional partners ever get anything?
A relationship, not a payout. A named point of contact, a call scheduled within our response window for anyone you send, status visibility, and referrals back to you when we have a fit.
— PAYOUTS
When the money actually moves.
When do payouts happen?
Payouts run monthly. When an eligible Academy enrollment has been collected and cleared, it shows up as payable in your dashboard, and you request the payout from there. Requests are processed on the next monthly payout run.
Why do I need a W-9 before I can be paid?
Federal law requires it before we can pay you anything, and we report what we pay. You upload it once in your dashboard. Without it, requests stay blocked no matter how much is payable.
When does a commission become payable?
Only after the enrollment is collected in full and any refund window has passed. If a student is refunded, the commission on it is reversed. No payable balance, no payout that month.
— THE FINE PRINT, PLAINLY
Two things we say out loud.
The no-fee rule
We do not pay referral fees to attorneys, real estate professionals, mortgage professionals, or anyone in a position where accepting one would be prohibited. This is a mutual professional relationship, not a paid one.
Their privacy, always
Federal law limits what a tax practice can share about a client, and we go further than the minimum. You'll see the status of your referral and nothing confidential. If we ever need their written consent to tell you more, we'll get it first.
Still have a question? Email team@workwithhb.com or call 865.359.0228.
— READY WHEN YOU ARE
Apply once, and send clients for years.
Two minutes to apply. Melissa reads every application herself and you'll hear back within two business days.