Asking an Attorney for a Referral Fee

How to capitalize on your “business currency” with better referral strategies.

Here at CPA Trendlines, Ed Mendlowitz answers some of the toughest questions practitioners can throw at him. He’s the right one to ask. After more than 40 years in the business – building his own practice, running the firm, and eventually selling it to a major regional firm, WithumSmith+Brown, where he remains a senior partner and consultant to professional services clients – he has the answers. We’re happy to have him at CPA Trendlines. Send your questions for Ed here, or chime in with Comments below.

Browse more from Ed here:   Are Partner Retreats Really Worth the Cost?   |   Audit Reports Without Doing the Work?  | Should I Really Spend the Time Making Checklists?   |  What’s a Tax Practice Worth Today?Preparing to Sell Your Practice in a Few Years? 13 Things You Need to Know Today     |    10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Decide to Add Financial Services to Your Practice   |  Why Selling Your Practice Is Not a Retirement Strategy | Congratulations! You Bought a Tax Practice. Now What? | How Accountants Can Keep the Business When a Client Wants to Sell Theirs | 10 Reasons Clients Don’t Pay, and What To Do about It | 13 Reasons Timesheets Will Never Die

QUESTION: I referred a large amount of business to an attorney friend and she hasn’t reciprocated.  I asked her for a referral fee and she declined.  I’d like to keep referring her because she does a great job for my clients and that makes me look good too.  What should I do?