Commissions & Payouts
Configurable commission structures, automatic calculations, and direct bank payouts to your preparers — all without spreadsheets.
Commission Structure
GoRefer supports flexible commission models to fit any firm's compensation strategy.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Rate | A flat percentage or dollar amount paid per completed referral |
| Tiered Rate | Commission percentage increases as preparer reaches volume thresholds |
| Per-Preparer Override | Custom rate for a specific preparer, overriding the standard rate |
| Bonus Configuration | One-time or recurring bonuses triggered by specific events or milestones |
| Recruitment Bonus | A bonus paid when a preparer successfully recruits a new team member |
Setting Up Commission Rates
- 1
Navigate to Commissions → Standard Rates
Set your default referral commission rate as a percentage of the service fee or a flat dollar amount.
- 2
Configure Tiers (Optional)
Set up volume-based tiers: e.g., 10% for the first 10 referrals, 12% for 11–25, 15% for 26+.
- 3
Set Per-Preparer Overrides (Optional)
In a preparer's profile, override their commission rate for special arrangements or senior staff.
- 4
Add Bonus Configurations
Create bonuses for events like "first 5 referrals in a month" or "100 total referrals".
Bonus Types & Progress
GoRefer supports multiple bonus types that preparers can track from their dashboard. Each bonus shows real-time progress toward the target with custom icons and descriptions.
| Bonus Type | Description | Example Target |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Volume | Reward for hitting a monthly referral volume target | 20 referrals / month → $500 |
| Seasonal Milestone | Seasonal one-time bonus for hitting a cumulative goal | 100 total referrals → $2,000 |
| Fast Start | Bonus for new preparers who hit targets quickly | 10 referrals in first 30 days → $250 |
| Audit Protection | Reward for maintaining high quality scores | 98%+ accuracy → $300 |
| Loyalty | Recognition for long-term team members | 3+ years of service → $1,000 |
| Recruiting | Bonus for successfully recruiting new preparers | Per hire → $500 |
| Custom | Admin-configured bonuses for any criteria | Flexible |
Preparers see their bonus progress in the Earnings Tracker on their dashboard, with progress bars, potential reward amounts, and status indicators (active, completed, expired).
How Commissions Are Calculated
When a referral is marked as Completed, GoRefer automatically calculates the commission using the applicable rate for that preparer. All calculations are logged and auditable.
- Calculation happens automatically on status change
- Bonuses are applied if qualifying criteria are met
- Commission history is visible to both preparers and admins
- Dispute resolution tools for contested commissions
Payout Processing
Preparers connect their bank accounts via a secure payout setup. Commissions are paid out in batches on your configured schedule — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
- Preparers connect their bank account through a secure, guided flow
- Configure minimum payout threshold (e.g., $50 minimum)
- Automatic payout batches on your schedule
- Manual payout batches for immediate payment
- Detailed payout statements for each preparer
- Tax year summaries for preparer earnings (1099 support)
All payments are processed through a secure, industry-standard payment infrastructure. GoRefer never stores bank account details directly.
Payout Notifications
Every payout stage triggers notifications to the right users:
- Commission earned — preparer is notified in-app and via email when a commission is recorded
- Payout generated — preparer and admin notified when a payout is generated
- Payout approved — preparer notified that their payout is approved for processing
- Payout processed — preparer notified with payment confirmation
- Batch payout created / processed — admin notified for bulk operations
- Bonus earned — SMS-eligible alert when a preparer hits a bonus target
Reconciliation
The reconciliation dashboard lets you match commissions against actual payments received, identify discrepancies, and ensure your books are always accurate.
- Match completed referrals to received payments
- Flag unmatched or disputed entries
- Export reconciliation reports
- Monthly close-out workflow
Payout Batches
View and manage every payout batch — see which preparers are included, the total amount, and the status of the transfer.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Batch is created, payment not yet initiated |
| Processing | Payment is in transit |
| Paid | Funds have been delivered to preparer accounts |
| Failed | Payment failed — check account details |