Referral Bonus Program
Purpose
This SOP establishes the complete process for managing Crowned Credit's client referral bonus program — from collecting referral information and passing it to Sales, to verifying eligibility, processing bonus payments, and tracking everything accurately. The referral program is a powerful growth tool: existing clients are the warmest sales channel possible, and rewarding them for bringing in new business builds loyalty while reducing acquisition costs.
Every team member who interacts with clients must be familiar with this program so they can proactively promote it and handle referral conversations correctly.
Program Overview
Crowned Credit rewards clients (both current and former) for referring new clients who sign up and complete their first payment. The bonus amount varies by the referring client's plan and status. Bonuses are paid one month after the referred client signs up to protect against refunds.
Bonus Structure
| Referring Client Plan | Referring Client Status | Bonus Amount | Payout Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Plan | Active | Referral bonus (lower tier) | 1 month after referral signs up |
| Accelerated Plan | Active | Referral bonus (mid tier) | 1 month after referral signs up |
| Momentum Plan | Active or Inactive | Referral bonus (higher tier) | 1 month after referral signs up |
| Any Plan | Inactive / Former Client | Referral bonus (standard) | 1 month after referral signs up |
Bonus Amount Policy: Specific bonus amounts are set by management and are subject to change. Always confirm current bonus amounts with Billing Lead (Khryzza) before communicating them to clients. Do not quote bonus amounts from memory — verify against current approved rates. Consistency in communication is critical.
Payout Methods
| Method | Available To | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Zelle | Active and inactive clients | 3–5 business days after claim confirmed |
| Cash App | Active and inactive clients | 3–5 business days after claim confirmed |
| Bill Credit | Active clients with monthly subscription (Essential or Accelerated) only | Applied to next billing cycle |
Momentum Plan Clients — Bill Credit NOT Available: Momentum is a one-time payment with no recurring billing. Bill credit cannot be applied to Momentum clients. Zelle or Cash App are the only payout options for Momentum plan clients.
Qualification Criteria
A referral is only qualified — and the bonus is only payable — when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- The referred person has signed up AND completed their first payment
- The referral is a new lead — not an existing client, former client, or previously entered lead in GHL
- The referring client is identified and verified in GHL — we must be able to confirm who sent the referral
- The referral has not refunded within the 1-month hold window
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Collect Referral Information from Client
When a client mentions they've referred someone, collect the following:
- Referred person's full name
- Referred person's phone number
- Referred person's email address (optional but strongly recommended)
Script — Collecting Referral Information:
"Thank you so much for referring someone to us, [First Name]! We really appreciate your support. To make sure they get the best experience and that your bonus is tracked properly, could I get their full name and best contact number?"
Step 2: Post to Discord General GC Channel
After collecting referral information, post to the General GC channel in Discord with the following format:
Discord Post Format:
Referral from: [Referring Client Name]
Referral details: [Referred Person Full Name] — [Phone Number]
Tag: @[Assigned Closer] or @Sales Team (if closer unknown)
Check the referring client's GHL record to identify their assigned closer. Tag that closer directly. If the closer is unknown or unavailable, tag the general Sales Team.
Step 3: Sales Team Follows Up
- The tagged closer or Sales Team member picks up the referral lead
- They reach out to the referred person and attempt to close them on a plan
- Billing's role is done at this point — Sales handles the referral through to signup
Step 4: Referral Signs Up and Pays
- When the referral completes signup and first payment, this triggers the 1-month hold period
- Sales should note the referral source in GHL on the new client's contact: "Referred by: [Referring Client Name]"
- Billing monitors for this note or is notified by Sales
Step 5: Wait 1 Month
- The 1-month hold is non-negotiable. It protects against scenarios where the referred client refunds shortly after signing up.
- Example: Referral signs up March 10 → Bonus claimable April 10 or later
- If the referred client refunds within the 1-month window, the referral bonus is forfeited for that referral
Step 6: Verify Eligibility
- Confirm the referred client is still active (not refunded) in GHL
- Confirm the referring client's plan and current status in GHL
- Determine the correct bonus amount based on the referring client's plan
- Confirm preferred payout method with the referring client (Zelle, Cash App, or Bill Credit if eligible)
Step 7: Process the Bonus
Zelle or Cash App:
- Request the client's Zelle number/email or Cash App username via SMS
- Billing Lead (Khryzza) processes the payment through company Zelle or Cash App
- Log payment in GHL and in the tracker
Bill Credit:
- Note the credit amount to be applied to the client's next invoice
- When the next monthly invoice is generated, manually reduce the invoice amount by the credit amount before sending
- Or, if GHL supports it, apply a discount to the next recurring invoice
- Log in GHL: "Bill credit of [amount] applied to [Month] invoice for referral bonus"
Step 8: Send Confirmation SMS
After processing the bonus, send a confirmation SMS to the referring client.
SMS Templates
Active Client — Zelle or Cash App Option
Hi [First Name], great news! Your referral has been confirmed and your referral bonus is ready to be paid out. Please send us your preferred Zelle number or Cash App username and we'll get that processed within 3–5 business days. Alternatively, we can apply it as a credit toward your next month's bill. Just let us know how you'd like to receive it! Thank you for supporting Crowned Credit — keep those referrals coming! — Crowned Credit Team
Active Client — Bill Credit Applied
Hi [First Name], good news! Thank you for sending in your referral — we've confirmed everything is in order. A referral bonus credit will be applied toward your upcoming bill this month. You'll see the reduced total when you receive your next invoice. We truly appreciate your support! Keep those referrals coming. — Crowned Credit Team
Inactive or Former Client — Zelle or Cash App
Hi [First Name], thank you for referring someone to Crowned Credit! We're happy to confirm that your referral has signed up and their account is active. Your referral bonus is ready to be paid out. Please send us your preferred Zelle number or Cash App username and we'll process it within 3–5 business days. We appreciate your continued support! — Crowned Credit Team
Referral Not Yet Qualified (Follow-Up)
Hi [First Name], just an update on the referral you sent us. We're still working on getting them set up. Once they complete enrollment, your bonus will be queued for payout one month from their start date. We'll keep you posted! — Crowned Credit Team
GHL Documentation Requirements
Proper documentation keeps the referral program auditable and ensures commissions are tracked accurately.
- Log referral on the referring client's GHL contact: "Referral submitted — [Referred Name] — [Date submitted] — Bonus: [amount/tier] — Status: Pending"
- Update note when bonus is paid: "Referral bonus paid via [Zelle/Cash App/Bill Credit] — [Date paid] — [Amount]"
- Log referral source on the new referred client's GHL contact: "Referred by: [Referring Client Name] — [Date]"
Tracker Updates
| Scenario | Tracker | Required Columns |
|---|---|---|
| Active client referral | GHL contact notes + referral tracking | Referring client name, referred client name, date, plan, bonus amount, payout method, payout date |
| Inactive/former client referral | Closed List Tracker (Google Sheets) | Same as above |
Common Questions & Edge Cases
Q: Can a client refer unlimited people?
Yes — there is no stated cap on referrals per client. Every qualified referral earns a bonus. Encourage clients who ask to refer as many people as they'd like.
Q: What if two clients claim they both referred the same person?
The first referral logged in Discord/GHL with a timestamp wins. Log all referrals with date and time to prevent disputes. If two claims come in simultaneously, escalate to Billing Lead for review.
Q: What if the referred person signs up but then cancels within the 1-month window?
The bonus is forfeited. Notify the referring client professionally:
"Hi [First Name], unfortunately the referral you sent didn't complete their enrollment, so we're unable to process the bonus for this particular referral. We hope you'll keep referring people — every successful signup earns you a bonus! — Crowned Credit Team"
Q: Client asks about the referral program proactively — how do we promote it?
Promotional Script:
"By the way, [First Name] — did you know we have a referral bonus program? If you refer a friend or family member who signs up with us, you earn a bonus just for the introduction. It's our way of saying thank you for spreading the word. Would you like me to share a quick overview of how it works?"
Compliance Notes
- All referrals must be legitimate — not duplicate entries or self-referrals
- Referral bonuses are subject to verification before payout
- Maintain documentation for all bonus payments for accounting and audit purposes
- The program terms are subject to change — always follow current rates confirmed by Billing Lead