Do you supply the referral partners?

No. We don't keep a list of member firms and we don't introduce businesses for a fee. We help you set criteria and research candidates; you choose, approach and agree terms with them.

Should money change hands?

That's a business decision for you and your partner, ideally with your lawyer. Whatever you decide, write it down and tell the customer about it before they hire the other firm.

Isn't referring work to a competitor risky?

Less than you'd think if the partner is in a city you don't serve and the terms say who keeps which customer. A caller from four hours away was never going to be your customer anyway.

How do we tell the customer?

In plain words, at the moment of referral: who you're referring them to, that you're not responsible for that firm's work, and whether either business receives anything for the referral.

Out-of-Area Referral Relationships, Alberta

An out-of-area referral relationship is a written understanding between your business and a firm in another Alberta city: you pass on calls you can't reach profitably, they do the same, and every customer is told how the arrangement works. It turns a "sorry, we don't go that far" into a useful answer, without you pretending to serve a city you don't.

Who this is for

This service suits Alberta trades whose phone rings from beyond their travel limit, often because their website or ads reach further than their trucks do. A Calgary company taking calls from Lethbridge, an Edmonton firm hearing from Grande Prairie or Fort McMurray, or a Red Deer business fielding calls from both metros are all typical.

It also suits firms in regional cities that see work flowing out to the metros, and want a known partner there for jobs that need specialist equipment or larger crews.

What's included

Your criteria, in writing. Which calls you'll refer (by city, job type or job size), what you expect of a partner (certification, WCB coverage, insurance, response habits) and what you won't accept.
Candidate research. We look at public information on firms in each target city, such as their websites, reviews and stated certifications, and give you a shortlist with notes. You do the vetting conversations.
Plain-language terms. A one-to-two-page document covering who refers what, how fast each side acknowledges a referral, who keeps the customer afterwards, what happens with complaints and how either side ends it. We draft it as a business document; your lawyer should review it.
Customer disclosure wording. Short scripts for phone, text and email, plus a page on your site that explains your referral practice.
A referral log. One shared sheet or CRM tag recording every referral sent and received, with dates and outcomes. The guide to the out-of-area referral log shows the fields.

What a good Alberta partner looks like

Alberta gives you some public checks to start with. The province's hiring a contractor guidance tells homeowners to confirm WCB coverage and liability insurance, and to check whether a business needs a prepaid contractor licence. Those are reasonable minimums for a referral partner too, because a customer you refer will judge you by what happens next.

For trades on Alberta's compulsory certification list, such as electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and refrigeration mechanics, ask how the partner's crews are certified. We summarise what's public; we don't give compliance advice, and you should confirm anything that matters with the relevant authority.

How this differs from a lead service

Lead services sell the same enquiry to several firms, and the customer gets several calls. A referral relationship sends one customer to one firm you've chosen, with your name attached. That's slower to set up, but it treats the customer better and protects your reputation.

Timeline

Week 1: referral criteria agreed, target cities chosen
Weeks 2–3: shortlist delivered for each city
Weeks 3–6: your conversations with candidates; terms drafted for the ones you choose
Week 6 onward: referrals logged, reviewed with you each month

How results are measured

We track referrals sent and received per partner, how many of each became booked jobs, and any complaints. A healthy arrangement doesn't need to be perfectly even, but if one side sends ten and receives none for six months, it's time to talk or move on. We also watch your reviews: a referral that goes badly tends to show up there first.

Mistakes to avoid

Handshake deals. Memories differ. Put it on paper, however short.
Silent referral payments. If anything is exchanged, the customer should know before they hire.
Link swaps for rankings. Linking to a partner because it helps your customers is fine; trading links to manipulate search results breaks Google's rules.
Referring outside your trade without care. A plumber recommending an electrician is a judgement call on someone else's licence. Keep it to firms you've checked.

Referral work is part of our Trades.Agency plans on the pricing page. It pairs naturally with call tracking by city, which shows where the far-away calls come from. To start, contact us.

Out-of-area referral relationships for Alberta trades