4 minutes Referring Customers
Overview
Referring businesses to SAPI is straightforward. This guide explains the referral process, information you need to collect, and how to track referral status and commission.
Before You Refer
Check eligibility: Use "Customer Eligibility Criteria" article to pre-qualify businesses.
Key questions:
- UK-registered business? ✓
- Processing £10k+ monthly card sales? ✓
- Trading 6+ months? ✓
- Not insolvent? ✓
If yes to all: Likely qualifies. Proceed with referral.
Information to Collect
Business details:
- Legal business name
- Trading name (if different)
- Companies House number (or UTR for sole traders)
- Industry/sector
- Business address
Contact information:
- Primary contact name and title
- Email address
- Phone number
Financing requirements:
- Amount needed (approximate)
- Purpose of funds
- Urgency (immediate vs. can wait)
Payment processing:
- Which payment processor(s) used (Stripe, Square, etc.)
- Approximate monthly card sales
- How long they've been processing payments
Referral Methods
Method 1: Email Referral
Email to: [email protected]
Subject: "Referral from [Your Company] - [Business Name]"
Email template:
Hello SAPI Team, I'm referring [Business Name] for payment-linked financing. Business Details: - Legal Name: [Name] - Companies House No.: [Number] - Industry: [E.g., Restaurant, Retail] - Trading Since: [Date/Month Year] Contact: - Name: [Contact Name] - Title: [Owner/Director/Manager] - Email: [Email] - Phone: [Phone] Financing Need: - Amount: £[Amount] - Purpose: [E.g., Inventory, Equipment, Cash Flow] - Urgency: [Immediate / Within 2 weeks / Flexible] Payment Processing: - Processor: [Stripe/Square/etc.] - Monthly Card Sales: ~£[Amount] Referred by: [Your Name], [Your Company] Partner ID: [Your Partner ID] Please contact [Business Name] directly to proceed. Best regards, [Your Name]
Response time: SAPI contacts the business within 1 business day
Method 2: Partner Portal
How to:
1. Log into partner portal [NEED-INFO: Partner portal URL]
2. Click "New Referral"
3. Complete referral form (auto-populates from template above)
4. Submit
Benefits:
- Track referral status in real-time
- See application progress (Submitted → Under Review → Approved/Declined → Funded)
- Commission tracking
- Historical referrals database
Future: Programmatic Integration
Coming soon:
SAPI is developing API capabilities for programmatic referral submission. If you're a high-volume partner interested in automated integration, contact [email protected] to discuss your requirements.
After You Refer
SAPI's process:
1. Contact business (within 1 business day)
2. Application (business completes online, 10-15 minutes)
3. Underwriting (24-48 hours for decision)
4. Offer (if approved, sent to business)
5. Funding (1-2 days after business accepts offer)
You're notified:
- When business completes application
- When decision is made (approved/declined)
- When business is funded (commission triggered)
Timeline: 5-10 days from referral to funding (if business acts quickly)
Tracking Referrals
Partner portal shows:
- Referral date
- Business name
- Status (Pending Contact, Application Started, Under Review, Approved, Declined, Funded)
- Advance amount (if funded)
- Commission amount (if funded)
- Commission payment date
Email notifications:
- Sent at key milestones (application submitted, decision made, funded)
- Opt in/out of notifications in portal settings
Commission Payment
When:
30 days after business is funded
Example:
- Business funded: 10 January
- Commission paid: 10 February
Amount:
Based on your partnership agreement (% of advance amount or fixed fee)
Payment method:
Bank transfer to your registered account
Commission statement:
Monthly email showing all commissions earned, paid, and pending
Best Practices
1. Pre-qualify customers
Don't refer businesses unlikely to qualify—wastes their time and yours.
2. Set expectations
Tell businesses: "SAPI typically decides in 24-48 hours. They'll contact you directly. This is payment-linked financing, not a traditional loan—repayments adjust based on your daily sales."
3. Warm introduction
Let SAPI know any context: "This business is a great fit—strong sales, needs £25k for inventory for peak season."
4. Follow up
Check in with businesses after referral: "Has SAPI contacted you? Any questions I can help with?"
5. Support without advising
Point businesses to SAPI's Help Center for product questions. Don't provide financial advice unless you're FCA-authorized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long after referral does SAPI contact the business?
A: Within 1 business day (usually same day if referred during business hours).
Q: What if the business doesn't respond to SAPI?
A: SAPI will attempt contact 2-3 times over 5-7 days. If no response, referral is marked "No Response" and archived. You can re-submit later if the business becomes interested.
Q: Can I refer the same business multiple times?
A: Yes, if circumstances change (e.g., previously declined but now has stronger sales). Wait at least 3 months between re-referrals.
Q: Do I earn commission if the business applies directly to SAPI after I introduced them?
A: If they apply within 90 days of your referral and mention your company, you should receive commission. Contact [email protected] if you believe a commission is missing.
Q: What if a business I refer is declined?
A: SAPI provides decline reasons (to you and the business). Learn from declines to improve future referral quality.
Q: Can I refer businesses outside the UK?
A: SAPI only funds UK-registered businesses trading in the UK. EU or international businesses do not qualify.
Need Help?
Referral questions: [email protected]
Portal access: [email protected]
Commission queries: [email protected]
Need Help?
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 20 3868 4990
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm GMT