---
referrals: 1
kind: book
owner: firm:law-office-a
updated: 2026-10-23
---

# Professional circle

> When to use: A small group of firms that refer clients to each other keep one set of rules, write every fee or relationship in the disclosed line, and rate each other's referrals.
> Each firm keeps its own copy; the same referral line, with the same id, sits in the books of the firm that passed it and the firm that took it.

## Parties

### firm:law-office-a
- kind: firm
- url: https://example.com/law-office-a/referrals.md
- categories: contracts, estate-planning
- areas: example-city
- capacity: 3
- budget: 500-6000

### firm:tax-office-b
- kind: firm
- url: https://example.com/tax-office-b/referrals.md
- categories: tax-filing, bookkeeping
- tags: small-business
- areas: example-city, remote
- capacity: 4
- budget: 300-5000

### firm:books-office-c
- kind: firm
- url: https://example.com/books-office-c/referrals.md
- categories: bookkeeping, payroll
- areas: remote
- capacity: 2
- budget: 200-2500

## Needs

### need-2026-09-02-law-office-a-1
- from: firm:law-office-a
- category: tax-filing
- summary: a small business needs its first quarterly filing
- budget: 600-1500
- where: example-city
- by: 2026-10-15
- requirements: small-business
- status: filled
- opened: 2026-09-02

### need-2026-09-20-tax-office-b-1
- from: firm:tax-office-b
- category: contracts
- summary: a client needs a supplier agreement reviewed
- budget: 800-2000
- where: example-city
- by: 2026-10-30
- status: referred
- opened: 2026-09-20

### need-2026-10-05-law-office-a-1
- from: firm:law-office-a
- category: payroll
- summary: a new employer needs payroll set up for three staff
- budget: 300-900
- where: remote
- by: 2026-11-15
- status: filled
- opened: 2026-10-05

## Referrals

### ref-2026-09-03-law-office-a-1
- packet: rp_caf78b7503b3053c
- need: need-2026-09-02-law-office-a-1
- from: firm:law-office-a
- to: firm:tax-office-b
- date: 2026-09-03
- why: category, small-business, budget, example-city
- disclosed: firm:tax-office-b pays firm:law-office-a a 10% fee on the first invoice
- consent: the client agreed to share their name and the need with firm:tax-office-b
- reply_by: 2026-09-10
- status: completed
- outcome: 5
- note: filed on time; the client came back for the next quarter

### ref-2026-09-21-tax-office-b-1
- packet: rp_bd90e6c5b3d19a01
- need: need-2026-09-20-tax-office-b-1
- from: firm:tax-office-b
- to: firm:law-office-a
- date: 2026-09-21
- why: category, example-city, budget
- disclosed: no fee; the two firms share an office building
- consent: the client agreed to share the need and their name
- reply_by: 2026-09-28
- status: accepted

### ref-2026-10-06-law-office-a-1
- packet: rp_020ba205457c87ff
- need: need-2026-10-05-law-office-a-1
- from: firm:law-office-a
- to: firm:books-office-c
- date: 2026-10-06
- why: category, remote, budget
- disclosed: firm:books-office-c pays firm:law-office-a a flat referral fee of 50
- consent: the client agreed to share the summary and parameters, not their name
- reply_by: 2026-10-13
- status: completed
- outcome: 4
- note: set up in a week; one payslip needed a fix

## Rules

- disclosure: required
- fees: allowed
- max_hops: 2
- rating: 1-5
- rated_by: asker
- stale_after: 45