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Making referrals

Building your business through personal recommendation is the most cost effective and reliable marketing method. But when and how do you ask for referrals and what are the regulations? These resources will help guide you through the referral process.

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Regulations

Designated Professional Body (Investment Business) licence
  • Regulations
  • 14 Apr 2011
Find out how you can enhance the services you already offer your clients with a Designated Professional Body (Investment Business) licence. This section explains what regulated investment business is, who is regulated, and how your firm can apply for a DPB (Investment Business) licence.
Ethics and referrals
  • Article
  • 11 Feb 2019
Regulations regarding referrals and commissions taken from ICAEW's Code of Conduct, Part B: Professional accountants in public practice.

Features and articles

Referral fees and commissions: client consent is your responsibility
  • Article
  • 05 Feb 2024
If your firm receives referral fees or commissions, you must comply with rigorous client consent and notification requirements. We look at the processes you need to follow and highlight some common pitfalls.
Client satisfaction: do you really know what your clients think?
  • Article
  • 25 Jan 2024
Client feedback helps you improve your services, pick up any problems early, and build stronger relationships. Good reviews and referrals from satisfied clients can also support you in growing your business. We talk to some ICAEW probate accredited firms about the different ways they obtain feedback, and how they use it.
Professional Standards update November 2022
  • Article
  • 09 Nov 2022
In this month's update we share: examples of good practice that have been identified during recent monitoring visits to audit firms; the results of our recent AML thematic reviews focusing on COVID support schemes and sanctions; and the findings of the Quality Assurance public sector monitoring activity in 2021-22. We also look at the difference between independent and restricted financial advisers, issue clarification regarding the Insolvency Code of Ethics' and highlight the latest disciplinary cases.