The Brokers page holds your roster of franchise brokers and referral agencies, and a ledger of the commission owed to them on each deal they brought in. It's part of the org-level +CRM/Franchise Sales add-on ($799/mo).
Switch into your org's Franchise Sales workspace from the workspace menu at the top of the sidebar, then click Brokers under Engagement. The page has two tabs: Roster and Commissions.
Adding a broker to the roster
Only org owners and admins can add or change brokers. Everyone in the CRM can see the roster, because reps need it to link a broker to a prospect.
- On the Roster tab, click New broker.
- Enter the Broker / agency name (required).
- Optionally add a Default commission rate (%), Contact name, Contact email, Contact phone and Notes.
- Click Save.
The broker's card shows their default rate (for example "5% default rate") and contact details. Click the email or phone to start a message or call.
Editing or archiving a broker
- Click the pencil button to edit a broker, then click Save.
- Click the archive button to archive a broker. Archived brokers no longer appear in the broker picker on prospects, but existing prospect links are kept.
- Tick Show archived to see archived brokers, and click the restore button to bring one back.
Linking a broker to a prospect
Open the prospect's page and click Edit on the Contact card.
- Under Broker (roster), pick the broker. This also fills in Broker name.
- If the broker isn't on the roster yet, type their name in Broker name instead.
- Click Save.
The prospect's contact card then shows "Broker: name". A prospect can have a roster broker, a typed name, both or neither.
How commission records are created
When a prospect with a broker attached is converted to a franchisee, a commission record is created on the Commissions tab automatically.
- If the broker is on the roster with a default rate, and the prospect's franchise fee was marked paid, the record is created with that rate and the amount owed already worked out.
- Otherwise the record is created without a rate, and you set it yourself.
- If the typed broker name doesn't match the linked roster broker, no rate is filled in. A note on the record asks you to confirm who is owed.
Working the Commissions tab
The Commissions tab is limited to org owners and admins, because it shows financial data. Other members see Admin access required.
Each record shows the broker, the prospect (click to open their page), the amount owed, how it was worked out (for example "5% of $35,000 fee" or "flat amount"), and Paid or Unpaid.
To set or change the commission:
- Click Edit rate / notes.
- Choose Percentage of franchise fee and enter the Commission rate (%), or choose Flat amount and enter the Flat commission amount ($).
- Add Notes if needed and click Save.
If no franchise fee was recorded when the prospect converted, a percentage can't produce an amount. The record says "no franchise fee recorded — set a flat amount", so use a flat amount instead.
When you've paid the broker, click Mark paid and confirm. This only records that you paid them outside SalesThumb. No payment is sent. Use Mark unpaid only to correct a mistake.
Admins whose permissions limit them to their own prospects only see commission records for prospects assigned to them, and the tab says so.
Seeing the commission on a prospect
For org owners and admins, a converted prospect's Contact card shows the commission amount, rate and Paid or Unpaid status, with a Manage in Commissions ledger link back to this page. For more on the prospect page, see Working a franchise prospect's record.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does Mark paid send money to the broker?
A: No. It only records that you've already paid the broker outside SalesThumb. No payment is sent.
Q: Why does a commission record have no amount?
A: A rate is only filled in automatically when the broker is on the roster with a default rate and the prospect's franchise fee was paid. Otherwise click Edit rate / notes and set a percentage or a flat amount.
Q: Can a rep see broker commissions?
A: No. The Commissions tab is limited to org owners and admins because it shows financial data. Reps can still see the broker roster and link brokers to prospects.
Q: What happens to prospects when I archive a broker?
A: Existing links stay on those prospects. The broker just stops appearing in the broker picker until you restore them.
Q: When is a commission record created?
A: Automatically when a prospect with a broker attached is converted to a franchisee.