“Know anyone good?”
You always do.
Now it pays
Knowbull turns the introductions you already make into paid referrals. We have the fee conversation, send the emails and pay you out. You just make the call.
- Tue 9:42
Priya · text
Hey — we’re hiring a Head of Ops and striking out. Know anyone good?
- Tue 9:44
You · text
Steven. Leave it with me — I’ll do it properly this time.
- Tue 9:51
Knowbull → Steven · email
Hannah recommends you for Head of Ops at Loam & Co. It’s a paid referral: Hannah set a $2,000 fee, which Loam & Co pays only if they hire you.
- Wed 8:10
Knowbull → Priya · email
Hannah has a candidate for your Head of Ops role. Fee $2,000, payable only on hire. Agree and see who it is.
- Day 34
Stripe → your bank · transfer
$1,800.00
$2,000 fee, less Knowbull’s 10%. Held 30 days, then yours.
- Free for referrers. You keep 90%.
- One form, then one click when they’re hired.
- Everyone sees the same number.
The problem
You’ve been paid in beers, favours and “I owe you one” for long enough.
When a friend, former boss or client asks “know anyone good?”, your answer already decides hires. The best person is usually quietly employed elsewhere, not “open to opportunities”, and they’d only move because someone they trust asked. No recruiter can make that call. You can.
The hard part isn’t the recommendation. It’s the money conversation afterwards. Knowbull has that conversation for you. Not for recruiters. Not for job hunters. For the people in between.
of referred candidates go straight from application to interview, from just 1% of application volume. Ashby Talent Trends, 38M applications, 2021–24
How it works
Hannah’s part is one form, then one click when Steven is hired. See the pages.
Hannah recommends Steven.
- 1
Hannah recommends
One form: the role, the person, the hiring manager, her fee, and a line on why Steven for this role. Two minutes, no negotiation.
- 2
Steven gets a personal invite
An email that leads with Hannah’s name, says plainly that it’s a paid referral and what the fee is, and gives him a link — and a no-thanks.
- 3
The fee is agreed before the name
Loam & Co gets the role, Hannah’s name and the fee. Nothing about Steven until they agree to the terms.
- 4
They talk directly
Interviews happen without Hannah in the middle. She watches the status move; reminders go out on their own.
- 5
Steven’s hired. Hannah’s paid.
Hannah clicks once to send the payment request. Loam & Co pays through Stripe, the money is held 30 days, then 90% lands in Hannah’s bank.
What it costs
Candidates and referrers never pay. Employers pay when they hire.
Your candidate knows it’s a paid referral. The employer agrees the fee before any names are shared. Knowbull sends the payment request. The money side never touches the relationship.
For referrers
Free
- Join and recommend
- $0
- Your fee
- You set it. $1.5k–$5k is typical.
- Knowbull’s cut
- 10%, on success only
- You keep
- 90%
For employers
Pay on hire
- Upfront
- $0
- The fee
- Agreed before any names
- Processing
- 2.95%
- Payment held
- 30 days
Questions
Something else? [email protected]
- When do I get paid?
- When the employer pays, the money is held for 30 days, then 90% lands in your bank via Stripe. No invoicing, no chasing.
- What if they’re not hired?
- Nothing happens. No fees, no obligations, no hard feelings — the introduction just didn’t work out this time.
- Does everyone know about the fee?
- Yes. Your candidate is told it’s a paid referral, and the fee, in the invite. The employer agrees the fee before any names are shared. Everyone sees the same number.
- What if my candidate says no?
- They can decline from the invite. Nothing is shared with the employer and nobody chases them.
- What’s a normal fee?
- You choose, but most referrers set $1,500–$5,000 — roughly what companies already pay for internal referral bonuses, and a tenth of what an agency would charge for the same hire.
- Do I pay tax on referral fees?
- Referral income is generally taxable, like any other income. We’re not tax advisors — check with your accountant about how to declare it in your situation.
The next time someone asks, say yes properly.
No referral in hand today? That’s normal. Signing up takes two minutes, or walk through a sample referral first.
Start recommending