If your CPA or fractional CFO sends you to us, they may take a disclosed referral fee, or no fee at all. This page shows the rules that apply and what you are told in writing.
How does a referral work?
You say OK
Your CPA tells you about us and any fee they may earn. You give written consent.
Your CPA sends your name
We note them as the source.
We run the check
You get a result and a next step.
We intro a buyer
Only if one fits. You decide.
A deal closes
Only then can your CPA be paid, if a fee applies.
Your CPA stays your advisor. We only talk about the records.
Your CPA can send us your name through our referral form, with your written OK first.
Is your CPA paid?
They may be. If your CPA takes a disclosed referral fee, it is paid only if a deal closes, and it comes from Vaultfish, out of our own referral fee. The amount is agreed in writing with your CPA before any intro. We state no amount here.
What the CPA rules say
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct sets limits in section 1.520, in this AICPA code PDF.
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Disclosure to you. If a CPA may take a fee for recommending a service to you, the Code requires them to tell you (1.520.001, paragraph .03).
Its interpretation 1.520.080 says to give that disclosure in writing. We ask for it in writing too, and some state boards require that.
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Never alongside attest work. A CPA may not take a commission when their firm also does your audit, review, certain compilations or an examination of prospective financial information. We pay no fee in that case.
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State boards can be stricter. Your CPA checks theirs.
When your CPA may take a referral fee
| Feature | No audit or review work | Audit, review, certain compilations or a forecast examination |
|---|---|---|
| Disclosed referral fee | Yes | No |
| Written notice to you | Yes | No |
| Referral with no fee | Yes | Yes |
Your CPA hands you a one-page disclosure form. It names who pays whom, and when, and says you may decline. You sign it and keep a copy.
Your CPA gets your written consent before sending your name. Your information is confidential under the AICPA Code (section 1.700.001).
If your CPA prepares your tax return, IRC section 7216 limits how they may use return information to make a referral. Your CPA may check with their risk lead before sending anything.
Their own rules come first, and your CPA decides how to follow them.
What the rules say for fractional CFOs
A fractional CFO is the simplest case when no one at their firm or employer audits or reviews your books. Any fee is paid only on a closed deal, with a written disclosure to you.
If your CFO also holds a CPA license, or their firm does attest work for your company, the CPA rules apply.
If your CPA sells you a service under their name
If your CPA sells you a readiness service under their name, you pay them, they pay us, and they should tell you we are the provider and what they add on top. If their firm audits or reviews your books, they check with their independence lead first.
What your CPA should tell you
"I may earn a referral fee from Vaultfish if a deal closes. You can say no."
What stays out of every arrangement
- No fee for an intro alone.
- No files from your company in the intro. Your CPA sends a name and a reason. Vaultfish never receives your records.
- No pressure on you. You can stop at any step.
How we make money
micro1 may pay us a referral fee if a company we introduce goes ahead with it. How we are paid
You pay nothing extra for the free data check or for an introduction. The optional managed readiness review is paid by you, scoped and quoted in writing before you pay.
What to ask your CPA
- Whether they will take a referral fee, and put it in writing.
- Whether their firm does your audit, review or any compilations.
- Whether a service they sell you under their name comes from us, and what they add on top.
- Whether their state board has stricter rules.
Where to start
Run the free data check first. It takes about three minutes and you see the same result your CPA would see. If you want to talk it through, send Matt a note, or read the buyer comparison.
