When partners evaluate a referral program, the real question underneath is simple: what exactly do I get paid for? Clicks? Quotes? Sales? The answer shapes how much you earn and how predictable it is. This post breaks down what actually triggers a payout, how the amount is set, and how Truvo's model works.
What event actually triggers a payout?
Programs pay on different milestones, and the milestone determines how much risk sits with you versus the insurer. The common trigger points, from earliest to latest:
- Per click or referral — you're paid simply for sending traffic. Rare in insurance and usually low value, because most clicks never convert.
- Per qualified lead — you earn when a referred person takes a meaningful step, like requesting a quote with valid details.
- Per bound policy — you earn only when the customer actually buys coverage. Common in programs for licensed partners; many states do not allow a non-licensed partner's fee to depend on the sale.
A qualified lead means a real quote request: the customer submitted valid details through your link and can be reached. Paying per qualified lead rewards introductions, which is the work a referral partner actually does.
The further down the list a program pays, the higher the per-event reward tends to be, because the conversion risk has already been resolved.