Free tool
Referral program planner
By Umair Nawaz, founder of Lirevon Updated How we test tools
Happy customers already talk about good tree work. A simple reward gives them a reason to send their neighbors to you. Enter your reward, your average job and your margin. You see what one referred job really earns you, how many referrals cover your costs, and you get a referral card you can print or copy. Every number is yours to change.
Related: Referral programs guide · Gross margin · Lead source · Tools for owner-operators.
1. The reward
2. Your jobs and costs
3. Your card details
What one referral earns you
Net profit per referred job
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Break-even referrals / month
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Cost per referred job
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Program profit / month
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Program profit / year
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Most you could pay per referral and still break even on the job
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Estimate only, built from the numbers entered. Overhead is not included, so keep a safe gap.
Your referral card (preview)
Know someone with a tree that needs work?
Referred by: ______________________
How the math works
- Gross profit on a referred job = average job value × gross margin %.
- Cost per referred job = reward to the customer + discount for the new customer.
- Net profit per referred job = gross profit − cost per referred job.
- Break-even referrals per month = fixed monthly program cost ÷ net profit per referred job, rounded up.
- Program profit per month = referred jobs per month × net profit per referred job − fixed monthly cost. Times 12 for the year.
- Most you could pay = gross profit − discount for the new customer. Pay much less than this, because overhead is not included.
The discount is counted as a cost because it comes straight off the price. A credit-on-next-job reward is counted at full value, so the result is on the safe side.
Questions about referral programs
How much should a tree service pay for a referral?
There is no single right number. Start from your own gross profit on an average job. The reward plus any discount for the new customer must be well below that profit, or the program loses money. Many owners pick a round, easy-to-remember amount that feels generous to the customer but is a small share of the profit. This tool shows you the most you could pay and still break even.
Is a cash reward better than a credit on the next job?
A credit on the next job costs you less than its face value, because you only pay your cost for the work, and it brings the customer back. Cash or a gift card feels more exciting and is easier to explain. Some owners give the customer the choice. The math in this tool uses the full face value either way, so the result is on the safe side.
Should the new customer get a discount too?
A two-sided offer ("you get a reward, your friend gets money off") gives the customer an easy reason to pass your name on, because they are doing their friend a favor. It also costs you more per job. Put the friend discount in the tool and see if the numbers still work.
When should I pay the reward?
After the referred job is finished and paid. That way you never pay for a lead that did not book, did not show up or did not pay. Say this clearly on the card so nobody is surprised.
Should there be a minimum job size?
Yes, it helps. A minimum (for example, any job over a set dollar amount) stops you paying a full reward on a small trim or a stump. Pick a minimum where the gross profit on that job still covers the reward and discount.
What does "break-even referrals" mean here?
It is how many referred jobs you need each month to cover the fixed costs of running the program, like printing cards and postage. Below that number the program costs you money. Above it, every extra referred job adds profit.
Can I ask for a review and offer a referral reward at the same time?
Keep them separate. Google does not allow rewards in exchange for reviews. You can ask happy customers for a review and, in a different message, tell them about your referral program. Never tie the reward to leaving a review.
Do I need to report referral rewards for taxes?
Large cash rewards paid to one person in a year may need tax paperwork, and rewards are usually a business expense. Rules change, so ask your accountant how to record them. Short explanation, not tax or legal advice.
How do I track who referred whom?
Keep it simple. Ask every new caller "How did you hear about us?" and write the referrer name on the estimate. The card in this tool has a line for the customer to write their name, so the new customer can hand it to you. A shared spreadsheet with date, referrer, new customer, job value and reward paid is enough to start.
Where do I hand out referral cards?
At the end of a job when the customer is happy, with the invoice, and in your thank-you text or email. Neighbors often watch tree work, so leaving a few cards with the customer to share on the street is a natural moment.
Is anything I type sent to Lirevon?
No. The math and the card run in your browser. Your numbers are only kept in this browser on this device so the form is filled in next time. Clear your browser data to remove them.
A referral only pays if you answer
Get the referral. Then catch the call.
A friend who calls because of your card and gets voicemail may call the next company instead. Lirevon sets up missed-call text-back, an AI receptionist, follow-ups and review requests for tree companies, so referred callers get an answer.