This page sets out how the price is set, what you are billed for, what to check in any agreement of this kind, and when a retainer is honestly the better buy.
Who carries the risk?
With a retainer agency you pay a monthly fee whether the campaign produced a dozen enquiries or none, and the agency's incentive is to keep the retainer. With pay per click you pay Google for every click, including the clicks from people who were never going to enquire. With pay per lead, the advertising, the landing pages and the checking are our cost. If a campaign produces nothing, we lose money and you pay nothing.
That is the whole reason the model exists. It moves the risk of a poor campaign from the advisory to the supplier, which is where it belongs, because the supplier is the one who chose the ads.
How is the price set?
Before anything runs, we agree three things in writing. The investor you want: first investment, portfolio, equity, cash flow, or a mix. The markets you advise on, so an enquiry about Perth does not land with a Sydney only firm. And a fixed price per lead.
That price depends on how hard your investor is to reach and how many enquiries a week you can call. It does not move once agreed. If we find we cannot produce leads at that price, we tell you and stop, rather than quietly loosening the brief to hit a number.
What are you billed for?
Billing is weekly, in arrears, for the leads delivered that week. Flag a dud within five business days and it is replaced or credited. You pay for one thing only.
- A lead that passed the checks and matched your brief
- Nothing for enquiries that failed the mobile check
- Nothing for duplicates of a lead you already hold
- Nothing for enquiries outside your markets
- Nothing for advertising, landing pages or software
What to check in any pay per lead agreement
The model is simple; the terms are where suppliers differ. Ask these before you sign anything, ours included.
Our answers are in writing. Exclusive and never resold. A replacement decision within five business days. No minimum term or minimum order. Investor data stored in Australia. No contact from us after delivery.
- Whether the lead is exclusive, and for how long
- What counts as a valid lead, and who decides
- How quickly a replacement claim is answered
- Whether there is a minimum term or a minimum order
- Where the investor's data is stored, and under which entity
- Whether the supplier contacts the investor after delivery
When a retainer is the better buy
If you want a brand built in your own name, with a website, a content program and a campaign you own at the end, a retainer agency is the right product. Pay per lead is not. We sell the enquiry, and only the enquiry.
If you have gaps in the calendar and an adviser who can call, pay per lead is the faster route to a full one. Most firms we talk to want the second thing first and the first thing later, which is a sensible order.