Explain the relevant fit
A useful referral begins with the customer's task and the reason another provider may be better suited to it. Be specific about the capability you understand, while making uncertainty visible. Familiarity with a business does not establish that it can accept the work now. Avoid promising its prices, response time or availability. If your recommendation rests on older information, check it before describing the provider as a current option or frame the suggestion accordingly.
Share information with care
Usually you can give the customer the provider's public contact details and let them decide whether to proceed. Do not forward private enquiry details merely because an introduction seems helpful. Obtain the appropriate permission and follow the relevant privacy arrangements before sharing information. If there is a commercial relationship that matters to the recommendation, explain it clearly. Keep the purpose of the note practical: helping the person make their own assessment of a possible next step.
Maintain a small, useful directory
For your internal reference, record the kinds of work each contact may handle and when you last checked their public information. Include a reminder to confirm suitability rather than presenting the list as a guarantee. Periodically remove entries you can no longer explain. A rehearsal can use a fictional request outside your own service: draft the response, then ask whether the customer understands why you suggested this option and what they need to confirm for themselves.
U.S. Small Business Administration: manage your business ↗
This article combines general educational guidance with original planning exercises. It does not claim first-hand field testing or an endorsement from the linked organization. Sources checked October 2026.
