Business introducer (apporteur d’affaires)
An individual or entity that connects a franchisor with a prospective franchisee or client in exchange for a commission, without acting as a permanent agent or representative. A flexible status that extends a distribution network without adding headcount.
In practice
Commissions in franchise introductions typically run 5-15% of the entry fee, paid on contract signature, sometimes supplemented by a percentage of first-year royalties. The introducer agreement must specify scope, rate, the event that triggers the right to a commission, and the treatment of recurring business. The legal boundary with the commercial agent status — which carries statutory protections and severance entitlements — requires monitoring: reclassification is costly.