This may be the dumbest question I ever had to ask you guys!

They got paid to talk to the guy didn't they? I've told guys that talk too much to go home with the other guy if they want to talk! Or at least talk AND work.

edit: ^--thats co-workers though. My guys are always courteous on the job and we never used to give them anything for getting us work from family/friends. It was just considered helping us & them, but now I give them a fee.

When I worked for a roofing company and when I became a licensed roofing contractor, I always took care of the guys. I provided them with business cards with my name on it, they would hand write their name on it and I gave them a lead fee if the job was sold. If the prospect actually mentioned their names it would be a fee based on the amount of the job. It wasn't uncommon for a tear off guy to receive a $500 bonus for a job that was sold because of their initial contact. Plus being a licensed contractor they were actual employees and not 1099ers.

Lefty Said: If they want the commission they need to do the whole sales process, right down to ordering the materials.

I know it sounded like a trick question because the correct answer is so obvious, but this actually came up recently for us.

Thanks Lefty.

I agree, when someone is on the clock he/she is expected to do the fundamental things to represent his employer. Those basic duties do not warrant a commission on that job or every job for that customer.

The reverse is the best proof of that: If a potential customer walked up to our jobsite and asked one of my employees some questions, and my employee said "I don't get paid to answer your questions, I'm a laborer," he'd be fired on the spot.

There is a lot more to earning the commision then talking to someone for 2 minutes. We will give extra for a lead that a worker brings from family or friends, but not from the job site.

I just had a worker bring a lead from a family friend. I asked him why he is not selling it. Our workers when someone walks up and asks for a price they know to start the sales process and get the customers information, if the home is right there get measurements if it is not the whole building [we use Eagle Views for pricing and material lists], and pictures. If they want the commission they need to do the whole sales process, right down to ordering the materials.

So the anwser is no. I would not even give him the couple of hundred.