Looking for advice on partnership structure (finders fee)

Looking for advice on partnership structure (finders fee)

Madison, WI · Member since 2014 · 62 posts · 10 votes

Hi all,

I'm seeking advice on how to structure a specific element on an LLC my wife are a part of with 2 other partners. We are the more experienced real estate investors and they are more skilled in remodeling work. The idea was we would buy up places that needed some work and hold them for long term rentals.

When in business with others, how do you compensate for finding deals that are significantly under market value? How is a "finders fee" typically implemented? For example -- if 1 of the 3 members happens to find a deal that yields 50k in instant equity, would that somehow be divided up unequally to give the finder a larger share? Would you do a fixed percentage of the appraised value? A set finders fee amount? 

Just looking for some ideas here -- what further complicates things is that my wife is a realtor as well, so when finding deals that are not on the MLS, how much of that is included in her commission and how much of that is an investor finding something themselves?

Our first deal proved to be very similar to this and it is causing a lot of stress between the partners trying to agree on what is fair and what makes sense. Thanks.

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  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    9y
    Matt Kowske This is a very complex transaction as you have acquisition - rehab - own I would have whoever finds it wholesale the deal to the partnership and they collect their fee (either assign or buy and sell to LLC) The rehabbers then should use their company for renovation and charge the ownership LLC. Once it's complete the LLC will hold it and split income /expenses evenly etc. If you charge to much to wholesale or renovation is too much then the deal doesn't work. Each entity chooses what they want to make. You will experience death by 1000 cuts if you try and negotiate and figure out as a group how much each should make on each deal as someone will comment that "well on his deal you made ....) so why cannot I on this deal make that....
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  • Madison, WI · Member since 2014 · 62 posts · 10 votes
    9y

    Thanks @Chris Seveney that makes sense and we definitely don't want to go through this with each deal that's why I'm trying to figure out a structure going forward. It sounds like each of the legs (the wholesaling part and the rehabbing part) would need to charge under-market for their time/services to make it a good deal for everyone otherwise no reason to be in the partnership in the first place.

    I'll have to look into what a typical wholesale fee is and explore that some more.

  • Madison, WI · Member since 2014 · 62 posts · 10 votes
    9y

    Another thing I'm wrestling with is.... if we (my wife and I) find a place and wholesale it to the LLC we would collect some kind of assignment fee let's say -- but then she is also the realtor for the LLC and takes care of writing the offers and all that so would she collect a realtor's commission as well? The line between buyer's agent and wholesaler in this scenario is not clear to me.

  • Peter MckernanBusiness Member
    Residential Real Estate Agent · Irvine, CA · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Matt Kowske This is can be structured a few different ways. You'll have to sit down and see what is the biggest win-win for all parties is. If the other partners are brining the funds and you want to put in the sweat equity for the next two deals, and then have it set in the operating agreement that you will be taking a 33.3% cut after that time, or you could be the deal finder for all deals and never put in any money and still create the value to ask for 33.3%. 

    It's about creating that value and if you are not putting in money until you have the money, then you'll have to bring the partners deals, and it sounds like you are. Keep the search going and you should be able to ask for the portion of proceeds from the partners that you feel is far. It's hard to find deals now in a great economy, so you may be able to negotiate an even better position in the partnership. 

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