Referrals work best after a customer understands the result you deliver. Finish the work, confirm satisfaction, and make the request easy to decline.
Choose the right moment
Close any open issues first. A customer should not feel that they need to recommend you to receive support or resolve a complaint. If they express appreciation, that may be a good time to ask.
Describe the person you can help
Instead of “Do you know anyone who needs anything?”, name a relevant problem. For example: “If you know another local shop that needs help organizing its monthly receipts, I would appreciate an introduction.” Use a description that fits your real service.
Offer a forwardable message
Keep it short: what you do, who you help, your contact link, and the next step. Ask the customer to forward it rather than handing you someone's private contact details without permission.
A sample: “I help independent shops organize receipt records so their bookkeeper has a cleaner starting point. Here is the service page if it is useful.” Do not imply that you provide licensed work unless that is true.
Keep reviews and referrals separate
A private introduction and a public review are different requests. Ask for honest feedback and follow the platform's rules. Do not make a reward conditional on positive reviews or hide a paid relationship.
Track the source respectfully
When a new inquiry arrives, ask how they heard about you. Record a simple source label and thank the referrer when appropriate. Avoid sharing a new customer's details or project status without consent.
Next step: choose one satisfied customer and make one specific request. The outreach kit includes a referral message you can adapt.