The General Contractor's Guide to Passive Income

You are the Hub. Every day, your phone rings with opportunities you can't take.

Maybe it's a small repair job that's not worth your crew's time. Maybe it's a trade you don't self-perform (like HVAC or Electrical). Maybe you're just booked solid for six months.

So what do you do? You say: "Call my guy Sparky. He's good."

You just gave away money.

The "Bird Dog" Problem

In the old world, "Bird Dog Fees" (referral fees) were a handshake deal.

• You refer a $10k job.
• You expect $500 (5%).
• The sub does the work.
• Maybe they pay you. Maybe they "forget." Maybe they buy you a steak dinner and call it even.

It's awkward to chase them for a check. So you don't. You let thousands of dollars slide every year because you're too busy running big jobs to chase small checks.

The Trusted Bench Solution: Monetize Your Bench

Trusted Bench turns your contact list into an asset class.

Instead of texting a name and number, you send a Trusted Bench Link.

Note

"Here, use my link to book Sparky. He's pre-vetted and I track the job."

When the client books through your link:

1. The Job is Tracked: You see exactly when the lead is accepted, quoted, and paid.
2. The Fee is Automatic: The sub invoices through Trusted Bench. When the client pays, the system automatically splits the fee.
   • Sub gets 95%.
   • You get 5%.
   • It hits your bank account instantly.

Why Your Subs Will Love It

You might think, "Won't my subs hate paying a fee?"

Wrong.

Your subs want to pay you. They know that if they feed the hand that feeds them, they get more leads. The problem isn't the money; it's the friction.

Writing a check is a hassle. Remembering to pay is a hassle. Trusted Bench removes the hassle. The sub just invoices the client, and the "Thank You" money happens automatically. They stay on your "Good List" without lifting a finger.

The Math of the "Super Node"

Let's say you refer out $50,000 of work per month that you don't do yourself.

• Plumbing
• Electrical
• HVAC
• Small Repairs

At a standard 5% Referral Fee, that's $2,500/month in pure, 100% margin profit.

That's a truck payment. That's a mortgage payment. That's free money for work you were already doing (answering the phone).

How to Start

1. Build Your Bench: Add your top 5 trusted subs to Trusted Bench.
2. Set the Fee: Agree on a percentage (e.g., 5%) or a flat fee per lead.
3. Send the Link: The next time someone asks, "Do you know a plumber?", don't just give a name. Give a link.

Stop being a free lead generation service. Start being a Network Manager.