Referral Partner Program

Your clients have more financing options than they know. We are how they find them.

Cherokee Commercial Credit is a commercial finance brokerage with lender-side underwriting experience and access to a national network — including boutique lenders and specialty finance companies that operate exclusively through the broker channel and cannot be reached directly. When you refer a client, you are giving them access to a market they would not find on their own.

How It Works
Three steps. No heavy lifting.
01

Make the introduction

Send us a name and number, or point your client to our application. That is all we need to get started.

02

We handle everything

Application, lender selection, structuring, follow-up — we run the process from start to finish. Your client is in good hands.

03

Collect your fee

When the deal funds you receive a competitive referral fee. Documented in writing. Paid promptly. No chasing required.

Why Partner With Us
You are giving your clients access to a market they cannot reach on their own.

Access your clients cannot get directly

A meaningful segment of the commercial lending market — boutique lenders and specialty finance companies with competitive rate structures — works exclusively through brokers. They do not market to borrowers. A referral to Cherokee gives your client options that do not exist through their bank or any direct channel.

Lender-side expertise behind every transaction

Cherokee's founder spent over a decade inside a direct lender underwriting equipment finance deals. We understand how lenders evaluate collateral quality, assess debt service coverage, and price credit risk. That knowledge is applied to every deal we work — which means better positioning and better outcomes for your clients.

Works for strong credits and challenged ones alike

Well-qualified businesses gain competition across their credit profile that a single banking relationship cannot produce. Businesses with more complex credit situations gain access to lenders with genuine appetite for their deal. The same network and expertise applies either way.

Your fee is documented before closing

Your referral fee is agreed to in writing before the deal closes. Paid at funding. You will not have to follow up or wonder where your check is.

What to Say
A script that works in any conversation

"I work with a commercial finance broker I refer clients to — Cherokee Commercial Credit. They cover equipment, working capital, acquisitions, the full range. Worth having a relationship established before you need it so you're not scrambling, and honestly most businesses are underserved by relying on one banking relationship anyway. No cost, no obligation — just good to have in your back pocket."

That is the whole pitch. We take it from there.

The goal is not to close a deal on the spot — it is to make sure your client knows Cherokee exists and has the relationship established before a CapEx need or working capital gap materializes. Most businesses do not realize how much of the lending market is inaccessible to them directly. That awareness is the value you are delivering.

Get set up as a referral partner

Fill out the form below and we will reach out within one business day to walk through how the program works and get your referral agreement in place.

We will be in touch within one business day.

We received your inquiry.

Someone from Cherokee will be in touch within one business day to walk through the program and get your referral agreement in place.

Partner Overview

Download the referral partner one pager

Everything you need to explain Cherokee to a business owner — including a word-for-word script built around establishing the relationship before a need arises.

Download One Pager (PDF)
What's inside
  • What Cherokee Commercial Credit does
  • How referrals work — step by step
  • A script you can use word for word
  • Full list of products we finance
  • Common partner questions answered
Common Questions
What partners typically ask us
What if my client's credit is not great?
Send it anyway. We work with businesses that traditional banks decline. Imperfect credit, limited time in business, and difficult industries are not automatic stops for us. We would rather look at a deal and pass than never see it.
Will referring someone create awkwardness with my client?
No. We are a resource, not a replacement for your relationship. You are pointing your client toward a financing option they may not know exists. That reflects well on you regardless of whether the deal funds.
How does the referral fee work?
You receive a competitive referral fee when a deal funds. The amount is based on a percentage of the origination fee and is agreed to in writing before closing. You do not have to chase us for payment.
Do I need a license to refer deals?
In most cases, no. Referrals that do not involve negotiating terms or soliciting borrowers typically fall outside licensing requirements. We recommend you confirm with your own compliance counsel if you have questions specific to your profession.
What types of businesses can you finance?
Any industry, any stage. We cover equipment, working capital, SBA loans, sale-leaseback, accounts receivable financing, business acquisitions, and commercial real estate. The goal is to have the relationship in place before a need comes up — most businesses are underserved by relying on a single banking relationship and do not realize other options exist until they need capital and it is too late to move quickly.
How do I submit a referral once I am set up?
Send us the business name and a contact — that is all we need to initiate outreach. You can email directly or call. We take it from there and keep you informed on status.
Won't using a broker just add cost — another middleman taking a cut?
No, and here is why. Lenders price their products to cover distribution costs regardless of channel — whether that is an internal sales rep, advertising, or a broker. That cost is already built into the rate either way. Cherokee does not add to it; we substitute for a cost the lender was already going to pay. What changes is that your client's deal goes in front of multiple lenders simultaneously instead of one. That competition produces better terms than most borrowers would negotiate walking into a single bank on their own. They are not paying more because a broker is involved — they are getting leverage they would not otherwise have.