Introducing brokers (IBs) are the biggest acquisition channel for many brokerages, especially in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America. But IB programmes often run on spreadsheets, WhatsApp groups and trust. That works for ten partners and breaks at fifty.
What is an IB?
An introducing broker refers traders to a broker in return for a commission. IBs range from individual educators and signal providers to large networks with their own sales teams and sub-IBs.
The three commission models
| Model | How it pays | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rebate per lot | A fixed amount per lot traded | Active trader communities |
| Revenue share | A percentage of spread/commission revenue | Long-term partners |
| CPA | A fixed amount per qualified FTD | Affiliates and media buyers |
Many programmes mix models: CPA for affiliates, rebates for educators and revenue share for master IBs.
Referral codes and links
Every IB needs a unique code or link so you can attribute every lead correctly:
- Add the code to landing pages and forms, not just the signup page.
- Store it on the lead at creation and never overwrite it.
- Let IBs create campaign-specific links so they know which of their channels work.
Sub-IBs and tiers
Master IBs recruit sub-IBs and earn an override on their business. To manage this:
- Define tiers (e.g. Silver, Gold, Platinum) with different rates.
- Record the parent IB for each sub-IB.
- Report on each partner's own results and their network's results.
The IB portal
Partners keep asking your team: "How many of my clients deposited?" An IB portal answers that for them, 24/7:
- Referrals and their statuses
- FTDs and deposit volume
- Commissions: pending, approved and paid
- Marketing assets and referral links
Routing IB leads
IB-referred leads should go to the rep who manages that IB, not into the general round-robin. The IB knows the rep, the rep knows the IB's audience, and the follow-up feels personal.
Running IBs in Alphorix
The Alphorix Partners module gives every IB a referral code, tiers with rate overrides, a partner portal and commission tracking. Referred leads route to the partner's owner automatically, and reports show referrals, FTDs and deposits by partner.
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