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At Canada A CPA may accept a referred client. For routine engagements, provincial codes (Rule 216 of the Harmonized Code, Article 35 in Quebec) permit referral fees with safeguards, written disclosure, and client consent. For assurance clients (audits, review engagements), paying a commission to acquire the client is prohibited. Fees paid for actual, defined services are expressly excluded from the Harmonized Code's definition of compensation; the substance of the agreement prevails, and the text of your order is authoritative.
A firm that receives a client through a referral service quickly asks itself: is this ethical? Short answer: yes, client referrals are eligible for a CPA (Customer Performance Appraisal). Canada This is subject to two conditions: disclosure to the client and preservation of independence. Here is the framework, province by province, and the steps to take before signing anything.
The profession regulates the practice, it does not prohibit it. Each provincial professional order applies a code of ethics that is largely harmonized across Canada: the CPA Code of Professional Conduct in Ontario and most common law provinces, and the Code of Ethics of Chartered Professional Accountants in Quebec. CPA Canada supports the profession nationally, but your provincial professional order is the authoritative body.
Three principles structure the analysis of a referencing agreement:
The crucial distinction: it's not the introduction itself that's the problem, but rather the nature and transparency of the accompanying financial arrangement. Orders should be vigilant regarding hidden referral fees and commissions indexed to the fees charged.
In the harmonized code applied in Ontario and several other provinces, Rule 216 (“Commission or compensation arrangements”) governs the payment or receipt of remuneration related to client referrals. The intent of the rule is that such an arrangement must be disclosed to the client and must not compromise the member's objectivity. The exact wording and exceptions vary from one department to another; always refer to the text published by your professional order (see sources at the end of this article).
Not all acquisition channels are equal from an ethical standpoint. The following table ranks common arrangements from riskiest to easiest to manage:
| Arrangement | | Financial mechanics | Primary ethical requirement | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission as a percentage of the fees charged | The broker is paid on your invoice, mandate after mandate. | Disclosure, plus direct threat to independence (incentive to overbill); | High |
| Reference fee not disclosed | Hidden payment between the contributor and the firm | Non-compliant: disclosure to the client is missing | High |
| Fixed and disclosed reference fee | One-time amount, separate from mission fees | Disclosure made; monitor for conflict of interest; | Moderate |
| Fixed-cost matchmaking service, with no commission on fees. | Cost known in advance, no charge on the customer's bill | Simple disclosure; independence preserved; | Low |
| Advertising and SEO | No third party is paid for the matchmaking process. | Rules for advertising the order (truthfulness, no misleading comparisons) | Low |
The logic is consistent: the more the referrer's compensation is tied to your fees, the greater the threat to their independence, and the more difficult disclosure becomes. A fixed-cost arrangement, known in advance and separate from your billing, is the easiest scenario to disclose and defend. Regarding the purchase of leads in bulk, which follows the same analytical framework, see "Buying Accounting Leads: What to Check Before Paying ."
Ontario. CPA Ontario applies the CPA Code of Professional Conduct , including the provisions on commissions and referral fees. Referrals are permitted for ongoing engagements, subject to safeguards, written disclosure, and client consent (Rule 216.1); they are prohibited when the payment constitutes compensation for obtaining a client for certification (Rule 216.2), regardless of disclosure. Fees paid for actual, defined services are expressly excluded from the definition of compensation in Rule 216; however, the Order assesses the substance of the agreement.
Quebec. The Quebec CPA Order applies the Code of Ethics for Chartered Professional Accountants (CQLR, c. C-48.1, r. 6.1, in force since May 2024), section 35 of which allows for a commission to be paid to acquire a client, provided that safeguards are implemented and the client is informed in writing, and section 36 prohibits paying a commission to acquire a client for assurance services. The safe approach: verify any agreement against the current text before committing, as the French version is more restrictive than the harmonized code on certain points.
Other provinces. CPABC, CPA Alberta, and other professional bodies apply variations of the harmonized code. The principles (disclosure, independence, client interest) are common; the thresholds, definitions of "related party," and exact disclosure procedures vary. No consolidated statistics on the frequency of sanctions related to referral fees are published by the professional bodies: if you have any doubts, your professional body's ethics hotline is available to answer these types of questions.
Beware of the classic trap: extrapolating rules foreign to the Canada The regimes differ on specific points; compare with our analyses of the references according to the AICPA in the United States, the ethics of business referral for accounting professionals in France and the overview of business referral rules by country .
This qualification work adds to the true cost of acquiring a client, which is often underestimated. Our data on the cost of acquiring a client for an accounting firm and on the time wasted searching for clients helps to compare each channel at its full cost.
Analyzed using the grid above, the partner program presented on the Bankeo hub for accounting firms falls into the low-risk category of the table:
In terms of volume and traceability: the network boasts over 1,500 registered companies (Bankeo verifies each accountant's registration with their professional body before any match), more than 15,000 requests received since 2023 , a 4.7/5 rating based on over 180 Google reviews , and matching often completed within 48 hours . The reliability criteria applied to the network are documented in the Bankeo Index . For practical questions (types of requests, sectors covered, matching process), consult the FAQs of partner firms and the network's news section .
The question is not whether a CPA can accept a referred client, but under what conditions. As long as no commission is deducted from the fees and no one else is involved in the engagement, the CPA remains fully responsible for their work, their fees, and their independence: this is the most ethically sound scenario.
Key takeaway: Customer referrals are eligible for CPA at Canada Two requirements: to disclose the nature of the relationship to the client and to preserve one's independence. The risk lies in commissions indexed to fees; a fixed cost known in advance, without intervention in the engagement, is the simplest scenario to disclose and defend before one's professional body.
Yes. Accepting a client referred by a matchmaking service is permissible, provided there is transparency towards the client and professional independence is maintained. The sensitive issue is the financial arrangement, not the matchmaking itself.
Best practice is to inform the client of the nature of the relationship, ideally in the engagement letter. Disclosure is all the simpler since no referral fee is charged on the engagement.
Not necessarily, but it's the most closely monitored arrangement: disclosure is required, independence is threatened, and there may be incompatibility with certain engagements, particularly certification. Check the wording of your order before committing.
No. Bankeo never charges a commission on the firm's fees: the service is based on a fee per completed case, the amount of which is known in advance. The fees charged to the client go entirely to the firm.
The principles (transparency, independence, client interest) are common, but the specific provisions vary by province, and Quebec is more restrictive regarding rebates and commissions. Always refer to your province's code.
Yes. Bankeo verifies accountants' registration with their professional order before any connection is made. Several members of the network are CPAs registered with their provincial order. This is what allows us to refer to them as verified accountants.
Last source verification: July 2026. Codes evolve; the text published by your national order is authoritative.
By Arnaud Bertrand, CEO Bankeo.
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