Legal
Are Finder's Fees and Intro Fees Legal in the UK?
4 min read · By The Know A Guy team · Updated 24 Jun 2026
Short answer
Finder's fees are legal in the UK between consenting parties for unregulated services. The two exceptions are regulated financial introductions, which require FCA authorisation or a regulated firm to receive the payment, and immigration introductions, which are tightly restricted.
The general rule A finder's fee is a normal commercial payment. It is legal between two businesses or between a business and an individual when both agree to it in writing.
Exception 1: regulated financial intros Introducing investors to a regulated investment, mortgage or insurance product is a regulated activity in the UK. Either you must be FCA authorised, or you can only act as an "introducer" under the rules of a regulated firm.
Exception 2: immigration Paid immigration introductions are restricted under the Immigration and Asylum Act and OISC rules.
In short For everything else (legal work, accounting, design, dev, property services, etc) a finder's fee is fine. Get it in writing.
FAQ
Do I need a licence to charge a finder's fee?
Not for unregulated services. For financial products you need FCA authorisation or to operate under a regulated firm.
Can a solicitor pay a finder's fee?
Yes, within SRA conduct rules. The client must be told about the fee.