Whirks Network Partner vs. Referral Partner: Which One Is Right for Your Business?

You may be a CPA with an ongoing referral relationship with ADP or Paychex. 

Maybe you’re growing your customer base and managing a few payrolls because clients expect it, even though your product options are limited.  

Or perhaps you’re a franchisor looking to find a great partner who can guarantee cost of services for your franchisees.  

In each of these cases, you want to provide options to your clients for payroll, but what’s the best way to do it?  

Should you manage payroll in-house, investing in the technology, people, and processes needed? Or should you refer it out to a trusted partner who can operate as an extension of your brand? 

Let's explore the options at Whirks to help you determine which partnership model best supports your business needs. 

• If you like staying hands-on, our Network Partnership lets you keep full control of your client relationships while using our payroll platform. 

• But if you’d prefer to let someone else do the heavy lifting, the Referral Partnership allows you to refer clients and let us take over, all while earning a share of the revenue.  

What Is the Whirks Network Partner Program? 

A Network Partnership with Whirks is designed primarily for CPAs who already provide bookkeeping or tax services and want to add payroll management to their offerings or improve their current offering. This partnership enables businesses to maintain full control over client relationships while leveraging Whirks' advanced payroll technology, expertise, and support to improve efficiency.  

This option allows you to be actively involved in payroll management without needing to develop your own tools or infrastructure.  

The Network Partnership gives you the power to run payroll services under your own brand, backed by Whirks' technology and support. 

Control Over Client Relationships 

As a Network Partner, you remain the key point of contact for your clients. This means that even though you're using Whirks’ technology to manage payroll, you still own the client relationship. You gather payroll data, oversee how your clients interact with the system, and maintain full control over service delivery. 

This is ideal for businesses that want to provide a personal touch and ensure their clients receive customized service, whether you prefer to input payroll data yourself or have your clients do it directly in Whirks' platform. 

You can leverage Whirks' payroll technology to deliver the reliable, high-quality service your clients expect. 

Customizable Client Experience 

Every business is different, and as a Network Partner, you have the flexibility to set up payroll processing in a way that works best for each client.  

You might teach clients to submit payroll electronically or allow them to call or email their hours for your team to enter on their behalf. This range of options helps you provide the right level of support for each client's needs.  

This freedom means you can shape the service to meet both your client's needs and your operational preferences. You decide the rules for how data is submitted, what processes are followed, and how often clients interact with you versus the payroll software.  

The partnership lets you maintain your brand identity and service standards while giving you the tools to scale efficiently. 

This partnership also means you need someone in-house to manage customer service for your payroll clients. 

Pricing Control and Upsell Opportunities 

One of the biggest advantages of the Network Partnership is the control over pricing. Whirks offers discounted rates based on your client book, but how you price those services is entirely up to you.

You can set your own pricing structure, upcharge clients for added services, or bundle payroll with other offerings. This gives you the flexibility to maximize your revenue. 

For example, Whirks charges a base fee of $7.70 per employee per month, plus $12 per entity. While Whirks handles the backend processing, you decide how much to charge your clients for the services you provide, allowing you to tailor pricing to the value you’re delivering. 

However, there is a cost structure to keep in mind. Network Partners are billed based on the number of employees and entities they manage, with a minimum spend of $2,000 per month.  

If you are committed to really growing a payroll business, this partnership allows you to start growing a profitable business without heavy investments into technology.  

If you know you want to rapidly grow a payroll practice, it might make more sense to invest directly in your own software or invest in technology directly with the payroll tech out there like isolved, Apex, etc.  

Who Benefits from a Network Partnership? 

A Network Partnership is a great fit for accounting firms or businesses that want to build their payroll service. If you don’t have the tools or the scale to fully manage payroll, with Whirks, you get access to technology and training that will allow you to expand.  

This model also benefits those who want to scale without losing the personal touch of client management. 

For businesses aiming to keep control over their clients’ payroll processes and offer premium services under their own brand, the Network Partnership provides the right balance of support and autonomy. 

One unique advantage of the Network Partnership is Whirks’ support for those who want to start or grow a payroll business but may lack the knowledge or experience to do it independently. We don’t just provide the tools; we educate our Network Partners on best practices and the reasoning behind our processes, giving you a strong foundation to build on. From day one, you’ll gain insights into industry standards and Whirks’ proven methods, equipping you with the confidence and skills to deliver high-quality payroll services. 

What Is a Referral Partnership with Whirks? 

A Referral Partnership with Whirks is the perfect solution for businesses that don’t want to be involved in the day-to-day management of payroll but still want to offer it as a service to their clients.

With this model, you refer clients to Whirks, and we handle everything—from sales and onboarding to payroll management and support. This option is ideal for businesses that want a hands-off approach but still want to earn revenue from payroll services. 

Hands-Off Payroll Management 

The Referral Partnership takes all the pressure off you. Once you refer a client to Whirks, our team takes over completely. We manage everything from client onboarding to payroll processing. Your role ends once the referral is made, freeing you from the operational responsibilities of payroll management. 

This partnership is especially beneficial for businesses that aren’t set up to handle payroll or simply prefer to avoid the extra work.  

Many types of companies can benefit from a Referral Partnership, including franchisors, HR consultants, benefits brokers, independent insurance agents, and trade associations.  

With this model, your clients receive the same high-quality payroll services that Whirks offers to all its customers, giving you peace of mind that they’re well taken care of—without you needing to lift a finger. 

Pricing 

One of the main advantages of the Referral Partnership is there are no minimum spend requirements, which makes this partnership more accessible for firms with smaller client bases. 

Your business is not responsible for any direct costs related to client payroll processing. 

Revenue Sharing Without the Effort 

Even though you’re not involved in the daily operations, you’ll still benefit financially. As a Referral Partner, you receive a share of the revenue for every client you refer. This revenue share is based on the number of clients you bring in, so the more referrals you make, the more you earn. 

For businesses that have a large client base but don’t want to manage payroll, this can be a lucrative, low-effort way to expand your offerings. 

You’ll earn passive income year after year, receiving compensation for the lifetime value of each client—all without adding extra resources or staff. 

You earn passive income without the need for any extra resources or staffing. 

Reduced Control Over Client Experience 

While the Referral Partnership offers convenience, it does come with some trade-offs. You won’t have control over how your clients interact with the payroll service. Whirks handles everything directly with the client, and we follow our own processes for data collection, compliance, and customer support. 

For example, we require clients to enter their own payroll data directly into our software, and we set the terms for how they interact with our system. 

If you’re comfortable with a hands-off approach, this won’t be an issue. But if maintaining control over the client experience is important to you, the Network Partnership may be a better fit. 

Who Benefits from a Referral Partnership? 

A Referral Partnership is best suited for businesses that don’t want to handle payroll tasks but recognize their clients need a payroll solution.  

This approach is popular with franchisors, HR consultants, benefits brokers, independent insurance agents, and trade associations because your business is not responsible for any direct costs related to client payroll processing. 

 With no minimum spend requirements, this makes the referral partnership more accessible for firms with smaller client bases. 

For example, accounting firms that don’t specialize in payroll but want to offer this service to their clients would benefit from this model. It’s also ideal for companies that prefer a hands-off approach but still want to generate revenue from their client base. 

This partnership offers convenience and simplicity, but it comes with the tradeoff of less control over how payroll services are delivered to your clients. 

Which Partnership Model Is Right for You? 

Now that you have a clearer understanding of both partnership models, the question is: which one aligns with your business goals? Here’s a breakdown to help you decide: 

Network Partnership: Best for Hands-On Control 

If you want to maintain full control of your client relationships, customize the payroll experience, and set your own pricing, the Network Partnership is the best option. This model gives you the freedom to manage payroll services while still benefiting from Whirks' technology and support. It’s ideal for businesses looking to scale their payroll offerings without losing control over the client experience. 

Referral Partnership: Best for Hands-Off Management 

If you’d prefer to hand off payroll management entirely while still earning revenue, the Referral Partnership is the right choice. This model allows you to refer clients to Whirks and let us handle all aspects of payroll, from onboarding to ongoing management. It’s perfect for businesses that don’t have the resources or desire to manage payroll but want to continue offering it as a service. 

Partner with Whirks for Payroll That Pays Off 

Whatever path you choose, Whirks is here to provide the support, technology, and expertise you need to thrive. 

We understand that before committing to a partnership, you need clarity on the costs and potential return. That’s why we’ve created a pricing guide for partners to give you all the details you need.