CMR FEE SHARING RULES

To clarify the fee-sharing rules within CMR:

The over-riding principle is that if the client was acquired through the use/introduction of CMR’s resources (products, services, marketing materials & business cards, website, other members,  etc.), then the client and all business emanating from them is CMR business and subject to the normal fee-sharing rules.

It does not matter if we/the member subsequently uses an outside body to help with a CMR project (for example, raising funding from an external investor, VC, etc.) – the project remains a CMR project.  In fact where we have a funding project that we believe is particularly worthwhile, and we cannot attract CMR investor interest, then we should go the corporate finance route of trying to obtain the funding for our client from external investors.

If the client was acquired without using CMR’s resources (as above), then the client and all business emanating from them can be classified as private business, invoice-able by the CMR member privately.  If a private client is brought into the CMR area for a specific project (for example funding), the CMR fee-sharing rules apply to just that project – not to other business from the client.

So to be clear – if a member represents themselves as being a CMR Executive through either introducing CMR products, services, resources, business cards, email signatures and other promotional material, then clients obtained in that way are CMR clients, and the business is subject to CMR fee-sharing rules.

CMR members who do trade separately in their own name must always only use their own personal business card (not a CMR business card) if they wish the client to be considered ‘private’.  The use of a CMR business card implies that the person presenting is a CMR executive with the support and resources of the CMR organisation behind them, including CMR’s PI insurance.  The credibility and assurance that brings would make any resulting business ‘CMR business’.

A personal business card may include a reference that the named person is an ‘Associate of CMR’.  A certain degree of trust is implicit in this – if it is probable that the new client is obtained because of your association with CMR, then you must declare the business emanating as CMR business.

To be operationally viable, CMR itself does need its small share of business generated from CMR ‘projects’ (the small monthly subs charged do not cover the costs of providing the comprehensive range of CMR resources & facilities) – and we ask CMR members to be fair – we know that advantage can be taken, and we do rely on our members not to circumvent the rules.  CMR was deliberately set-up to be a flexible and friendly organisation – we need member's understanding and goodwill to preserve that ethos.