referral fee; introduction fee
A fee paid for introducing a client, customer, or business opportunity. Common in real estate, recruitment, and sales contexts.
I paid a referral fee to the real estate agency.
Since the contract was through a friend's introduction, no introduction fee was charged.
手数料 is a general handling or service charge, not necessarily tied to an introduction.
Compound of 紹介 (introduction) and 料 (fee).