Gina BishopProject Manager| AgriProject PartnersGa, United States
I will try to make this brief: After retiring from a career spanning forty years in agronomy field research (public and private sector) and earning my PMP cert last March, I launched my own company Jan. 1, 2026. My LLC is focused on providing support to research projects (trials, B2B sales, discovery, etc.) and utilizing my project management skills to deliver value. I have worked as an independent contractor for the last year and finally decided to launch my own brand. In mid-January, I was approached by the owner of a CRO (contract research organization) who found my name as a new member of an independent crop consultant group. We met at a trade show and he asked if I would consider being the point person for his company and two other CROs in an effort to acquire business from foreign agricultural companies that want to trial their products in the U.S. My position would serve as the point of contact. Obviously, this can be structured in many ways and I can be 1: simply the contact person who refers to the CRO’s for bids, then gets a percentage, 2: the contact person who subs the trials to the CRO’s, then returns a final report, marking up the cost for my profit, etc. My question: what is the best model for this position?
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Gina, there are clear pros and cons to each structure. A commission-based model keeps legal and financial risk low. It’s clean, simple, and easy to administer. However, revenue is capped at a percentage, and you don’t control project execution, quality, timelines, or the overall client experience.
On the other hand, if you serve as the project interface and hold the contract, you control the client relationship, reporting, and quality standards. This positions you to build stronger enterprise value and a more differentiated brand. The tradeoff is increased contractual liability, cash-flow considerations, and additional administrative oversight.
Ultimately, the right model depends on your risk tolerance, desired level of control, and long-term business goals. You can consider a hybrid approach as it may offer a strong middle ground by acting as a strategic broker while also providing project oversight for an additional fee. This allows you to remain central to the relationship while limiting exposure.
Hope this helps!
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1 reply by Gina Bishop
Feb 23, 2026 9:19 PM
Gina Bishop
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Rami, This is very helpful! I had not envisioned a hybrid model…seeing your description in writing is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
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Gina BishopProject Manager| AgriProject PartnersGa, United States
Feb 23, 2026 7:07 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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Gina, there are clear pros and cons to each structure. A commission-based model keeps legal and financial risk low. It’s clean, simple, and easy to administer. However, revenue is capped at a percentage, and you don’t control project execution, quality, timelines, or the overall client experience.
On the other hand, if you serve as the project interface and hold the contract, you control the client relationship, reporting, and quality standards. This positions you to build stronger enterprise value and a more differentiated brand. The tradeoff is increased contractual liability, cash-flow considerations, and additional administrative oversight.
Ultimately, the right model depends on your risk tolerance, desired level of control, and long-term business goals. You can consider a hybrid approach as it may offer a strong middle ground by acting as a strategic broker while also providing project oversight for an additional fee. This allows you to remain central to the relationship while limiting exposure.
Hope this helps!
Rami, This is very helpful! I had not envisioned a hybrid model…seeing your description in writing is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
Program Manager| HARPER SRLSanto Domingo / Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
It depends on how much control and risk you want.
• Referral model – lowest risk, earn a % for introductions. • Managed account model – you lead the client relationship and oversight, earn higher % or retainer (balanced control). • Prime contractor model – highest revenue potential, but you carry contracts, liability, and cash flow risk.
I’d recommend starting with the managed account model to build authority and income without heavy legal exposure, then scale if volume grows. Saving Changes...
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