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How to Choose a TPI or Aggregator Partner: A Broker's Checklist

If you're a broker weighing up which Third Party Intermediary (TPI) or energy aggregator to partner with, the decision shapes your margins, your compliance exposure, and how much of your time goes into admin versus winning new business. Yet most of the comparisons available online are vague marketing copy rather than a genuine framework.

Here's what actually separates a good partner from one that will cost you time and clients.

1. Commission Structure and Transparency

Commission is usually the first question brokers ask, but the structure matters more than the headline rate.

• Uplift vs. fixed fee vs. hybrid models — uplift can be lucrative on larger contracts but creates pricing risk if not capped or disclosed properly.
• Payment timing — paid on contract signature, on go-live, or spread across the contract term? This affects your cash flow significantly.
• Clawback terms — what happens if a client cancels, switches early, or fails credit checks after the deal is booked?
• Disclosure requirements — since Ofgem's TPI transparency rules tightened broker conduct expectations, a partner who makes commission disclosure simple (rather than something you have to manually calculate and explain) saves you real time and reduces complaint risk.

What to ask: "Can you show me, in writing, exactly how and when I get paid on a typical 3-year fixed contract?"

2. Supplier Panel Breadth and Quality

A wide panel sounds good on paper, but what matters is:

• Coverage across micro, SME, and I&C segments, not just one band
• Genuinely competitive rates at the point of quoting, not just on the website
• Relationships with suppliers known for reliable onboarding (slow supplier onboarding is one of the most common sources of broker complaints)
• Access to flexible/half-hourly products if you serve larger commercial clients

What to ask: "Which suppliers on your panel have you actually placed business with in the last quarter, and what was the average time to go-live?"

3. Technology and Quoting Capability

This is increasingly a differentiator, not a nice-to-have.

• Real-time or near-real-time quoting versus a 24–48 hour turnaround
• A broker portal that shows live pipeline status, not just a CRM you have to chase emails about
• AI-assisted rate comparison and renewal alerts — partners building this now will save your team meaningful admin hours over the next two years
• API or data-feed access if you want to integrate quoting into your own site or CRM

4. Compliance and Regulatory Support

This is where a good partner becomes a genuine risk reducer rather than just a quote engine.

• Do they provide compliant documentation templates (LOAs, disclosure statements)
• Do they proactively flag regulatory changes that affect how you sell, rather than leaving you to find out via a trade press article?
• Is there a dedicated compliance contact, or is it buried in general support?

We offer full staff traning for comliance and have an online training portal to track your staff training for compliance 
What to ask: "Walk me through how you'd support me if Ofgem updated TPI Code of Practice requirements tomorrow."

5. Onboarding and Ongoing Support

The sales process tells you what a partner wants you to see. Ask about what happens after you sign:

• Dedicated account management vs. a shared inbox
• Training on their systems and on new supplier products
• Responsiveness when a client query needs escalating mid-contract
• Whether co-branded marketing or content support is available (this matters more than brokers often expect — see our companion piece on partnership content)

6. Reputation Among Existing Brokers

Ask for references from brokers who've been with them 12+ months, not just recent joiners. Longevity tells you more than enthusiasm.

The Bottom Line

The right TPI or aggregator partnership should reduce your admin burden, protect you from compliance risk, and give your clients better outcomes — not just hand you a higher headline commission rate. Ask the direct questions above before you sign, and ask for everything in writing.

If you're evaluating partners and want to talk through your specific book of business, [get in touch with Will on 01432 378690— we're happy to walk through exactly how our commission, panel, and support model works.

One note: swap [get in touch with Will on  01432 378690, and add the title/meta tags from earlier when you set up the page.
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