SortRefer
SortRefer is a UK B2B marketplace, founded in 2009, connecting mortgage brokers and IFAs with a curated panel of conveyancing, surveying, will-writing, and specialist property service suppliers; brokers register free and earn referral fees per completed case.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDerby, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SortRefer does
SortRefer (legal entity: Sort Limited) is a UK-based B2B referral marketplace founded in 2009, headquartered in Derby with a secondary office in South Shields. The platform connects mortgage intermediaries — IFAs and mortgage brokers — with a curated panel of conveyancing, surveying, will-writing, and specialist property service suppliers across England, Wales, and Scotland. Brokers register free of charge, generate client quotations through the web portal at sortrefer.co.uk, instruct panel suppliers, track case progress in real time, and earn variable referral fees on completed transactions (up to £300 per conveyancing case, up to £200 per survey, up to £100 per will). SortRefer monetises by retaining a proportion of the supplier fee paid on each completed instruction, operating a pure marketplace commission model with no direct charges to brokers.
The product surface is broader than core conveyancing and includes multiple remortgage packages (Standard Remortgage, Fixed Price Legals, Flexible Remortgage, Buy to Let Fixed Price Legals, Help to Buy Fixed Price Legals), Scottish conveyancing and Home Reports, surveys and valuations, specialist property reports, EPCs, snagging reports, equity release conveyancing, second-charge legals, stand-alone transfer of equity, independent legal advice, lease extensions, self-build and commercial property conveyancing, and a recently introduced insurance-backed Stamp Duty Check tool built with Stamp.Expert. The underlying technology is a web-based portal hosted on AWS eu-west-2 (S3) and managed cloud infrastructure, supplemented by Google Analytics, Mailgun for transactional email, and YouTube for content distribution. SortRefer holds ISO 9001, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, Cyber Safe, GDPR, and Investors in People Gold certifications.
Distribution is exclusively channel-partner driven: the company sells only through registered mortgage intermediaries, supplemented by a regional Business Development Manager field team, an in-house support function, an annual Sort Ball gala, a UK-wide regional events programme, and content channels including a blog, podcast ('The Next Move in Conveyancing'), and YouTube. Customer concentration is structurally low given the 5,000+ broker registrations and transaction-based pricing; the business is materially exposed to UK mortgage transaction volumes and broker behaviour rather than to any single account. Ownership is private and founder-led (CEO Kevin Tunnicliffe), with no external funding rounds disclosed.
SortRefer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SortRefer
- Legal name
- Sort Limited
- Website
- https://sortrefer.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SortRefer is a UK B2B marketplace, founded in 2009, connecting mortgage brokers and IFAs with a curated panel of conveyancing, surveying, will-writing, and specialist property service suppliers; brokers register free and earn referral fees per completed case.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SortRefer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Conveyancing referral marketplace
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Loan Brokers (6163)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wholesale Mortgage Broker Networks / Master Brokers (FSALABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes) (BPAJAAAA)
Keywords
Where SortRefer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Derby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
SortRefer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Supplier Referral Fees (Marketplace Commission): SortRefer earns a Supplier Fee (commission/remuneration paid by suppliers) for each completed transaction referred through its platform. The company pays the Main Introducer (broker) a portion of the Supplier Fee as a referral fee. Fee calculation is at SortRefer's discretion, can vary by instruction, and accrues only upon receipt of the supplier fee in cleared funds. Payment to brokers is made on the second Monday after case completion.
- Referral Fees from Mortgage Intermediaries: Brokers earn referral fees per completed case — up to £300 on Conveyancing, up to £200 on Surveys, up to £100 on Wills. Fees are variable depending on product selected and case specifics. SortRefer retains a proportion of the supplier fee as its take rate.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free broker registration – referral fees earned per completed case |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fixed Price Legal Products (Conveyancing) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Remortgage (tailored quotes, case-by-case) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Equity Release |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Buy to Let Fixed Price Legals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Help to Buy Remortgage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wills (via Sort Legal) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Snagging Reports (via The Professional Snagging Company) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
SortRefer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SortRefer operates a B2B online marketplace platform that connects UK mortgage intermediaries (IFAs and mortgage brokers) with a curated panel of property service suppliers including conveyancers, surveyors, valuation specialists, and will writers. Registered brokers use the portal to generate quotations, instruct suppliers, track case progress, and earn referral fees per completed transaction. The offering spans the full home-moving journey across England, Wales, and Scotland, with products ranging from sale/purchase conveyancing and multiple remortgage legal variants to surveys, specialist property reports, EPCs, snagging reports, wills, and stamp duty verification.
Product overview
SortRefer operates as a B2B referral platform connecting mortgage brokers and financial intermediaries with a panel of property service suppliers. The core offering centers on conveyancing services, with a modular portfolio of remortgage products (Standard Remortgage, Fixed Price Legals, Flexible Remortgage, Buy to Let Fixed Price Legals, Help to Buy Fixed Price Legals) that serve different client scenarios. Supporting products include property surveys and valuations (including specialist reports, EPCs, and Snagging Reports), legal services (wills, independent legal advice, lease extensions, stamp duty checks, self-build and commercial property conveyancing), and Scotland-specific offerings (Scottish Conveyancing, Home Reports, Fees Assisted Remortgage). The platform is enhanced by a loyalty program (Sort Club) and earning tools (Referral Fee Calculator). The service is accessible through a web portal where brokers can quote, instruct, and track cases while earning referral fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sale & Purchase Conveyancing Conveyancing referral service enabling UK mortgage brokers to instruct solicitors for clients buying or selling property. Quotes generated in seconds through the portal with full case tracking.
- Standard Remortgage Remortgage referral option offering bespoke quotes tailored per case, with brokers able to set their own referral fee up to £300 per completed case.
- Fixed Price Legals Remortgage Fixed-price legal services for straightforward remortgage cases available in six pricing tiers (£175, £225, £275, £375, £475, £575). Referral fees of £40-£280 per completed case.
- Flexible Remortgage Legals Six cost-effective remortgage package options (£265-£515) offering alternatives to free legals with ability to add additional work transparently. Includes telegraphic transfer fee in base price.
- Buy to Let Fixed Price Legals Dedicated Buy to Let remortgage solution at fixed price of £350 including legal fee, electronic ID fee, VAT, Buy-to-Let supplement, and leasehold supplement. Referral fee of £90 per completed case.
- Help to Buy Fixed Price Legals Fixed-price legal solution for Help to Buy remortgage cases at £175-£575. Covers legal fee, Help to Buy supplement, telegraphic transfer fee, electronic ID fee and VAT. Referral fees up to £280 per case.
- Equity Release Conveyancing
Quantifiable outcome
- Record October 2025: highest monthly completions and revenue in company history
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use SortRefer
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SortRefer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
SortRefer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Stamp.ExpertcoreSortRefer partnered with Stamp.Expert to provide an insurance-backed, client-led property tax compliance tool. Clients answer Yes/No questions via a secure mobile form; the system checks against 40+ tax reliefs in real time and issues Verified Estimate certificates. Available for residential and commercial purchase and remortgage transactions in England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Mov8 SolicitorscoreMov8 Solicitors (based in Edinburgh and Glasgow) provides Scottish conveyancing services to SortRefer brokers, including sale, purchase, remortgage, Home Reports, and now wills. Rated five stars by over 2,000 Trustpilot reviews. Available only to clients based in Scotland.
- Sort Legal (Wills)coreSort Legal provides wills services (Single and Mirror Wills) to SortRefer brokers, enabling advisers to refer clients for fully advised wills from £375 including VAT. Earns £45–£60 per referral.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SortRefer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PRIMIS Mortgage Network: Large UK mortgage network offering brokers compliance support and access to a wide product panel including conveyancing referrals. Compares to SortRefer through its broker-facing support infrastructure and ancillary service provisions, but operates a much broader network role.
- Connells Survey & Valuation: Major UK estate agency group that runs an in-house surveying and conveyancing panel offered to its network. Compares to SortRefer through conveyancing panel management and surveyor provision, though operational scale and branch-led distribution far exceed SortRefer's broker-portal model.
- Countrywide Conveyancing Services (now part of Connells): Long-running UK conveyancing and legal services panel aligned to a national estate agency branch network. Comparable to SortRefer in panel-management role, though distribution via branch rather than broker intermediary network.
Emerging players
- Simpson Millar LLP: National UK law firm with a conveyancing practice serving lender and broker referral channels. Adjacent to SortRefer as a conveyancing provider, but a panel supplier rather than a panel manager.
- Optima Legal Services: UK conveyancing panel firm offering volume legal services to mortgage lenders and networks. Comparable in conveyancing capability to SortRefer's panel suppliers, focused on lender relationships and panel management.
Direct peers
- Mortgage Connect: UK mortgage intermediary services firm offering conveyancing panel and ancillary product referral services to brokers and networks. Operates an adjacent intermediary-led panel model similar to SortRefer's broker-facing marketplace.
- 247 Group / 247law: UK legal panel manager coordinating conveyancing and legal services for lenders, brokers, and networks. Closely comparable to SortRefer as a panel intermediation business operating in the same UK mortgage distribution value chain.
- LMS Group (Legal Marketing Services): UK panel manager for conveyancing and legal services accessed primarily through mortgage lenders and networks. Directly comparable to SortRefer as a conveyancing/legal panel intermediary serving mortgage distribution in the UK home-moving journey.
Others
- Mortgage Brain (Twenty7tec): UK mortgage technology and intermediary services provider (now part of Twenty7tec). Adjacent to SortRefer through its broker-intermediary digital infrastructure across product sourcing, though not a conveyancing/legal panel manager itself.
- The Exchange (formerly Pink Exchange / Legal & General panel): UK panel manager for conveyancing/legal services operating primarily through lender relationships. Comparable to SortRefer through its panel intermediation model but distributed through lender tie-ins rather than independent broker intermediaries.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SortRefer social profiles
Digital presenceSortRefer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
SortRefer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SortRefer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
SortRefer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SortRefer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SortRefer
What does SortRefer do?
SortRefer operates a B2B online marketplace platform that connects UK mortgage intermediaries (IFAs and mortgage brokers) with a curated panel of property service suppliers including conveyancers, surveyors, valuation specialists, and will writers. Registered brokers use the portal to generate quotations, instruct suppliers, track case progress, and earn referral fees per completed transaction. The offering spans the full home-moving journey across England, Wales, and Scotland, with products ranging from sale/purchase conveyancing and multiple remortgage legal variants to surveys, specialist property reports, EPCs, snagging reports, wills, and stamp duty verification.
Is SortRefer a public or private company?
SortRefer is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SortRefer founded?
SortRefer was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SortRefer based?
SortRefer is headquartered in Derby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SortRefer make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Supplier Referral Fees (Marketplace Commission) is the primary driver. The others are referral Fees from Mortgage Intermediaries.
Who are SortRefer's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PRIMIS Mortgage Network, Connells Survey & Valuation and Countrywide Conveyancing Services (now part of Connells). Emerging players are Simpson Millar LLP and Optima Legal Services. Direct peers are Mortgage Connect, 247 Group / 247law and LMS Group (Legal Marketing Services). Others are Mortgage Brain (Twenty7tec) and The Exchange (formerly Pink Exchange / Legal & General panel).
Does SortRefer have an API?
No public API is recorded for SortRefer.
What industry is SortRefer in?
SortRefer's product category is Conveyancing referral marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSALABAC, Wholesale Mortgage Broker Networks / Master Brokers, with a secondary code of BPAJAAAA, Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes). Its NAICS code is 531210 and its SIC code is 6531.