If I help broker a deal between two parties and one of them has agreed to pay me a fee. What can/should I do to protect myself and ensure that I get paid and the parties don't simply leave me out of the loop?
i.e. a friend wants to buy coal and I have friends in the coal mining business. The buyer has casually said that I could get a comission per tonne if I introduce him to the right supplier. As this would be ongoing business, how do I make sure I get my cut fair and square?
Obviously a contract is necessary, but do I need to form a company/business for this?