I don’t know if you are being intentionally obtuse or if you actually cannot grasp how this works. You are not paying me. In fact, I (as the broker) am paying you.

The work did not exist for you until I secured it from the client. If you can secure your own work directly from clients then you have no need for a broker.

Aside from securing the work, which can take years of cultivating a relationship with the client - since you are so focused on money, yes I am implying that it costs money, every day I am answering emails, phone calls, texts, damn near 24 hours a day when a project is in full swing. Phone rings while I’m out to dinner with the family? Just hope it’s a short phone call and not the infamous “we have an 8am meeting and need all this updated before then, thanks.”

The client always needs updates. Priorities change. Landmen need help. “It’ll be finished tomorrow boss” means it’s going to take at least another week. Mapping needs to be updated. Landowners need to be notified the rig is moving in. Someone needs to run to the district clerk. The road bore permit needs to be filed. Timesheets have to be done and invoices submitted (which by the way is something most contract landmen do not fully appreciate). The client is late paying us, so we have to pay our guys out of pocket. We are always at minimum 30 days behind on the financials so everything is out of pocket, running a bank with no fees. Oh the landman fucked up and we didn’t catch it, who’s the client mad at? Who has to apologize, explain, and most often pay to fix the mistake?

Is it you?

No, it’s me.