Guild / Cooperative CRM Sharing Playbook
Source: Sean Fleener + Ian Crawford calls 2026-03-24, Regenerosity concept
The Vision
A cooperative of aligned fractional consultants and B2B professionals who share CRM contacts, referrals, and deal intelligence — structured as a guild with governance, trust rules, and shared technology.
Existing Models to Learn From
BNI (Business Network International)
- Weekly meetings, “givers gain” philosophy
- Only one person per profession per chapter
- Members track referrals given/received
- What works: Structured accountability, exclusivity creates value
- What doesn’t: Rigid format, mandatory attendance, pressure to refer
Vistage / EO / YPO
- Peer advisory groups, monthly meetings
- CEO-level, confidential, facilitated
- What works: Trust-based, high-quality relationships
- What doesn’t: Expensive ($20K+/year), not designed for CRM sharing
Professional Cooperatives
- Fractional-specific: Catalant, Business Talent Group match fractionals with engagements
- Guild model: Some consulting co-ops pool leads and share revenue on collaborative deals
- What works: Shared deal flow, complementary capabilities
MVP: Start a Guild with 5-10 People
Day 1 Requirements
- Shared values agreement — What does “conscious business” mean to this group?
- Simple referral tracking — Google Sheet or shared ClickUp board
- Communication channel — Slack workspace or group chat
- Monthly meeting — 60-90 minutes, structured agenda
- Rules of engagement — documented, agreed
Governance Model
- Membership: Application-based, requires vouching by existing member
- Structure: LLC or informal association (LLC recommended for liability protection)
- Decision-making: Consensus for membership decisions, majority for operational
- Revenue sharing: Each member keeps their own revenue; referral fees follow the 10% standard
- Exit: 30-day notice, NDA survives
Rules of Engagement for Shared Contacts
- Opt-in only — Contacts are only shared when the referring member explicitly offers
- Warm intros preferred — Don’t cold-blast someone else’s contacts
- Deal registration — First to register a prospect gets 90-day protection
- No poaching — Never recruit another member’s existing clients
- Attribution — Always credit the referring member
- Update obligation — If you meet with a shared contact, report back within 48 hours
Technology for Shared CRM
Option A: Shared CRM Platform
| Platform | Multi-org Support | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot Free CRM | Shared access via team accounts | Free | Good for small groups, limited permissions |
| Airtable | Shared bases with views | $20/user/mo | Flexible, good for non-traditional CRM |
| Attio | Relationship intelligence, shared workspaces | $29/user/mo | Built for relationship-driven teams |
| Folk CRM | Lightweight, shared pipelines | $20/user/mo | Good for small collaborative groups |
Option B: Federated Approach (Each Keeps Own CRM)
- Each member maintains their own CRM
- Shared deal board in ClickUp or Notion for active referrals only
- No contact data leaves individual CRMs
- Lower privacy risk, simpler governance
- Recommended for MVP
Option C: Skool Community ($1,000/Year Membership)
- Ian Crawford’s guild concept + paid membership layer
- Skool platform for discussion, resources, events
- Separate from CRM sharing — this is the community/education layer
- Application-based, vetted members
- Could fund guild operations
Privacy & Legal Framework
Key Principles
- Never share contact data without explicit consent from the contact
- GDPR (EU prospects): Requires legitimate interest or consent for sharing
- CCPA (California): Requires disclosure of data practices, allow opt-out
- Best practice: Share only business context (“I know someone who needs DR verification”), not contact data. Let the referring member make the intro.
Required Agreements
- Guild Operating Agreement (if LLC) or Membership Agreement (if informal)
- Mutual NDA — All members sign
- Data Handling Policy — What can/cannot be shared, how contacts are protected
- Referral Fee Agreement — Standard terms for all members
The Regenerosity / Conscious Fractionals Vision
Start Small
- 5-10 aligned fractional consultants (CIO, CFO, COO, CMO, etc.)
- Monthly meetings (could be the Authentic Hikes + business discussion)
- Shared referral tracking
- No membership fee initially — test the model
Scale Later
- Paid membership ($1,000/year) on Skool or similar
- Application + interview process
- Quarterly in-person events
- Shared content creation (podcast, blog, newsletter)
- Joint proposals for larger engagements
Success Metrics
- Referrals exchanged per quarter (target: 2+ per member)
- Referral-to-close conversion rate (target: 30%+)
- Member satisfaction (quarterly survey)
- Revenue generated through guild referrals
Action Items
- Identify 5 aligned fractionals to invite (start with Ian Crawford’s network)
- Draft a one-page Guild Charter (values, rules, structure)
- Set up shared Slack workspace
- Create a shared ClickUp board for referral tracking
- Schedule first monthly meeting
- Draft Mutual NDA for all members
- Evaluate Skool for paid membership tier (later phase)