Commission only jobs

[tom greenwood]

What are peoples thoughts on these types of roles. Does the medical market have use for these roles. Im currently looking to fill 3 of these roles. London, Scotland and Ireland but dont seem to be getting any joy.

 

[Mr D]

Can be useful.
Had a guy a couple of years back approach me about a commission only job - think I annoyed him when I agreed to do it for 60% commission.

Can be worthwhile when already covering needed income from a salaried position / another source. Say a sales rep for a half dozen companies in an area. Whether you can keep the people doing it if someone else offers them a better deal... ?

 

[Mark T Jones]

Commission agents are plenty - and good ones are busy earning lots of money.

How are you targeting? What are you offering?

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

Commission agents are plenty - and good ones are busy earning lots of money.

How are you targeting? What are you offering?

When it comes to good commission-only agents, they're few and far between.

Anyone half decent is going to want a base salary for security with the inventive to make more money via commissions. Purely commission only is rare as it's not just up to them as to how much they can sell, so they see little reason to take all the risk.

 

[Mark T Jones]

When it comes to good commission-only agents, they're few and far between.

Anyone half decent is going to want a base salary for security with the inventive to make more money via commissions. Purely commission only is rare as it's not just up to them as to how much they can sell, so they see little reason to take all the risk.

It tends to vary by sector. In finance and insurance it is the norm, and most wouldn’t have it any other way.

One piint if agency is freedom, including the freedom to compliment your offering with other, Non competing products.

However if the OP is just looking for a free sales force they will most likely be disappointed.

 

[MBE2017]

When it comes to good commission-only agents, they're few and far between.

Anyone half decent is going to want a base salary for security with the inventive to make more money via commissions.

I know plenty of commission only guys who earn a lot more than they ever would on a normal salaried job, but as mentioned they tend to be very selective in who they work with. Most companies see commission only sales as a cheap low risk method for them, and get the more desperate guys working for them.

The companies who use commission only salespeople well, support them and even value them normally find they are their best sales force.

As for anyone half decent not working on commission only, I have found the opposite. The salespeople who lack self belief tend to go with salaried jobs, preferring the safe option. Nothing wrong in either case. Good and bad in both sectors.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I know plenty of commission only guys who earn a lot more than they ever would on a normal salaried job, but as mentioned they tend to be very selective in who they work with. Most companies see commission only sales as a cheap low risk method for them, and get the more desperate guys working for them.

The companies who use commission only salespeople well, support them and even value them normally find they are their best sales force.

As for anyone half decent not working on commission only, I have found the opposite. The salespeople who lack self belief tend to go with salaried jobs, preferring the safe option. Nothing wrong in either case. Good and bad in both sectors.

It certainly depends on the opportunity. Obviously if there's a commission only sales role with an easy-to-sell product, large commission earnings and generally top notch potential, other base salary + commission jobs could look much less appealing by comparison. But that potential needs to be good enough to mitigate any feelings of the employer only doing it to take advantage and avoid risk.

By and large though, they are not very common and, as you say, tend to be very picky. Unless the OP is offering a fantastic opportunity to earn serious money in a quality niche (which is also rare), good sales people are likely to want some security (or may not even want the job at all).

 

[MBE2017]

It certainly depends on the opportunity. Obviously if there's a commission only sales role with an easy-to-sell product, large commission earnings and generally top notch potential, other base salary + commission jobs could look much less appealing by comparison. But that potential needs to be good enough to mitigate any feelings of the employer only doing it to take advantage and avoid risk.

By and large though, they are not very common and, as you say, tend to be very picky. Unless the OP is offering a fantastic opportunity to earn serious money in a quality niche (which is also rare), good sales people are likely to want some security (or may not even want the job at all).

I agree with almost everything you say.

OP, you need to consider why you are not getting much interest, something in the offering is not working for the agents, so you are most likely flogging a dead horse.

How long is the normal sales process, hours, days, weeks, months?
How long would the agent have to wait until they could expect any income?
How much is the agent likely to have to risk, ie petrol, lost income, before getting cash flow positive?
Is the commission ongoing or a one off payment, retention and claw Backs?
How much can they reasonably expect to earn?

The hardest question I usually ask, and where 99% of such offerings die on the spot, how many sales have the management made individually in say the last six months?

The answer is usually 1-2, but they are not salespeople.

 

[jimfromireland]

Hi Tom.
I have Pm'd you there . I live in Ireland and have my own home/ storage and transport and 20 years experience. I would consider a commission only role as I am about to leave my job soon. Kindly Pm me if you have any ideas