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Sales Process: Startup Looking To Hire First Sales Employee - And completely lost. Any advice on compensation structure (benefits?), items that need to be in place?
KQ
KQ
Ken Queen, Small Business Consultant, entrepreneur answered:

First of all you need a base pay if you want to have full control over your employees. I have used minimum wage or $10 an hour often with a really good bonus package for sales where sales people made over $100,000 total pay a year. Have a graduated level that when they reach a certain quota there commission goes up or their flat rate per sales goes up. I have often made more than the owners of the company in the past when I was on the sales side but that is something that you have to live with if you want the best sales people. Keep in mind when that sales person is long gone you will still be benefiting from what he did so you will be the biggest winner in the long run. I worked for an attorney one time and he called my in the office one day and said can I can't stand anyone making over $200,000 a year that was the end of our relationship, he was more worried about what I made that what he made so I left and we both lost out, don't do that. On top of that you need to feed your best people the best sales leads because they will make you the most money. I have hired many salesman over the years, so call me and lets set up a compensation package and I have the best methods for finding the best sales people.

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