Commission only sales jobs

[Lowner]

For a while I have been looking into the possibility of a commission only sales job. I was going to get into real estate adn become a real estate agent but then the housing markert took a down turn. It still leaves me with the possiblity of going into insurance sales. I am aware that there are periods where the money will roll in and there will times when it won't. But that is part of a comission only sales job like insurance sales. But for some reason it excites me.
If any of you have ever had a comission only sales job, please share your experiences with me. i would like to hear things from someone who has been there than from a recruiter in the industry.

[Pilgrim]

I've been there. You really need to do homework on the specific business that you want to go into, and talk with people who have done it. Find out how long it took them to get any kind of income, and what they had to do to get it.

In general, commission sales is only worthwhile if you're with a TOP company in the market, and if that company has not oversaturated the market. You need to be polite but relentless, not take rejection personally, and be willing to follow every lead, and work long hours.

Also, don't ever be paid on billing - get paid on collection. That way you may have to wait for the $$, but they won't pull it back out of your paycheck when people don't pay their bills.

[The Crusader]

do something in home improvements and expand into real estate from there.

[Freddels]

Real Estate and Insurance may take a year before you see any money and you may be putting out a lot of your own money on marketing yourself.

Look into pharmaceuticals also. I've had some friends that sold those and did pretty well. Int'l hightech also.

Do you have any sales experience at all?

[bassturtle]

Originally Posted by Casey 2

I could never find myself in a 9-5 position, although at times, when I see others with a regular paycheck, provided benefits, retirement, etc. I can see the wisdom of a career like that.

I think any self employed/sub contractor feels that way at times. There are times that I see people working even crappy jobs and think "Lucky sob." The freedom we have comes at a price. However, I don't think I could ever go back to a normal 9-5.

[Hawaii Islander]

I completed the Hawaii State Real Estate (sales person) exam many years ago. The real estate market was in bad shape at the time. I did find a real estate agent to work with and most of my initial work was in property management.

The property management side of things is usually what tides real estate sales people over until the market gets better.

I eventually dumped real estate and to an electronics job, then made my way into college.

Sears, Home Depot and other stores have comission only positions (Home appliances, Kitchen design centers, etc.).

Edit: You might consider looking for a salary plus position that gives you a base salary plus comission. Its nice to have food gas and rent money.

Good Luck!

Edit #2: 1000th post

[bassturtle]

Originally Posted by Hawaii Islander

Edit #2: 1000th post

/hi5

[Wesley R]

but would probably never do it again. If I was in a sales position (other than my own company) I would need a healthy base.
Is it the thrill of the hunt or the thrill of the kill that drives you?
Being a Manufacturers rep might not be a bad avenue.
The 80/20 rule generally works in sales. 80% of the salesman make 20% of the $$$$. 20% make 80% of the $$$$.

[pointbass]

Commission-only sales is not for the faint-hearted. If you like the concept of risk/reward it can be great, but if you have any slight need for security it could be a major disaster.

As someone said above, you have to have certain traits in order to be successful:

1) You must be able to accept rejection (sometimes lots of rejection)
2) You have to pursue the sale in an aggressive manner without appearing to be a huge PITA to your client
3) You have to develop a referral system with your clients or else you'll spend your entire time chasing new business, which is costly and risky. That means they'll have to really like you as a person
4) You need to have some financial stability as you develop your business base. This could take a few years, maybe more

If you haven't had any serious sales training, you should consider taking some higher level courses. In my day gig I'm responsible for all of the business development, in addition to my other duties. I have 5 salesmen that work a heavy commission-based schedule and each one of them is very successful, but it took a few of them a fairly long time to get established. The rewards can be very good, but the risk is definitely high .....

[Thor]

I work commission only. I wouldn't have it any other way.
My sales career really took off after
I read this book.

[butchblack]

I work an hourly plus commission job. I agree with what everyones says about characteristics necessary to succeed. I would add one more, you have to love selling. Take a hard and honest look at yourself. Are you competitive, driven, not easily discouraged? If not, then commission sales may not be the best for you. If you haven't done sales before make sure you have enough money to pay your bills for awhile and that you have an out in case it doesn't work out.

My 2¢

[Munjibunga]

Lownered again.

[tkozal]

It really depends on what kind of Insurance sales....

Life? What? Then I could tell you a lot more...


signed, SR VP of really big ins co.

[casualmadness]

I worked in an hourly+commission job right out of college. I hated it. Hated it with a passion, hated it. But I don't enjoy selling things. I couldn't sell ice water in hell.

[Thor]

Not me, I got a great trade going in icecubes in Greenland.

[Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by butchblack

Take a hard and honest look at yourself. Are you competitive, driven, not easily discouraged?
[...] make sure you have enough money to pay your bills for awhile and that you have an out in case it doesn't work out.

Sounds like being a musician.

[hbarcat]

If you don't know it already, learn the sales process in all its glorious detail. Spend the money to take a class where they'll teach you the art and the science of selling that's been developed and refined into the specific methodology that it is today. Selling on commission is all about maximizing percentages, and learning proper techniques right away from experienced salespersons turned teachers gives you an edge, and that means a bigger paycheck.

[Thor]

You want it, don't you?