Expensive SaaStr: When ought to I pay the fee for SaaS gross sales? All of our trial signups will get an automated electronic mail from an account government. How will we resolve if the AE was accountable for the sale versus the sale simply occurred organically?
Each firm with a self-serve element and a sales-driven element frets a bit about paying gross sales reps on offers that shut “mechanically”, or near it.
And sure, in a way, in some days the gross sales rep will get a freebie there.
However later you be taught that is all the time true in gross sales. In any sort of gross sales, some offers are simpler to shut than others. Some shut quick. Some shut in 1 name. Some take years.
And ultimately, you typically must pay gross sales reps out on all of the leads they cowl. Even those that hardly wanted a contact from gross sales in any respect.
It’s simply easier this fashion, and makes it a lot simpler to route a bunch of leads, and/or a phase, and/or a territory, to a rep.
It additionally means you usually must pay them out on automated, natural account development — at the very least in Yr 1. Twilio does this, even when the account grows itself. So does Stripe. You’ll be able to see my interview with Jeff Lawson on the subject right here:
What’s typically easier ultimately is to pay the rep on all offers, but when the total payout is simply too good a deal, simply modify the total fee price for all offers down a bit. Moderately than argue over particular person offers.
KISS. Particularly on gross sales comp plans.
(be aware: an up to date SaaStr Traditional reply)