Counter offer email for a sales job: a template and four checks
Ready to counter? Module 5 of the Sales Job Search Kit has a phone script and a counter-offer email. It also has replies to "this is our best offer". Module 4 has an offer calculator for year-one pay. £14 + VAT.
A counter offer is a short, polite email that asks for one or two changes. This page is the email. For the phone call, use the salary negotiation scripts. Work out the numbers first, then write.
Do the maths first
Use the OTE calculator to see expected pay at your realistic attainment. Use the commission calculator for the plan rules. If you have more than one offer, use the offer comparison calculator.
The template
Subject: The [role] offer
Hi [name],
Thank you for the offer. I am excited about the role and the team.
Before I accept, I would like to discuss [the base, the variable split or the ramp]. I am looking for [specific figure or change]. My reason is [my results or the market for this role].
Could we talk on [day]? I want to find a package that works for both of us.
Thanks, [Your name]
See inside · £14 + VAT
Pick one or two asks
- Base salary.
- A higher share of base against variable.
- A guaranteed amount during ramp.
- A sign-on bonus.
- A start date.
Asking for six things looks like a list of demands. Pick the two that matter.
Four checks before you send
- Is the figure realistic for the role and the market?
- Can you explain the reason in one sentence?
- Have you read the commission plan, including caps and clawbacks?
- Are you ready to accept if they agree?
After you send
Wait a day or two. If they say the offer is final, ask what else is open. Ramp support and a review date are common. Get any agreement in writing.
Related: how to negotiate sales OTE, salary negotiation scripts and how to compare sales job offers.
Next step: get the free 16 principles for a sales interview.
Questions
How do I write a counter offer email?
Thank them and say you are keen. Name one or two asks with a reason. Suggest a call. Keep it under 120 words.
Can I negotiate a sales job offer?
Yes. Base, the variable split, ramp support and sign-on are often open. Ask politely and be ready to accept.
How long should I wait for a reply to my counter offer?
A day or two. If there is no reply, send a short note asking for a time to talk.
Also: references for sales jobs, sales offer letter checklist, resigning from a sales job, thank you email after a sales interview, non-competes and garden leave, how to ask for a pay rise in sales.
Related guides
How to negotiate sales OTE
Pay mix, quota realism, accelerators and a two-offer worked example.
Salary negotiation scripts
A phone script, replies for "best offer" and the levers beyond base.
How to compare sales job offers
Compare on year-one pay: a four-step method and a worked example.
Run your search like a pipeline
A Notion kit for sellers changing roles. It has a target list and a pipeline board with follow-ups due. It also has recruiter scripts, negotiation scripts and an offer calculator for year-one pay. £14, one payment, plus VAT for UK and EU buyers.
Principled Pitch is independent. Pay, quotas and hiring processes vary by company and country. Check the details of any role with the recruiter.