Commission accelerator comparison: which plan pays more at your attainment?
Try it: commission under two or three plans
Leave a plan blank to ignore it. Quota and sales use the same unit, such as pounds of new business.
Swipe the table sideways to see Plans B and C.
| Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate to quota (%) | |||
| Rate above quota (%) | |||
| Cap on commission (£, 0 for none) |
How the calculator works
Commission up to quota is sales times the first rate. Commission above quota is the extra sales times the second rate. A cap stops the total at the figure you enter.
With the starting numbers, plan A pays £52,000 on £600,000 of sales. Plan B pays £30,000 on the first £500,000. It pays £15,000 on the extra £100,000, so £45,000. Plan A pays more here. Raise the sales to £900,000 and plan B pulls ahead.
What to check in each plan
- Where the accelerator starts. Some plans start it at 100% and some at 120%.
- Whether the higher rate covers all sales or only the extra sales.
- Whether a cap applies, and at what level.
- Whether payment is on bookings, invoices or cash.
For one plan on its own, use the commission calculator. For base plus variable, use the OTE calculator. To weigh whole offers, use the offer comparison calculator. For the negotiation, read how to negotiate sales OTE.
Questions
What is a commission accelerator?
A higher rate on sales above quota. It rewards overperformance.
How do I compare two commission plans?
Work out the pay of each at the attainment you expect. Check a few levels around it too. The higher plan can change.
Does a cap matter?
Yes. A cap stops pay at a fixed figure. A plan with a high rate and a low cap can pay less at high attainment.
Related guides
Sales commission calculator
Rate, accelerator and cap to commission earned.
Offer comparison calculator
Two or three offers side by side, with year-one pay for each.
Sales OTE calculator
Base, variable and attainment to expected pay and UK take-home.
How to negotiate sales OTE
Pay mix, quota realism, accelerators and a two-offer 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.
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