Sales job offer letter checklist: twelve things to check before you sign
Got an offer in writing? Module 5 of the Sales Job Search Kit has an in-writing checklist. It covers the offer letter and the commission plan. Module 4 has an offer calculator for year-one pay. £14 + VAT.
The offer letter often says little about commission. Check the letter and the plan together before you sign.
Twelve things to check
- Base salary and the date it is reviewed.
- Variable pay at 100% of quota, and OTE.
- Your quota, the period it covers and how it is set.
- Ramp: how long, and the quota for each month.
- Any draw or guarantee, and whether it is recoverable.
- Accelerators: where they start and how much they pay.
- A cap on commission, if there is one.
- Clawbacks: when commission is taken back and for how long.
- Payment timing: bookings, invoices or cash, and which month it lands.
- What happens to your commission if you leave or the territory changes.
- Notice period, probation and any restrictions after you leave.
- Start date, benefits and the date the offer expires.
Ask for the plan in writing
If the commission plan is a separate document, ask for it before you sign. If it is not ready, ask for a date. Ask for a line in the letter. It should say the plan will not cut the terms you were told.
See inside · £14 + VAT
Run the numbers
Put the base, variable and your realistic attainment into the OTE calculator. Compare plans with the accelerator comparison. If you have more than one offer, use the offer comparison calculator.
If something is missing
Send a short email asking for the missing item. If you want to change a term, use the counter offer email template. Read how to compare sales job offers for the wider picture.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. For anything you do not understand, ask a qualified adviser.
Next step: get the free 16 principles for a sales interview.
Questions
What should I check in a sales offer letter?
Base, variable, quota, ramp, accelerators, caps, clawbacks, payment timing and what happens if you leave. Ask for the commission plan in writing.
Can I ask for the commission plan before I sign?
Yes. Ask for the full plan. If it is not ready, ask for a date. Ask for a line that protects the terms you were told.
Is the commission plan part of the offer letter?
Often it is a separate document. Ask to see it before you sign.
Also: resigning from a sales job, thank you email after a sales interview, non-competes and garden leave, commission clawback in the UK.
Related guides
How to compare sales job offers
Compare on year-one pay: a four-step method and a worked example.
Counter offer email for a sales job
The email to send: a template, two asks and four checks.
Salary negotiation scripts
A phone script, replies for "best offer" and the levers beyond base.
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.