For years there has been a critical demand within the sign industry for a book on the structural engineering of signs. This comprehensive text more than meets that demand -- it exceeds it. Sign companies, ...
I'm a quickly growing family owned sign company in the Chicagoland area. Signs, Lighting, and Graphics We have never had a "salesman" on staff. Lately I have had few requests of salesmen looking for jobs and now I'm curious. I have three aerial trucks and I would like to keep them busy. Any help on hiring and pay structure of a sign salesman ?
ynot....I am in your general area, but much smaller company. I have a specific target market, printed brochures and a very specific list with contact names and numbers. I offered an unemployed salesperson 20% of new orders and 5%-10% of anything else that comes from the same company within a year. So far, the saleperson has not taken any interest in that offer from me. So, looks like I'll be doing the legwork myself.
I would suggest offering service to smaller shops, as well. I use one bigger company for installs and am very happy with their work. Most of us smaller guys would rent a bucket and hiring someone who does it every day is usually better, but we have trouble finding dependable guys with reasonable rates. Other small shop owners tell me the same thing.
There are a number of ways to pay salespeople ----preferred method is commission---percentage ---10-15% depending on benefits ----car allowance ---phone --etc ... In all the years that i operated sign companies i preferred a ---SALARY(small) a descent CAR allowance and a additional COMMISSION say 5% on collected FUNDS ---always calculation that my cost do not exceed say 10%---off sale -----gerryh
hiring commission based sales people is very appropriate method as i usually hiring freelance designer for my web services.this signweb is also a great way to access the development for your life and business as well.
Yesco works on a sliding scale for pay from a 6% to 12% based on 10% at par and going up or down depending on selling above or below par. Usual draw is for 30 days with a set agreed amount, car allowance based on distance and expenses based on only agreed expenses.
Sign companies should look at their local or national brokers however, this saves them having an overhead sales expense of having them on payroll, car expenses or other. You only pay after the job is sold on a 1099 tax form. Many salespeople in todays market do their own designs and engineering and supply them at a slightly higher commission saving the cost of additional expenses to the company and continuous revisions due to miscommunication between the salesman and the designer which we are all aware of.
I would suggest if you turn to a broker you sign the contract on your paper.
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Years ago when I closed my shop, for a while my old customers were coming to me for refferals. To make a long story short I was recruited my my former strongest competition and became a saleman for him. I would get a price from him that included a small leeway and sold jobs for him at 10% of gross. If I could upsell his price we split the difference. All 1099 and no benefits.
Hope this helps.