daddysells

BDR team lead

Is a “bonus” vs commission a 🚩?

Hey savages,

looking for my third SDR role as I've been in the role for about 3 years. I've always had a pay structure of base + commission and an OTE. I received an offer today that did not have the bonus included in the structure.

🧠 Advice

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☁️ Software Tech

23 comments

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oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Did they include it on a cocktail napkin?

daddysells

Contributor

BDR team lead

Lol pretty much.

RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

Flush that "Offer" down the terlit.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

So they offered you a base without any incentives? That's not a red flag, that's a burning ship.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Or just a regular ole marketing job 😬

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

GET THE ALOE

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

YOU’RE GONNA NEED MORE ALOE!

punishedlad

Tycoon

Regional Partnership Manager

What do you mean? Like there was no mention of a bonus? Or no mention of how to get the bonus?

It's a bit unclear in your post.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Did they have commission listed for OTE, or was it just a base salary? If so, look for another job as that is operations and not sales

daddysells

Contributor

BDR team lead

They didn’t have an OTE at all in the offer l. If they are willing to include the bonus metrics in the offer would that change your mind?

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Having it in writing at least protects you a little.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Yeah, you need it in writing or this is a regular office/desk job.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yeah, always in writing. You wouldn't give the product without a full contract...in this case, you're the product. The bonus is just a verbal promise, which will make it really hard to collect on should everyone develop convenient amnesia at the end of the quarter or year, whenever they are supposed to pay out.

daddysells

Contributor

BDR team lead

Sorry I should have been more specific in my post. The hiring manager mentioned that his reps hit their quota and have consistently as a team hit 100% of their quota the last 2 years. The bonuses are on a tier basis, so 100% of quota I receive $4,000/ quarter, 75% I receive a lower amount. This was told to me several times, but my offer didn’t have it written out. It just stated the base salary

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

President/CRO

Basically a capped commission model.

You've got 3 years of experience, how are you liking the SDR role? This would be the time I'd be looking at the next rung on the ladder if I were you.

VP Sales

It would be a red flag for me of it isn’t documented somewhere.

I’ve had to fight for commissions and bonuses in the past because the structure wasn’t clearly documented anywhere.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

There’s no set comp structure. It’s just the way they do it.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Bonus based on quota attainment is still commission. I’d want it in the contract, if it’s acceptable.

What happens if you overachieve? Do they add to the bonus?

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

So what did it include then,more context please!

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Were you told bonus would be included during your conversation with them

daddysells

Contributor

BDR team lead

Yeah and I’ve worked with the hiring manager previously

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Technically speaking a bonus does not have to be paid commission does.

Armageddon

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

hmm I'd look at it as a red flag unless the bonus is very good. ie: if im getting 10k for a 1k deal and 10k bonus for a 100k deal, and my territory is big enough to close a lot of small deals then I can look at that as a positive as I can work the system to make more. But generally I look for a good commission plan when landing a new gig, not a bonus structure