Marketingtools4days

Strategic Account Executive

SaaS —> IT MSP

hello fellow savages, I'm seeking some feedback on a new opportunity that came across my desk. Similar/slightly less money, but maybe a sexier brand/industry, maybe better career progression. here's the situation:

I'm 3 years into my career, currently an enterprise AE 70k base 220k OTE selling SaaS marketing tools in a niche industry with a medium size PE-backed company. I'm coming out of a banner year, ~300% quota attainment. Compared to my colleagues working similar sized deals, I'm drastically underpaid in my org.

A mentor reached out a few weeks ago with an opportunity on his team. This role would be focused on driving digital transformation for fortune 100 brands with one of the big name IT MSPs.

I'm coming up on the final stages of the interview process and all signs point towards receiving an offer soon. I'm expecting the offer to be ~$100k base $200k OTE.

Has anyone here made the jump from selling relatively simple SaaS products to managed services in large enterprise? what was your experience like?

and am I correct in my assumption that this sort of a move creates a more compelling career narrative and also offers valuable experience/exposure? or is there a chance I'm caught up in "the grass is always greener" type of fallacy?

🎯 Career Development

☁️ Software Tech

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hh456

Celebrated Contributor

4

sales

OOH MANAGED SERVICES. The people I love to hate. Nickel & dime.
Here’s how it works if you got big ol FUCKING STUPID THICC clients. Someone wants to look good at corporate but they can’t fix a problem. You fix it and then send the bill. If it’s too big they’ll pay it but you’ll raise red flag, see less utilization. Possible fired. If you keep it high mid-range price, they’ll pay it, no red flags, used often. You’ll also have 80 people sending you shiz all the time and it’ll be good revenue. Then they’ll replace you in a few years (3-5) for a cheaper vendor who saves them 10%.
If they’re SMB, you’re gonna have a ton of turnover because they can manage shit in-house and you’ll be the final spark they needed to hire an IT guy for the cost of having to pay you 4-5figs a month connecting Susan’s laptop to the WiFi printer.
You’ll be able to get into both companies rather easy w a billable rate instead of an FTE but that’s how it will play out for either org size once you land the account.
I love you. Love me back. Thank you for reading my TEDx talk.

Fribbles

Notable Contributor

1

Sales doosh

Nickels to the max this is true. lmao

Marketingtools4days

Opinionated

1

Strategic Account Executive

I love you too, Grizz. Your TEDx talk was enigmatic.
Provided some thicc clients, sounds like this could be a sweet gig. Thanks for your insights

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

sorry it was difficult to understand

Marketingtools4days

Opinionated

0

Strategic Account Executive

I think I was tracking with you
Unless you were trolling. In that case, you got me

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

Not trolling. Honest feedback in my original reply.

Fribbles

Notable Contributor

3

Sales doosh

Sup bro. Congrats and I'm in managed services currently - starting with a large MSP shortly on Monday. Did inside sales for a SaaS (vista) company some time ago. I like managed services because of the upside, people are making millions. Very sticky revenue. My offer was 115 and comp is 10%-%15 profit on revenue for the lifetime of the customer. Managed services can be a cluster fuck though if your delivery/ops team just doesn't.... deliver. It was my experience with a start up. You'll learn a fuck ton and become invaluable. SaaS is pretty relatively straight forward. But maintaining virtualization, optimizing networks/endpoints, licensing services, yo thats some crazy money dog and good engineering/consulting is hard to come by.

I'd tell them... if not too late and you can, you need 130 to make the jump and feel comfortable. And do away with the OTE and get a margin cut as commission if you can. Can you share the company name? They need you, not the other way around. 300% at qouta? Thats fucking litty. Your making a killing so just do your diligence on this.

Fribbles

Notable Contributor

1

Sales doosh

Oh but my first go with managed services, with the start up, was a fucking nightmare. lmao. yeah def had to leave that one, was there for year and half.

Marketingtools4days

Opinionated

0

Strategic Account Executive

Thanks for the reply! The big hook for me at first was lifetime revenue. The next interview will have all the negotiation bits - didn’t think about asking for comp on margin. I’m assuming that’s common practice in this industry

Diablo

Politicker

2

Sr. AE

Hey congrats on that. Are your very happy with your current org? When you say you're largely underpaid, if the difference a lot? Did you try to speak to your manager to see if they can review and increase your base.

To me, the new opportunity looks attractive but I haven't been there so won't be able to give my view on it.

Marketingtools4days

Opinionated

0

Strategic Account Executive

Thanks man. I’m generally happy, but am frustrated by lack of support and resources. If my pipeline wasn’t fat I’d have been gone a while ago.
And yeah, the spread is pretty significant. I am technically double hatting, and while I’ve had great success with ENT deals (I.e #1 in the company by a long shot) still paid as a lower rep. Justified by youth and lack of experience…
There’s definitely an opportunity to ask for more at the current place but I’m sort of looking for a reason to bounce, if that makes sense. Just want to make sure I’m not so naive that I’m actually leaving a cushy spot.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

I'm very interested to see the responses.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

1

BDR LEAD

Likewise, especially because I do BDR work for the channel sales team

Flippinghubs

Opinionated

1

Account Executive

congrats on that!

Marketingtools4days

Opinionated

1

Strategic Account Executive

Thanks! I’m grateful to be in a fortunate position, just wanna make sure I don’t fumble the bag due to naivety lol

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