Sales Manager or Enterprise AE?

SMB manager at large company OTE is $180k, base $110k, variable $70k. Great benefits.


Enterprise AE at a larger startup OTE is $300k, base $125k, $175k variable. Benefits are garbage.


No management or enterprise experience so both offer valuable skills. No kids, no responsibilities. Looking to grow my side hustle.

SMB Manager or Enterprise AE

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☁️ Software Tech
💰 Compensation
🚀 Career Goals
25
funcoupons
WR Officer
11
👑
You're comparing apples to oranges - AE is a completely different role than management.

I have no desire to go into management at this point tho so it's option two for me. 

If you're into RE having a higher guaranteed income on paper is preferred by lenders and banks. Sounds like that would be the best move for you, too. 
braintank
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
I'm with Coups! I tried management and hated it. Now I'm AE for life. 

But, your goals may be totally different from mine.
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
2
Account Executive
True. Kind of. Honestly the goal is lifestyle. It’s about time, money and less stress. The lifestyle of the manager role, I’m familiar with. The benefits such as 401k match, stock, etc. help to offset some of the comp differences, still a large gap. I feel the manager role is less stressful as well, I won’t wake up and truly have to worry about a number over my head, at least not anywhere close to an IC role.
funcoupons
WR Officer
1
👑
Sounds like you want the manager role then. 
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
After taking a hard look at the gain from both, management might be it. Also, the experience with the startup has been interesting, they will ghost me for 3-4 weeks at a time even though they agree on a next step much before that. The large company is a current employer and I know what I’m getting. My thought is if I hate it I can always get back into selling and can even use it as a platform to jump ship. It also shows progression, coming off a presidents club year, moves to management, misses selling, it’s a layup and makes getting back into management in the future that much easier.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
7
SaaS Eater
Do you want to babysit for 60% of the income. Im in leadership and even this one seems clear to me.
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
I simply want the best lifestyle. Lifestyle to me isn’t just about the money part, my expenses are super low. It’s about time and stress as well. I feel the manager role provides more time and less stress overall. BUT that comp difference is large. Even with making up for the lack of benefits (401k match, adequate health, stock, etc.)
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
9
SaaS Eater
How do you figure the management role is less time/stress? 

Ive been a manager/director for the last 6+ years and spent time as an AE before that. Form my experience, the time as an AE was way less stressful than the leadership ones. You are in total control of your own day/time/outcomes. As a manager youre responsible for that for yourself + all of your AE's. 

They have a bad day and that shit is going to roll up to you. If you want more free time and less stress I would 100% stay the AE route. My babysitting comment wasn't just in jest. You will play coach, mentor, therapist etc for your AEs, especially in the SMB space at a large company. Im speaking from experience. 
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Appreciate the insight. Definitely agree on the babysitting part, there are some reps that I can see being a pain. I think I’m leaning towards management after thinking more about it because it’s an opportunity for my situation out of the norm. If I hate it, I simply move back to selling, but it gives me a platform in the future to move back into management as that’s where I’d rather be once a family comes into the picture.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
I don't want to be responsible for others. 
funcoupons
WR Officer
9
👑
Hell I don’t even take responsibility for myself after two drinks. 🐈‼️
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
‼🐈‼
goose
Politicker
3
Sales Executive
Looking to grow my side hustle = Enterprise AE

Wanting to babysit shitty sales people most of the time = SMB Sales Manager

I think you answered your own question.
LordOfWar
Tycoon
2
Blow it up
With the extra $120k you can buy yourself the best benefits in the world.

Option 2 will also mean less BS. I am managing a few people now and it is a time killer when you want to focus on generating sales or even a side hustle. IC role is definitely performance judged vs a "show up and be seen" role that is management.
ac1020
Opinionated
2
awx
Babysitting vs closing
braintank
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Are you looking to grow your side hustle or get a new job?
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Great question. I feel it’s achievable with both just in different capacities. Side hustle is real estate.
braintank
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
I would think being an AE would make it slightly easier to manage a side hustle, but just my guess. 
GlenRoss
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I’m deciding something similar right now. Can’t go wrong with either option here
Mobi85
Politicker
0
Regional Sales Manager
All depends what you personally want in your own growth. If you want to manage people go management route, If you want to be client facing for AE.
saashunter2.0
Executive
0
Mid-Market Account Executive
Have to identify your primary motivator(s) on this one but I’d definitely go for Enterprise AE so you can have more direct impact on your results and $
pumpkin19
Opinionated
0
AE
Curious, how many years AE experience do you have?
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
7. 4 legit. Never missed a number. I’m very young relative to all my peers.
LukeF
Politicker
0
Client Executive
This isn't even a comparison, go for the AE route and make some money. 
dialmonkey
Member
0
AE (Account Executive)
If you think the manager role should be easier and provide more balance then you are not right for that job and have a complete misunderstanding of what it entails. The manager/director/VP need to be the best sellers as well as great mentors. Instead of having one number to hit you have your number plus the numbers of each team member.
You should definitely go the AE route if balance is your goal.
dialmonkey
Member
0
AE (Account Executive)
Anyone talking about babysitting is probably a shit leader or an AE
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Lol. Can’t say I disagree. It’s about helping your reps grow and adding value not babysitting.
countingmyinterest
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I'm an SMB AE with a real estate portfolio. Personally, IC life is for me. With management, you have bullshit on different levels to deal with and seems not conducive to you growing your side hustle. 
Bigsaleschasewhales
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Well I chose the manager route. So far it sucks lol. However, that’s simply because I don’t know what I don’t know. The reason I did it though was future career opportunities and the skills of managing as I eventually plan to have my own business in addition to real estate. 
Dynasty
0
Enterprise Account Executive
I would go with Enterprise AE for the experience of selling to that market. Making that jump was extremely challenging at first, but I don't regret it. 
Pachacuti
Politicker
0
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
its not a good comparison. 
It really depends on what's driving you.  
And just remember that variable can mean $1 or $1m.
Big company names are always good on a resume.
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