Outside sales representatives work primarily in the field, conducting face-to-face meetings with prospects and customers within assigned territories. Inside sales representatives work from an office or remotely, using phone, email, and video conferencing to engage with customers.

Q: How do I determine appropriate territory size for an outside sales rep?

Consider factors like geographic area, number of potential accounts, market density, travel time between accounts, and expected revenue potential. A typical territory should provide enough opportunity to meet quota while being manageable for regular customer contact.

Q: Should I provide a company vehicle or car allowance?

This depends on territory size and travel requirements. For extensive territories requiring significant driving, a company vehicle or substantial car allowance is typically necessary. Include mileage reimbursement at minimum for business travel.

Q: How long should I expect it to take for a new outside sales rep to become productive?

Most outside sales representatives require 3-6 months to fully ramp up, depending on industry complexity and territory familiarity. Plan for initial training, territory mapping, and relationship building during this period.

Q: What's the typical commission structure for outside sales roles?

Common structures include base salary plus commission, with commission ranging from 2-10% of sales depending on profit margins. Many companies use tiered commission rates that increase as reps exceed quota thresholds.

Q: What does a typical day look like for an outside sales representative?

Days typically include a mix of scheduled customer meetings, prospecting calls, travel between appointments, CRM updates, and proposal preparation. Expect to spend 60-80% of your time in the field with customers and prospects.

Q: How much travel is required in outside sales positions?

Travel requirements vary by territory size but typically range from 50-80% of your time. Most travel is local or regional day trips, though some positions may require occasional overnight travel for key accounts or trade shows.

Q: What skills are most important for success in outside sales?

Key skills include relationship building, time management, self-motivation, presentation abilities, negotiation, and resilience. Industry knowledge and consultative selling skills become increasingly important as you advance.

Q: How do outside sales representatives typically advance their careers?

Common advancement paths include territory expansion, key account management, sales management roles, or specialization in specific product lines or market segments. Top performers often move into senior sales or leadership positions.

Q: What should I expect for work-life balance in outside sales?

Outside sales offers flexibility in scheduling but may require some evening or weekend work for customer events or deadlines. The key is effectively managing your territory and time to maximize productivity during business hours.

What You'll Get From This Guide

Complete Outside Sales Representative job description template with field sales focus
Territory management responsibilities and relationship-building requirements
Salary data including base pay ranges and commission structures by region
Interview questions designed for field sales professionals with evaluation criteria
Industry considerations for B2B, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing sectors
Hiring tips for assessing territory management and relationship-building skills

An Outside Sales Representative is a field-based sales professional who builds relationships and drives revenue through face-to-face customer interactions within an assigned territory. This role combines strategic territory management with consultative selling to generate new business and maintain existing client relationships.

Key Highlights

Field-based sales role requiring 60-80% travel within assigned territory
Average base salary range: $45,000-$65,000 plus commission potential
Focus on relationship building through in-person customer meetings
Territory management and pipeline development responsibilities
Requires strong communication skills and sales acumen
High earning potential with uncapped commission structures

Why This Role Matters

Outside Sales Representatives serve as the face of your organization in the field, building the personal relationships that drive long-term business success. They identify new opportunities, nurture existing accounts, and provide valuable market intelligence that shapes product development and strategic direction. In an increasingly digital world, these professionals bring the human touch that differentiates your company from competitors.

Their territory expertise and customer insights directly impact revenue growth, market penetration, and customer retention. By maintaining regular face-to-face contact with prospects and clients, they create deeper business relationships that result in higher deal values and longer customer lifecycles.

Primary Job Description Template

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated Outside Sales Representative to join our dynamic sales team. In this field-based position, you will be responsible for managing an assigned territory, developing new business opportunities, and maintaining relationships with existing clients through regular in-person visits. You will serve as a trusted advisor to customers, understanding their unique challenges and presenting solutions that drive mutual success.

This role requires an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to work independently while being part of a collaborative sales organization. You will be expected to manage your own schedule, prioritize prospects effectively, and consistently achieve monthly and quarterly sales targets. Success in this position leads to territory expansion opportunities and advancement within our sales organization.

Key Responsibilities

Territory Management: Develop and execute strategic territory plans to maximize market penetration and revenue growth within assigned geographic area
Prospecting and Lead Generation: Identify and qualify new business opportunities through cold calling, networking, referrals, and field research
Client Relationship Development: Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers through regular face-to-face meetings and follow-up
Sales Presentation and Demonstration: Conduct compelling product presentations and demonstrations at customer locations to showcase value propositions
Pipeline Management: Maintain accurate records of all sales activities, opportunities, and customer interactions in CRM system
Proposal Development: Create customized proposals and negotiate terms that meet customer needs while achieving company objectives
Market Intelligence: Gather and report competitive intelligence, market trends, and customer feedback to inform product development and strategy
Customer Service: Provide ongoing support to existing clients, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and identifying upselling opportunities
Trade Show and Event Participation: Represent company at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions within territory
Collaboration: Work closely with inside sales team, marketing, and customer service to ensure seamless customer experience

Requirements

Must-Have Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field, or equivalent experience
2-3 years of outside sales or field sales experience with proven track record
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for territory coverage
Strong presentation and communication skills for executive-level interactions
Experience with CRM software and sales pipeline management
Ability to travel 60-80% of the time within assigned territory
Proven ability to work independently and manage time effectively
Track record of meeting or exceeding sales quotas

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

Industry-specific experience relevant to our products/services
Consultative selling methodology training (SPIN, Solution Selling, etc.)
Experience with trade show participation and lead follow-up
Knowledge of territory planning and market analysis techniques
Previous experience in B2B complex sales cycles

What We Offer

Competitive Compensation: Base salary $45,000-$65,000 plus uncapped commission structure with OTE of $75,000-$100,000
Territory Ownership: Defined territory with growth potential and expansion opportunities
Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, and PTO
Professional Development: Sales training, industry conferences, and career advancement opportunities
Tools and Resources: Company vehicle or car allowance, laptop, mobile phone, and expense account
Flexible Schedule: Manage your own schedule within territory to optimize customer coverage

Context Variations

Corporate Environment: Large enterprises typically offer more structured territory definitions, extensive sales support resources, and formal training programs. Compensation packages may include higher base salaries with lower commission percentages, plus comprehensive benefits and career advancement paths through defined sales hierarchies.

Startup Environment: Emerging companies often provide broader territory ownership, higher commission rates, and more entrepreneurial freedom in developing markets. Representatives may wear multiple hats, including some marketing responsibilities, and have direct access to leadership for strategic input on product development.

Remote/Hybrid Considerations: While outside sales is inherently field-based, modern technology enables more efficient territory management through virtual tools. Representatives can conduct initial meetings via video, use mobile CRM for real-time updates, and participate in team meetings remotely while maintaining their in-person customer focus.

Industry Considerations

Industry	Unique Requirements	Key Considerations
Technology/Software	Technical product knowledge, enterprise selling experience	Long sales cycles, multiple stakeholders, demo capabilities
Manufacturing	Industrial sales experience, supply chain knowledge	Relationship-based selling, contract negotiations, technical specifications
Healthcare/Medical	Regulatory compliance understanding, clinical knowledge	Compliance training, relationship with healthcare professionals, patient privacy
Financial Services	Licensing requirements, fiduciary responsibility	Series licensing, compliance training, relationship management
Construction/Building	Project-based selling, contractor relationships	Seasonal variations, project timelines, specification selling
Food Service/Restaurant	Food safety knowledge, vendor relationships	Health department regulations, menu planning support, volume purchasing

Compensation Guide

Salary Information

National Average Ranges (2025)

Base Salary: $45,000 - $65,000
Commission: $20,000 - $50,000 annually
Total OTE: $65,000 - $115,000

Regional Variations

Metro Area	Base Salary Range	OTE Range	Cost of Living Factor
San Francisco, CA	$55,000 - $75,000	$85,000 - $135,000	High
New York, NY	$50,000 - $70,000	$80,000 - $125,000	High
Chicago, IL	$45,000 - $65,000	$70,000 - $110,000	Medium
Atlanta, GA	$42,000 - $62,000	$65,000 - $105,000	Medium
Dallas, TX	$44,000 - $64,000	$68,000 - $108,000	Medium
Denver, CO	$46,000 - $66,000	$72,000 - $112,000	Medium
Phoenix, AZ	$43,000 - $63,000	$66,000 - $106,000	Medium
Tampa, FL	$40,000 - $60,000	$62,000 - $100,000	Lower

Factors Affecting Compensation

Territory size and market potential significantly impact earning potential
Industry complexity and average deal size influence commission structures
Experience level and proven track record command higher base salaries

Salary data sourced from industry reports, job posting analysis, and compensation surveys as of January 2025.

Interview Questions

Technical/Functional Questions

Territory Planning: "Walk me through how you would approach developing a territory plan for a new market. What factors would you consider, and how would you prioritize your prospects?"
Pipeline Management: "Describe your process for managing a sales pipeline with 50+ opportunities at various stages. How do you ensure nothing falls through the cracks?"
Objection Handling: "A prospect says your price is 20% higher than your competitor. How would you handle this objection while maintaining value positioning?"
Relationship Building: "Tell me about a time when you turned a cold prospect into a major account. What was your approach and what made the difference?"
Sales Cycle Management: "How do you manage complex sales cycles with multiple decision-makers? Walk me through your stakeholder mapping process."
Time Management: "Describe how you structure a typical week to balance new prospect development with existing account management. How do you prioritize your activities?"
Competition Analysis: "How do you gather competitive intelligence in the field, and how do you use that information to position your solutions?"
Closing Techniques: "Describe a situation where you had to overcome significant resistance to close a deal. What techniques did you use?"

Behavioral Questions

Resilience: "Tell me about a time when you lost a major deal you thought was certain. How did you handle it, and what did you learn?"
Self-Motivation: "Working in outside sales requires high self-motivation. Describe how you stay motivated during slow periods or after facing rejection."
Customer Focus: "Give me an example of when you went above and beyond for a customer. What was the situation and outcome?"
Problem-Solving: "Describe a time when you had to solve a complex customer problem that required coordination with multiple internal departments."
Goal Achievement: "Tell me about a time when you exceeded your sales quota. What strategies did you use, and how did you maintain that performance?"
Adaptability: "Describe a situation where you had to quickly adapt your sales approach due to changing market conditions or customer needs."

Culture Fit Questions

Independence: "How do you perform in environments where you have minimal direct supervision and need to manage your own schedule?"
Team Collaboration: "While outside sales is largely independent, how do you maintain connections with your internal team and contribute to overall success?"
Long-term Thinking: "How do you balance the pressure for immediate results with building long-term customer relationships?"
Professional Development: "What do you do to stay current with sales techniques, industry trends, and product knowledge?"

Evaluation Tips: Look for candidates who demonstrate strong self-discipline, relationship-building skills, and resilience. The best outside sales representatives show evidence of consistent quota achievement, territory growth, and customer retention. Pay attention to their ability to tell stories with specific metrics and outcomes.

Hiring Tips

Quick Sourcing Guide

Top Recruiting Platforms

LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Target experienced sales professionals in your industry and region
Indeed and ZipRecruiter: Broad reach for candidates actively seeking outside sales opportunities
Industry-Specific Job Boards: Utilize niche platforms relevant to your product/service sector
Sales-Focused Communities: Engage with groups like Sales Hacker, AA-ISP, or industry associations

Professional Communities

Local sales and marketing associations
Chamber of Commerce networking groups
Industry trade associations and conferences
Professional sales organizations (National Association of Sales Professionals)

Posting Optimization Tips

Emphasize territory ownership and earning potential in headlines
Include specific commission structure and OTE information
Highlight company culture and support provided to field representatives
Use location-specific keywords for local search optimization

Red Flags to Avoid

No Track Record: Candidates unable to provide specific quota achievement examples or territory growth metrics
Poor Communication: Difficulty articulating ideas clearly or professionally during interviews
Lack of Independence: History of requiring excessive supervision or struggling with self-directed work
Short Job Tenures: Pattern of leaving sales positions quickly without valid explanations
No Territory Experience: Candidates with only inside sales or retail experience may struggle with field sales demands
Unrealistic Expectations: Inflated salary expectations without corresponding experience or achievements

FAQ Section

For Employers - Hiring Outside Sales Representatives

For Job Seekers - Outside Sales Representative Careers

Tara Minh

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Job Description Templates

Outside Sales Representative Job Description Template - 2025 Guide