Sales Representative Onboarding SOP
Document ID: WBL-INT-SRO-v1.0 Audience: Internal — Account Director / Operations Purpose: Step-by-step guide for activating a new commission-only sales representative
Overview
This SOP covers everything from initial assessment to the representative's first active week. It ensures:
- Legal documents are executed before any selling begins
- Tax compliance is in place (W-9 for USA, VAT details for EU)
- The rep has the right tools, materials, and access — nothing more
- IC status is protected from day one
Target time to fully activate a new rep: 5–7 business days
Phase 1: Pre-Signing Assessment (Before Any Agreement)
Owner: Account Director
Step 1.1 — Territory and Fit Interview
Before signing, conduct a qualification call covering:
- What markets / countries / verticals does the rep plan to cover?
- Do they currently represent other companies? (Required for IC status — must answer yes or be planning to)
- Do they have an existing network relevant to Webility's services?
- Do they have a registered business or plan to operate as a sole trader?
- Are they currently subject to any non-compete or exclusivity agreement with another company?
- What is their experience selling digital services?
Disqualify if: Rep expects exclusivity, a salary or draw, or has conflicting non-compete obligations they cannot disclose.
Step 1.2 — Jurisdiction Risk Check
Based on the rep's country/state of residence:
- Check the IC Classification Compliance Guide (
contractor-classification-compliance.md) - For California, Massachusetts, NJ-based reps: Do not proceed without legal counsel review
- For EU-based reps: Note the applicable Commercial Agents Directive implementation country
- Estimate potential termination indemnity exposure (EU only) and note in CRM
Step 1.3 — Territory Assignment
- Confirm no overlap with existing active representatives
- Define territory boundaries (countries, states, or verticals)
- Add to the Territory Map in the CRM (tag all existing clients in the territory so they are excluded from commission)
Phase 2: Agreements and Tax Documentation
Owner: Account Director + Representative
Step 2.1 — Prepare and Send Agreements
- Open
docs/legal/contracts/sales-representative-agreement.md - Fill in all
[PLACEHOLDERS]:- Agreement Date, Territory, Representative legal name and address
- Account Director contact email
- Complete Section 15-A (USA) or Section 15-B (EU) — not both
- For EU reps: confirm Section 12 (Commercial Agents Directive) is included and unmodified
- Open
docs/legal/contracts/sales-commission-plan.md - Fill in the commission rates, tiers, and payout structure (align with current Pricing Sheet)
- Assign Document IDs:
WBL-CTR-SRA-[REP CODE]-[NNN]-v1.0 - Send both documents for electronic signature via [DocuSign / HelloSign / agreed tool]
- Do not provide CRM access or any materials until both documents are signed
Step 2.2 — Tax Documentation
USA-based representatives:
- Send a blank W-9 form to the rep: irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
- Collect completed W-9 before first payment
- File the W-9 in the finance records with the rep's contract
EU-based representatives:
- Request business registration number (SIRET in France, Handelsregisternummer in Germany, KVK in Netherlands, etc.)
- Request VAT number if the rep is VAT-registered
- France specifically: Verify RSAC registration number (agent is responsible for this but Webility should confirm it)
- Note in CRM: country, VAT status, applicable indemnity model (compensation or indemnity)
Step 2.3 — Payment Setup
- Collect bank details from the rep (bank name, account/IBAN, routing/SWIFT/BIC)
- Or: collect PayPal / Wise email
- Add to Finance system with label: "Sales Rep — [Name] — Commission"
- Note currency for payments (USD, EUR, etc.)
Phase 3: Tools and Access Setup
Owner: Operations / Account Director
Step 3.1 — CRM Access
- Create a CRM account for the rep in [CRM tool]
- Set access level: Rep pipeline view only — the rep can see and add their own leads, cannot see other reps' pipelines, cannot see internal financial data
- Create a Territory tag in the CRM matching their territory definition
- Add existing clients in their territory with an "Existing Client — Excluded" flag (so no commission conflicts arise)
- Send rep a CRM orientation guide (short Loom video or written walkthrough)
Important IC status note: CRM access is a tool for lead registration — it does NOT mean Webility is controlling the rep's work. The rep uses the CRM at their discretion; Webility does not monitor their daily activity.
Step 3.2 — Sales Materials Package
Prepare and send a Sales Kit:
| Material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pitch deck (PDF, current version) | Label with version date — send updates when changed |
| Services one-pager | Overview of Webility services with key use cases |
| Case study pack (3–5 best) | Anonymized or client-approved |
| FAQ for prospects | Common objections and answers |
| Pricing overview (ranges only — NOT the internal pricing sheet) | Ranges for initial conversations; rep directs prospects to get a formal quote |
| Brand kit (logos, colors) | For use in rep's own approved materials only |
| "Introduce a Prospect" email template | What to send to set up a handover call |
Important: Do NOT provide:
- The internal Pricing Sheet (exact rates) — commission-only reps negotiate leads but don't quote prices independently
- Access to client files or project work
- Access to the code repository or internal tools
Step 3.3 — Communication Setup
- Assign a named Account Director contact for the rep
- Set expected communication cadence: weekly pipeline email or CRM update
- Add rep to a communication channel (email list, Slack/Teams channel, etc.) for updates on services and offers
- Do NOT give the rep a
@webility.localemail address — this indicates employment; reps use their own email
Phase 4: Orientation Call
Owner: Account Director Duration: 60–90 minutes Timing: Within 3 days of documents being signed
Agenda
-
Company overview (15 min)
- Webility's services, typical clients, USPs
- Current pricing ranges and deal structures
- Recent case studies and wins
- Typical sales cycle (how long from lead to signed contract)
-
Sales process walkthrough (20 min)
- How the rep introduces a prospect (email introduction, CRM entry, meeting setup)
- What happens after introduction (Account Director takes over)
- Proposal to close timeline
- How the rep stays in the loop
-
Commission mechanics (20 min)
- Walk through the Commission Plan (Schedule A)
- Show examples (from Section 9 of the Commission Plan)
- Explain the monthly commission statement
- Explain the lead protection period and CRM registration process
-
What the rep should NOT do (15 min)
- No independent price quotes
- No binding commitments on behalf of Webility
- No use of unapproved materials
- No direct access to Webility's clients for their own business
-
Q&A and next steps (10 min)
- Rep's first actions: identify 5–10 target prospects in their territory
- Schedule a 2-week follow-up check-in
Phase 5: First 30 Days Tracking
Week 1–2
- Rep has logged at least one prospect in CRM (confirms CRM access is working)
- Account Director confirms rep's first introduction was handled correctly (if any)
- Any questions about materials or process resolved
Week 3–4
- Check-in call or email: pipeline status, any obstacles, market feedback
- If no CRM activity: check in to understand if the rep needs help or if engagement is low
End of Month 1
- Issue first monthly commission statement (even if zero — establishes the reporting cadence)
- Review territory definition: is the rep productive in their assigned territory or should scope be adjusted?
Ongoing Operations
Monthly
- Issue commission statements by the 15th of each month for the prior month
- Process commission payments within 30 days of collecting qualifying client payments
- Review CRM pipeline for each rep
Quarterly
- Pipeline review call with each active rep
- Review commission tier progress (are they on track for bonuses?)
- Market intelligence debrief (what are prospects saying about Webility vs. competitors?)
Annually
- IC status review (see
contractor-classification-compliance.mdannual review section) - Commission plan review — are rates competitive? Any adjustments needed?
- Re-confirm rep is still working with other clients (IC status maintenance)
- EU reps: Review indemnity exposure estimate; update in CRM
Termination Protocol
When ending a sales representative relationship:
Step 1 — Issue Written Notice
- Send written termination notice meeting minimum requirements:
- USA: Per contract (typically 30 days), respecting applicable state statutes
- EU: Minimum 1/2/3 months depending on years of service; notice expires end of calendar month
- Document the reason for termination in writing (internal record)
- If termination is for cause (rep's breach): document specifically and immediately consult legal counsel
Step 2 — Commission Closeout
- Identify all leads in CRM that are within the post-termination commission window ([90] days)
- Flag those leads for commission tracking through the window
- Issue a final commission statement covering all amounts earned to date
- Process final payment per the payout schedule
Step 3 — Access and Materials
- Revoke CRM access immediately on termination date
- Request return of all Company materials (pitch deck, case studies, pricing, etc.)
- Confirm representative has ceased using Webility branding or representing themselves as a Webility rep
Step 4 — EU-Specific Termination Steps
- Note the 1-year deadline from termination date within which the rep must claim termination indemnity/compensation
- Estimate potential indemnity/compensation amount (based on average annual commission) and notify Finance
- If a post-termination non-compete applies: confirm whether compensation is required under local law
- Retain all commission records and the agreement for at least 5 years post-termination
Record-Keeping
| Document | Retention |
|---|---|
| Signed Sales Representative Agreement | Indefinitely (minimum 5 years post-termination) |
| Signed Commission Plan (Schedule A) | Same as above |
| W-9 (USA) | Minimum 4 years (IRS requirement) |
| EU business / VAT registration | Minimum 5 years |
| Monthly commission statements | Minimum 5 years |
| Payment records | Minimum 7 years (tax record requirement) |
| Termination notice | Minimum 5 years |
| CRM lead history | Minimum 3 years |
Contacts and Escalation
| Situation | Contact |
|---|---|
| Commission dispute | Account Director → [email] |
| Legal question (US) | [US Legal Counsel Name / Firm] |
| Legal question (EU) | [EU Legal Counsel Name / Firm] |
| Tax question (US) | [Accountant / CPA Name] |
| Tax question (EU) | [EU Tax Advisor Name] |
| Representative claims employment status | Immediate escalation to legal counsel |
Webility — WBL-INT-SRO-v1.0 | Sales Representative Onboarding SOP Internal use only. Do not share with sales representatives. Last reviewed: [DATE]. Owner: [ACCOUNT DIRECTOR NAME].