Parties
Identify full legal names of the company and manager, including business entity type for the employer and the manager's legal name for tax reporting.
A written Sales Manager Agreement reduces ambiguity about pay, authority, and termination, protecting both company and manager. It supports compliance with tax, labor, and commission-reporting rules while documenting intellectual property and confidentiality obligations.
Companies, HR teams, sales leaders, and outside counsel commonly prepare the Sales Manager Agreement before onboarding or promotion.
The final signed document should be retained in employee records and shared with payroll and finance for accurate commission accounting.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signing Order | Sequential or parallel as required by approvals. |
| Authentication | Email link or SMS code; use KBA for higher assurance. |
| Reminders | Auto-remind signers after 3 and 7 days. |
| Storage Location | Save executed PDF to HR folder and to finance archive. |
Ensure the chosen platform supports required integrations and file formats before sending the agreement.
Confirm retention policies and export formats (PDF/A) so executed agreements remain admissible and reproducible for audits or disputes.
Date when duties and pay commence; use MM/DD/YYYY.
Date by which both parties must sign to confirm terms.
State timing, e.g., within 30 days of invoice receipt or month end.
Specify cadence for quota reviews and adjustments, e.g., quarterly.
Define notice length, often 30 to 90 days depending on role.
All terms agreed and draft approved by stakeholders.
All parties sign and dates are recorded.
Payroll and accounting apply agreed commission rules.
Final executed copy stored per company retention policy.
| Criteria | Sales Manager Agreement | Employment Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Structure | base plus commission | salary or wage |
| Termination Terms | commission-specific clauses | standard notice and severance |
| IP Assignment | often explicit for sales collateral | typically included |
| Benefits | may exclude benefits | often includes benefits |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Optica used a standardized agreement to onboard remote sales leadership with clear commission terms.
A property management firm documented territory and listing commission splits for a regional sales manager.
The manager signs to accept duties, territory, and compensation. The signature indicates consent to performance metrics and post-termination restrictions, and it triggers payroll and commission setup procedures.
An authorized company officer or HR representative signs to bind the employer. This signatory confirms budget approval, payroll setup, and acceptance of the manager's contractual obligations.
Identify full legal names of the company and manager, including business entity type for the employer and the manager's legal name for tax reporting.
State the effective date and either fixed term or at-will status, and specify renewal or notice procedures for termination.
Describe job responsibilities, reporting relationships, quotas, and travel or customer coverage expectations in measurable terms.
Spell out base salary, commission rates, thresholds, bonuses, and payment schedule to avoid later disputes.
Detail notice periods, cause definitions, severance, and procedures for final pay and commission settlement.
Include nondisclosure, IP assignment, and post-termination return of materials, with duration and scope defined.
Define formula, eligible revenue, timing, and adjustments for returns, discounts, or chargebacks; include worked examples to clarify edge cases.
List assigned territories or account lists and state rules for account transfer, grandfathering, and disputed account ownership.
Specify required sales documentation, timing, and format for commission claims and approvals to enable timely payroll processing.
Reserve the company's right to audit sales records and require cooperation for verification of commission calculations.