Commission Blog
Expert insights on sales commission management, compensation strategy, and payout automation for growing sales teams.
Straight Commission: Is It Right for Your Sales Team?
Straight commission pays reps only for what they sell—no base salary. Learn how it works, when it makes sense, and the real tradeoffs before you commit to it.
Mar 15, 20268 min
ReadTiered Commission Structure: How to Build One That Scales
A tiered commission structure pays higher rates as reps exceed quota. Learn how to design tiers, set thresholds, and avoid the payout cliff problem.
Mar 15, 20267 min
ReadTotal Compensation: What's Included Beyond Salary
Total compensation is everything an employer pays you — base salary, variable pay, equity, benefits, and perks. Here's how to calculate and compare the full number.
Mar 15, 20266 min
ReadUncapped Commission: Pros, Cons, and When It Makes Sense
Uncapped commission removes the earnings ceiling on variable pay. Learn the real trade-offs, when it works, and how to model payout risk before committing.
Mar 15, 20267 min
ReadVariable Compensation: Types, Structures, and Best Practices
Variable compensation is the performance-based portion of pay beyond base salary. Learn the types, how to set pay mix, and what makes variable comp actually drive results.
Mar 15, 20267 min
ReadVariable Pay: What It Is and How to Design It
Variable pay is the performance-based portion of compensation beyond base salary. Learn how to design it, avoid common mistakes, and set the right pay mix by role.
Mar 15, 20268 min
ReadWhat Does OTE Mean? A Plain-English Explanation
OTE stands for on-target earnings — the total compensation a sales rep earns at 100% quota. Benchmarks, pay mix ratios, and what the number actually tells you.
Mar 15, 20265 min
ReadWhat Is a SPIFF in Sales? (And When to Use One)
A SPIFF (Sales Performance Incentive Fund) is a short-term bonus for selling a specific product or hitting a defined target. Here's how they work, when to use them, and when to avoid them.
Mar 15, 20268 min
ReadXactly Alternative: Modern Commission Management vs Legacy ICM
Looking for an Xactly alternative? Compare pricing, implementation time, and features across Carvd, CaptivateIQ, Everstage, and QuotaPath for teams of 10–300 reps.
Mar 15, 202611 min
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