Traveling sales teams vs. local door-to-door sales
Short answer: Traveling sales means leaving home to sell in another market, either on a short blitz of days or weeks or in a summer program of several months. Local sales means working territory near where you live, usually year-round. Travel offers fresh markets and long, focused selling days, with housing and travel costs to sort out first. Local work offers a normal home life and customers you can follow up with in person.
| Traveling sales | Local sales | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you live | Shared company housing, a rental or a hotel in the market | At home |
| How long | A few days to a few weeks for a blitz; about four months for a summer program | Ongoing |
| Schedule | Long days, usually six days a week | Afternoons, evenings and Saturdays; more room to set your own week |
| Costs | Housing and travel: paid by the company, split, or paid by you. Ask | Your own commute, phone and fuel |
| Pay timing | You may leave before your sales install, so confirm how those are paid | You are nearby when installs happen and can save deals that wobble |
| Permits | Each new city can require its own solicitor permit | One set of local rules to learn |
| Who gets hired | Mostly experienced reps for blitzes; beginners for summer programs | Beginners and experienced reps |
| Industries | Fiber, roofing, solar and telecom blitzes; pest control and security summers | Every door-to-door industry |
Choose traveling sales if
- Nothing ties you to home for the length of the trip
- You want to sell all day with a team doing the same
- You have the experience to produce from the first day, or you are joining a summer program that trains
- You have the housing, travel and pay terms in writing
Choose local sales if
- You have family, school or another job at home
- You want to build referrals in one area over time
- You are new and want to learn before you travel
- You want steady work through the year
How reps move between the two
Most traveling reps started locally or in a summer program. Team leads take reps on the road once they have shown they can sell without supervision.
Before any trip, ask what happens to commission on sales that install after you leave, and who is responsible for a customer who needs a visit once the team is gone.
Questions
Do traveling sales reps earn more than local reps?
Not automatically. Traveling teams work more hours in markets chosen because demand is high, which can mean more sales. Housing, travel and food costs, and sales that cancel after the team leaves, can take much of that back. Compare what you would keep, not what you would sell.
Who pays for housing on a traveling sales team?
It depends on the company and the program. Some pay for housing and travel, some split the cost, and some deduct it from commission or leave it to the rep. Get it in writing before you go.
Can a new rep join a traveling team?
Summer programs in pest control and home security are built for new reps. Short blitzes usually want experience, because there is no time to train. A new rep can get on a blitz by joining a team lead who agrees to coach them.
Read next
- What Is a Summer Sales Program?
- Where Door-to-Door Sales Jobs Are
- Door-to-Door Sales Permits and Laws
Terms used on this page
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