Sales and Business Development (Freelance Sales Rep)
Why it’s lucrative: Companies always need to drum up business. If you have a knack for sales – whether it’s cold calling, lead generation, or closing deals – you can freelance in that capacity. Some businesses hire freelance salespeople or business development reps on contract, especially if expanding into new markets or needing only part-time coverage. Sales is typically commission-based, so while it can be feast-or-famine, top freelance sales reps can earn very high if they close big deals.
What it involves: - Outbound calling or emailing prospects (lead generation, cold outreach). - Nurturing leads through follow-ups, demos (for more complex products). - Relationship management – sometimes called freelance account executives. - Could also involve setting up sales funnels or CRM management for a small business (though that edges into marketing). - Essentially, being the face/voice to potential customers and convincing them to buy the product/service.
No degree needed because: Sales is about communication, persuasion, resilience, and product knowledge (which the company provides). Many of the best salespeople learn on the job. While some companies prefer degrees, plenty of entrepreneurs just want someone who can sell. If you have any track record of selling (even if it was retail or telemarketing), that can be leveraged to show you’ve got what it takes. And you can learn sales tactics from books and courses (like how to handle objections, how to craft sales pitches).
Consider that often, companies hiring freelancers emphasize results and experience – a CEO might not care if you studied marketing or literature if you can demonstrate you closed $100k in deals in a previous freelance gig.
Typical earnings: Often a mix of base pay and commission. Some freelance sales roles might be purely commission (e.g., you get 10% of any sale you bring). If it’s a high-ticket item, that can be significant (sell a $50,000 software package, you earn $5k). Others might pay a modest base hourly ($15-$25/hr) plus smaller commission. But if you’re good, you can negotiate higher base or higher commission.
Freelance lead generators might charge per lead (like $X for each qualified appointment set). That can add up if you’re efficient. Top freelance sales consultants who help businesses set up sales strategies can also charge advisory fees (similar to marketing consultants).
Getting started tips: - Identify an industry you know or feel comfortable in. It’s easier to sell something you understand. For example, if you used to work at a SaaS company in customer service, maybe you can freelance selling SaaS solutions since you know the pain points. - Use your network: Are there businesses in your circle who could use more sales? Offer to work on a commission basis – low risk for them, and a chance for you to prove yourself. - Build some form of reference or portfolio: e.g., “In my last role, I exceeded sales targets by 20%” or “I have consistently generated 30 qualified leads per month using cold email.” Even if these came from a job, they show capability. - Learn modern sales tools: Many sales processes use CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, or outreach tools. Familiarity with these can help you hit the ground running with a client’s setup. - Be prepared for rejection and persistence – freelance sales can be tough psychologically, but success can be rewarding financially. - One approach: Start as a freelance appointment setter (generate interest and set up meetings for the client’s in-house people to close) to build experience, then move up to full closing deals as you gain confidence.
No degree is fine here: In fact, some of the best salespeople don’t have traditional backgrounds – they often have great people skills and street smarts. Emphasize those qualities: communication, negotiation, empathy, drive. If you can speak the client’s language and show you’ll hustle to make them money, you’ll get hired.