D2D glossary / How reps get paid
What is the back end in summer sales?
Back end: The back end is the part of your commission a summer sales company holds until the season is over, then pays based on how many of your accounts are still active and paying.
Summer pest control and home security programs commonly split pay in two. The upfront portion arrives during the summer, shortly after each account is serviced or installed. The rest, the back end, is calculated after the season and often paid in the fall or winter.
Because the back end depends on accounts staying active, it rewards honest selling: customers who cancel in the first weeks shrink it. It is also the most disputed part of summer sales pay, because the formula, the pay dates and what happens if you go home early are set by the contract, not by custom.
Ask before you sign
How is the back end calculated, on what date is it paid, and do I still get it if I leave before the season ends?
Related terms
Read next
- What Is a Summer Sales Program?
- Door-to-door pest control sales jobs · Pest control sales FAQ
- Door-to-door home security sales jobs · Home security sales FAQ
Back end: quick answers
What is the back end in summer sales?
The back end is the part of your commission a summer sales company holds until the season is over, then pays based on how many of your accounts are still active and paying.
What should I ask a company about the back end?
Ask this before you sign: "How is the back end calculated, on what date is it paid, and do I still get it if I leave before the season ends?" Get the answer in writing, in the rep agreement or the pay plan.