seeking advice about bonus

Mrharrison86

Hi all,


I hope this is the right place to post this!


I have a job as a salesman - its a pretty good job with a company I like so no complaints there.


For the last few years I have sold a similar thing and have had a similar commission structure, its not the most generous one in the market but its ok - so again no complaints there.


Over the last year I have started (off my own back) to find other opportunities for the company that utilised its capabilities in different ways. So effectively looking at rebranding our service to win other deals.


Recently we won one of these deals (hooray!) but my problem now is me and the my boss/the company never had a discussion about commission. So straightaway they've said they're happy to pay me a bonus (another hooray!) however it would be at half the rate that I get for usual duties and payment of it would be spread out over the whole term of the contract, rather than the usual 12 months. They have however confirmed they would like me to spend 50% of my time finding more of these new deals.


So I have 3 questions -


1) would anyone be able to give me any advice on what they think a suitable bonus would be? I know I haven't given any indication on what the contract value is and im pretty nervous about putting that on a public forum but I'd be happy to private message if that's a thing? or if anyone could tell me sort of ballpark figures for amounts of contract values won?


2) also I remember someone once telling me that once you had received a guaranteed bonus for longer than a fixed period of time it was no longer a bonus it was part of your salary. is this true? if it is I already get paid a guaranteed bonus to take me from 30k to 40k a year? I think that was so they could avoid being seen to give me a payrise during a period when payrises were meant to be frozen.


3) does anyone have any advice on how I should go about negotiating this? I know the first piece of advice would be negotiate in advance :P but I have no idea how would be best to go about it. I think the amount theyre offering is pretty low and also I really don't like the fact its paid over the life of the contract.


Any advice would be great!


Cheers,

getmore4less

What's done is done you might be able to squeeze them for more.

Problem is you have done this on top of the "proper" work.

You meet to replace the 50% time lost that's a starting point for new contracts,

Any scope for improvement/renewal to these deals going forward who gets that bonus.

It is not just the size of the deals margins are important.

Mrharrison86

Thanks for the quick reply. Yeah I sort of that would be the case! It!!!8217;s a shame as the offer is very small and they!!!8217;ve usually been pretty good. Never mind. Next one I!!!8217;ll get my moneys worth!

ssparks2003

If you don't like it vote with your feet, your successes will look good on your CV. They are not obliged to pay you anything so be grateful for something

Mrharrison86

Nope quite happy to stay I!!!8217;ve done 7 years so far! Also I!!!8217;m pretty sure they!!!8217;re obliged to pay me for working there :P

LilElvis

I wouldn't expect commission/bonus to be paid based on the contract value, but rather the profit generated.

getmore4less

What's done is done you might be able to squeeze them for more.

Problem is you have done this on top of the "proper" work

are you really a sales person?

You don't take the offer, you sell yourself

you justify how this contract is worth more to the company than your normal sales and deserves more.

you are very disappointed they only think this new contracts is only worth ......


if you can show it is worth more to the business than your current sales it is worth more to you as well.

SELL YOURSELF.

theoretica

A starting point for negotiation might be that changing your job to spend half your time on this shouldn't earn you less through lost bonus than sticking to your old job. Is it likely to?

Mrharrison86

Hi all and thanks for all the feedback

Should!!!8217;ve stated - my commission is based on net not gross.

Will definitely be negotiating I just wanted to put the feelers out and see what people thought and whether I!!!8217;d be facing a tougher time because I!!!8217;m doing it after the win.

It!!!8217;s an awkward one as while I have no problem negotiating with clients I always find it difficult negotiating with my bosss as they treated me really well when my youngest was ill!

Thanks again for all the advice!

ssparks2003

What does you contract state regarding payment of the bonus?

Mrharrison86

I actually don!!!8217;t know. I!!!8217;ve had a number of promotions in the last few years but I!!!8217;ve never had a new contract. My new bonus structure and salary arrangements have always just been emailed to me. I!!!8217;ll try and quietly get a copy of it though!