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Zeroed Out

  • By SendBridge Team

  • Last update: Feb 18, 2024

What Does "Zeroed Out" Mean?

In the business world, "zeroed out" is a term often used in the context of sales and commissions. It refers to the point where a salesperson's advances or draws from the company are completely paid off through their earned commissions. Imagine a salesperson gets a kind of "advance pay" based on expected sales. When their actual sales cover this advance, they are "zeroed out."

Here's how it works: a salesperson might not always make steady money from sales due to market ups and downs. To help, companies sometimes give an advance payment, known as a draw, against future sales. As the salesperson makes sales, a part of their commission goes to pay back this draw. When the draw is fully paid, their account is "zeroed out," and any further commissions go directly to them.

The Good and The Bad

Being "zeroed out" is great for salespeople because it means they've met their targets and can now earn more freely. It's a sign of success and hard work paying off. However, the pressure to reach this point can be stressful, especially in slow sales periods. The need to "zero out" can lead to a focus on short-term sales over long-term relationships with customers.

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The Benefits Explained

For the salesperson, the main benefit of being "zeroed out" is financial freedom. They no longer have a debt hanging over their head to the company for their draws. For the company, it means that their sales team is hitting targets, which is good for the bottom line. It's a system that encourages and rewards high performance.

A Real-World Example

Let's say a salesperson has a monthly draw of $2000. In January, they make sales that result in $1500 of commissions. They're not "zeroed out" yet, as they still owe $500. But in February, they make sales that result in $2500 of commissions. After paying off the remaining $500, they're "zeroed out," and the extra $2000 is theirs to keep. This system motivates them to not only meet but exceed their sales goals.

In conclusion, "zeroed out" is a key concept in business that reflects a balance between advances given and commissions earned. It's both a goal and a milestone for sales professionals, marking a point where they can start enjoying the fruits of their labor more freely.