Are you ready to hire your first salesperson?

When starting a company , everyone is often juggling multiple tasks at once. One common mistake that founders make is hiring a full-time salesperson too early. Many believe that this first sales hire will solve their revenue problem and product-market fit, but unfortunately, that is not the case.

In the early days of building a business, it is the CEO and/or founder's responsibility to determine product-market fit, close initial revenue, and build out the sales infrastructure. This way, when a full-time salesperson joins, they will be set up for success. Some founders view this salesperson as another entrepreneurial individual, but if they were, they would start their own business. This often leads to a cycle of disappointment, time wasted, and frustration.

My solution to this problem is to hire a sales consultant. A sales consultant can be incredibly beneficial for a number of reasons.

1. First and foremost, sales consultants bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, having worked with a variety of companies and clients in different industries. This means that they can offer valuable insights and strategies for reaching and closing deals with potential customers.

2. Sales consultants bring a fresh perspective to the table. They are not emotionally invested in the company and can therefore provide an unbiased point of view which can help to identify areas of improvement in the sales process.

3. Consultants can help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of a startup's sales efforts. They can help to develop a sales plan, create sales materials and train the sales team on best practices. This can lead to a more productive sales team, and ultimately, more revenue for the company.

4. Hiring a sales consultant can also free up time for the startup's founders and management team to focus on other areas of the business. Instead of having to spend time on sales efforts, they can focus on product development, fundraising, and other important tasks.

5. A sales consultant can help to build out the sales infrastructure, understand what works and what does not, close initial revenue, and then assist in hiring a full-time salesperson for the company.

In summary, hiring a sales consultant at a startup can bring a wealth of experience and expertise, a fresh perspective, increased efficiency and effectiveness, and more time for the management team to focus on other areas of the business.

If you're a startup considering hiring a sales consultant, come AskLeily :)