Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
The rise of remote work has opened the door to countless opportunities, including commission-only roles that allow for unparalleled flexibility in schedule, location, and workload. However, finding legit commission-only remote jobs can be a challenge, especially with the proliferation of online scams. Commission-only sales jobs can generate significant income and help you build a lucrative career, but it’s crucial to know how to distinguish lucrative opportunities from scams. We’ve put together some tips to help you stay safe and find great opportunities across the vast offerings of the internet.
Commission-only jobs compensate you based entirely on your performance—typically through sales or achieving specific goals. Unlike salaried positions, where you’re guaranteed a certain income regardless of what you accomplish, commission-only roles reward you only for the results you produce. This means that the more effective you are at closing deals or reaching targets, the higher your earning potential. Commission-only jobs put you in control of your income, with near limitless possibilities depending only on your skills and the workload you’re willing to take on. If you’re entrepreneurial, confident in your abilities, and looking for a highly scalable job that rewards you for working harder, a commission-only role is perfect.
One of the main advantages of commission-only jobs is the freedom and flexibility they provide. Since they often don’t require you to be tethered to a traditional office setting or schedule, they usually allow you to work freely from wherever you want, whenever you want, and even however much you want. You can easily integrate a commission-only job into whatever other responsibilities you have in life. Another benefit is all the skills and knowledge you can learn, which may be transferable to other industries, as well as the network you can potentially build, especially if you’re working in sales or another job that involves communicating with a lot of people.
Of course, commission-only jobs also come with challenges. The most significant is income variability. Since your earnings are directly tied to your performance, there may be months where you don’t earn as much as expected, especially when you’re starting out and still building your network or client base. Fluctuations are normal in such independent jobs, but if you’re not financially prepared to handle the slow months, you can end up in serious trouble, or at least severely stressed. A financial safety net is a must for commission-only workers, and if you don’t have one yet, you should arrange an alternative income stream until you build your financial cushion.
Another critical factor to consider is your personality and work style. Commission-only roles require a high level of self-motivation and discipline. Unlike in traditional jobs, where supervisors or team dynamics can keep you on track, when you work in commission-only roles, you’re your own supervisor. You have to set your own goals, keep yourself organized, and remain persistent even when in the face of rejection. If you prefer structured environments with clear guidance from superiors, commission-only work might not be the best fit for you. If you value autonomy and have the discipline to keep yourself on track, it might be perfect for you.
Reputable companies provide detailed information about their expectations, products or services, and commission structures. Avoid vague job postings that fail to clarify how you’ll be paid, what you’ll sell, or who the target customers are. Even if they’re not scams, you don’t want to accidentally stumble into jobs you don’t like with companies too sloppy to provide the information you need.
Legitimate employers do not require you to pay to work for them. If a potential employer asks for fees to access training, inventory, or other materials, the job is almost certainly a scam. Genuine opportunities invest in their team themselves, covering the costs for any necessary training or materials.
Research the company’s website, social media accounts, and reviews. Legit companies will have a professional online footprint and customer testimonials. Smaller startups may not have a huge online presence, but you should still be able to find a footprint you can use to judge their credibility. You can also check for news mentions or industry awards to validate credibility.
Look for companies with a proven history of success in their industry. If possible, reach out to current or former employees to get an insider’s perspective on their experience. Insights from former employees can be particularly useful because they have little incentive to disingenuously talk up a company they no longer work for.
Scammers often prey on job seekers who are excited about the flexibility of remote work and the scalability of commission-based earnings. Take stock of your own thoughts and feelings before diving into the search to ensure you aren’t lured away by false promises of easy and impossibly lucrative work. Here are red flags to watch for:
To avoid scams and find genuine opportunities, start with trusted resources. For example, CommissionOnly.com specializes in connecting job seekers with legitimate commission-only roles. Their platform features verified listings from reputable employers, so you can leave the vetting process to them and confidently search for opportunities that fit your skill set, interests, and schedule.
Here are additional tips for your job search:
Websites like CommissionOnly.com streamline the search process by curating high-quality job postings. You don’t need to waste your time sifting through scammy or low-quality listings—you can freely focus on finding the best commission-only jobs for your goals.
Join industry-specific LinkedIn groups, attend virtual networking events, and connect with professionals in your field. Networking can often lead to opportunities that aren’t publicly advertised. Even if your network doesn’t directly lead you to new jobs, it can still help you hone your skills, learn new techniques, and meet new people who can further enhance your career.
During interviews, ask detailed questions about the commission structure, training support, and expected timeline to start earning. Brainstorm what you want to know before you go in for the interview—it’s a lot harder to come up with them on the spot, especially in a high-pressure environment like a job interview. A trustworthy employer will provide clear and honest answers, whereas scammers are likely to try to evade the questions.
While commission-only jobs require persistence and self-discipline, they also offer unique advantages:
Commission-only jobs are about more than just income. Their scalability makes them ideal for ambitious entrepreneurial types who feel trapped in salaried roles and want to take control of their own income. Their flexibility renders them perfect for those who want to build their own schedules, working whenever and wherever they please, easily balancing their career aspirations with their familial responsibilities and personal hobbies. They’re not for everyone, but for the right people, commission-only jobs are unparalleled career opportunities.
There are a lot of scams out there, but finding legit commission-only remote jobs is certainly possible if you approach the search with caution and strategy. By leveraging trusted platforms like CommissionOnly.com, conducting thorough research, and staying vigilant against scams, you can find commission-only jobs that align with your goals and allow you to take charge of your income and work schedule.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.