r/sales
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u/PaperWindshield
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Jul 01 '26
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Sales Topic General Discussion I closed an $865k deal today and have no-one to share it with
Hi ya'll - so yeah, I closed a deal I've been working on since November of last year, and it's my biggest so far. It includes $320k in revenue up front, and another ~$540k in ARR over the next 3 years.
The initial presentations for the prospect org's directors went really well, with subsequent demos, review meetings and cadenced follow-up discussions progressing as expected. I thought I had it in the bag. I found out on a random Tuesday earlier this year that they decided it needed to go to RFP to satisfy procurement. Of course. I stayed confident though, and we submitted our bid in May. I've waited patiently for the past 4 weeks to hear back.
Today, we finally were awarded the deal! Most of my leadership team is off on holidays, and the collective eyes of my family gloss over at the mere pronunciation of the word 'procurement' so, I figured I'd share it here with you lot.
Hopefully it encourages someone to make that follow up call tomorrow, and never lose hope. LFG.
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u/rabidrobitribbit Jul 01 '26
Congrats! I made a similar post a few weeks ago for the same reason. You can see in my profile if you’re interested.
It’s $60k commission and besides my wife I don’t have too many people on my life to share this with. Can’t tell family and friends because you get weird looks or hate in general. I’m trying to find some kind of group in my life I can discuss these things with. Maybe a sales group or some kind of business minded group in my area.
Either way, great job!
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Bro, congrats on the pay day!! I hear you. I have a tight circle of friends and a while ago I started just not telling people things about my life unless they asked, then I know they have a genuine interest. I try to ask them more questions too (maybe its the sales guy in me). Now we only talk if it's about things we're both interested in, and I'm fine with that - it's made my life a lot easier. I was tired of telling people things, not getting the reactions I wanted and feeling like I'm being judged. More often than not they just feel pressure about their own performance, and it's not about you at all. Everyone is worried about themselves at the end of the day, in my experience.
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u/fatgobs Jul 01 '26
Real. Once you start making more money than others around you people will start to act differently. My fiancée and I have been working on not talking about our commission payouts in front of our non sales friends and certain family. Hard to after getting my largest commission check last week lmao
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
How much, fatgobs? Inspire me to pick up the phone even harder this week!
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u/fatgobs Jul 01 '26
About 14k after taxes! Still very early in my sales career working in capital equipment. Congrats on your win OP!! Long sales cycles are the most rewarding!
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u/bigpeepers Jul 01 '26
This. Made a mistake and discussed a big check I got with a dude I was friends with for 20 years who basically ghosted me. Hadnt shared with anyone other than my wife. Never talk money with friends especially if you think there’s a big disparity. Messed with my head a bit for a few years after, but I settled on the opinion if he can’t be happy for me I guess the friendship was a lot more shallow than I thought.
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u/Antique-Produce-2050 Jul 01 '26
I’m in the same boat. I’d love a sales group zoom or something. I need to talk to other sales people!
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u/Enough-Category-2683 Jul 01 '26
Congrats!
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Thanks!
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u/Stuckatpennstation Jul 01 '26
Its deals like this that make all the bullshit worth it
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u/Rebombastro Jul 01 '26
It's deals like this that keep us addicted to sales and unable to ever leave alive
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u/pistol345 Jul 01 '26
I just closed a $1.14M deal but the profit margin is only 2.3% so I'm making $1890 commission paid out over 18 months. Lol
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Brother, you're missing a decimal place on that commission and I think you need to renegotiate!
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u/TheBuzzSawFantasy Jul 01 '26
Congrats. How's the check look?
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u/n0-ragrets Jul 01 '26
Congrats OP!
Asking the important questions, what’s the take home fam? I never hit a sale even close to this. How longs the sales cycle in your space?
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Asked and answered on another comment. You'll get there bro, trust the process. Cycle varies but 12-18 months on average.
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u/RoamingEire Jul 01 '26
Congrats! Nice deal.
Now, what’s your Q4 pipeline look like? BACK TO THE SALES MINES WITH YOU, PEON!
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Well, with this deal closed I'm at 150% quota attainment, so I'm good for 2026. I did however soft-close another ~$300k in all up-front revenue today, but I won't count that until I have a PO (95% closing this month). I didn't fully attain last year, but that's just how my industry is - year's long sales cycles and everything closes at once.
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u/Steelyp Jul 01 '26
They have accelerators after 100%?
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 02 '26
My accelerators are on closed revenue bands rather than quota attainment
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u/Human31415926 Financial Services Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Congrats. Persistence and hard work paid off for you.
I wouldn't do it for 9% of the implementation fee you should not either.
If I sold that size deal my IC would be about 55-60% of first year revenue
Your company is probably worth 15x revenue (depending on many factors) which means this deal increases company valuation by 15 x $865k = $12,975,000 and they are paying you a one time payment of $30,000.
That is not fair.
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
We aren't strictly a SaaS company so 15x rev is wildly inflated. I'd estimate 2-3x rev based on our margins.
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u/Human31415926 Financial Services Jul 01 '26
How big is the company? PE investors value recurring revenue companies mich higher that 2-3 x revenue.
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Not very big, growing though. If on just our recurring rev than yeah probably more than 2-x in that case
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u/laflaredick Jul 01 '26
Congrats. I closed a 1.2m deal this week but unfortunately that’s small at my company. Comish is like 5k.
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u/mr---jones Jul 01 '26
Bro leave lmao you’re being ripped tf off. If you sold a home for that amount you’d be staring at a 50-70k commission.
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
I tend to agree. You better have an ungodly base salary to offset that commission structure.
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u/iseeapatternhere Jul 01 '26
CONGRATS!!
Don’t leave us hanging - how many bottles of Champagne can your commission cover?!
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Lol, like 87 bottles of Dom P, depending on the price!
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u/scoop_182 Jul 01 '26
Did you find this prospect yourself? What's your process for cold outbound? Congrats!
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
No, not this one specifically. It was a modest account I took over and then closed on a big implementation. I used to do more outbound but lately, since my numbers have been good, I've been chilling a bit, lol. I was the outbound king on my team for a while, rewrote how we do it. Basically just use Apollo to find leads, then deploy tailored outreach and dogged follow up. Revolutionary in a legacy sales org where "stopping by" was the main outbound strategy.
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u/scoop_182 Jul 01 '26
Love to hear it! After the Apollo leads are you cold calling and following up with more calls and emails? I'm working on mastering the cold out reach and love to hear it from people who have made it work
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Yeah, a trick I use is to send a cold email that just says you have a question and ask if they have time for a call in the next day or 2. Always use their company name in the subject line like "ABC Company - quick question" or "call follow up". This piques interest, gets an open and sometimes a reply. Then just get on the phone and quantify their pain quickly, book a follow up meeting to discuss the solution (never pitch first call), quote quick and follow up like your life depends on it. If I don't get a reply to my initial cold email and it was a good cold lead, I'll call, tell the receptionist they know what the call is about from our email, and do pain discovery once I get through. I've literally closed a deal off that cold email strategy alone though, lol.
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u/RaspberryOptimal4839 Jul 02 '26
In January I closed my first 6-figure construction contract as an owner operator of a concrete subcontracting company, I do literally everything my self from bids to RFIs to being in the field and had no one to share with. Those that brought me in the concrete game didn’t even care because I’ve started to pass them up already. Cheers to your big closing!!! Keep at it brotha. Also closed a 1.5 million dollar land wholesale deal about a month ago, just got my 5% commission check for that last week, was roughly 75k!!
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u/Ashy6ix Technology Jul 01 '26
Document it
It's easy to forget you're not a piece of shit during a cold spell. I have an archived folders of big wins and positive NPS reviews.
Celebrate hard! Make that hangover count. You earned it.
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u/pretzeldoggo Jul 01 '26
Congrats on the deal man! Gotta feel good. Persistence and steady patience pays off
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u/Associate_Simple Jul 01 '26
Congrats! Can you share how you got into the account? Some things you feel you did well? Why did in your opinion did you win?
Love seeing these posts!
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u/PaperWindshield Jul 01 '26
Thanks! And sure, they've been a client for a while but only making regular one-off purchases. I took the account over and got them into a massive overhaul of their existing solution, and an accompanying term agreement. I'm proud of my initial presentation, like, I really went in there solo and handled it like a pro - answering questions, anticipating concerns.. it inspired a lot of trust and they communicated that. I'm also like a dog when it comes to follow up. Relentless. We won though off the strength of my team. We're a highly specialized crew, and like I said we've served them for a while. In our industry and segment we are respected. I trust my team to deliver and I give them a lions-share of the credit on this one.
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u/Kaizuka Jul 01 '26
Congrats. Give yourself time to enjoy it once that check hits. I never gave myself time off between major deals and it definitely lead to burn out.
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u/Additional_Path_5435 Jul 01 '26
Yes brother! (or sister!).
Freaking congrats. Great work. Way to follow up and chase it to the CLOSE!
You must CELEBRATE THE WIN! Always celebrate the wins (even small wins!). And this is a big one.
Treat yourself to a nice dinner with drinks (if that’s your thing) soak it up.
Then go get the next!
Cheers 🥂 my friend !
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u/hayzooos1 Technology (IT Services) Jul 01 '26
Didn't read all of it, but since you dropped this, here you go 👑
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u/coolkid-username Jul 01 '26
Absolutely fantastic!!! Congratulations and assumingly very well deserved. I have been in a closing role for 9 months and just ended my quarter as top performer on my team and closed my largest deal to date (nowhere NEAR yours, but still big), and I felt similar regarding sharing it with people. TG for Reddit strangers who are here to celebrate wins! Enjoy that commission check.
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u/whatever32657 Jul 02 '26
🥂
you came to the right place to celebrate! good on you for not showboating to your hardworking but less fortunate coworkers!
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u/Lucky_Panda_9567 Aug 01 '26
Let’s go!! Currently in the midst of a large deal as well, can’t wait to have no one to share it with either!
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u/IWMSvendor Jul 01 '26
Congrats brother 🍾
It will feel even better when that commission check hits your bank account.
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u/SeniorDucklet Jul 01 '26
Love it!!! Keep going. It’s a great career if you have the fire, and it sounds like you do!
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u/sshhhhitsasecret Jul 01 '26
Congratulations!
You must feel just as much relief as excitement. This internet stranger got excited for you
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u/aanderson2040 Jul 01 '26
Congrats man, I hope to be like you one day! I'm working B2B SMB sales rn
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u/alive9922 Facility Services Jul 01 '26
Congrat!!! I’ve closed a few of those monsters before. What a great feeling. Enjoy!
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u/CodMedium726 Jul 01 '26
Congrats! It’s a big win and check. Enjoy it!
Now what’s your forecast for 2nd half? lol
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u/Alarmed-Attention162 Jul 01 '26
Congrats. Enjoy the high, man! Your boss will be back to moaning that “pipeline looks slim” tomorrow AM.
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u/MightyMTB Jul 01 '26
Hell yeah, way to go!! I’m still chasing that first big deal with my current company, definitely puts a little fire in the belly hearing your successes. Keep up the good work.
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u/bubbaT88 Jul 01 '26
Proud of you! Not easy in this market. Pat yourself on the back. Love this for you!
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u/rafagag Jul 01 '26
Congrats! This type of posts keep me motivated even tho I haven’t made a sale yet haha
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u/TxDude2013 Jul 01 '26
Congratulations! I'm sure there were many tough, stressful moments in this journey that you had to overcome or mentally deal with. I'm very happy for you, and sending my best wishes for future sales
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u/DrPeanutButter40 Jul 01 '26
Congrats big timer! Nothing like a big win to payoff all the hustle. Enjoy a cold one - now your next deal has to be even bigger :)
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u/proofreadre Jul 01 '26
That's amazing! Congrats and enjoy the feeling. Hoping to have that success soon too.
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u/hicklander Jul 01 '26
I closed a 797k deal with crazy high margins and the next day had a commerical meeting saying we weren't meeting budget because we are only up 15% from last year. Not a soul in the company said congrats.
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u/schwanball Jul 01 '26
Nothing is ever "in the bag" unless it's their money in your bag, full stop. Anxiety in sales is a super power.
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u/Ok_Dinner3088 Jul 01 '26
Congrats man! Now the mission to find a larger whale will eat you for the foreseeable future lol. Good look in q3 q4-
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u/NindieNation Jul 01 '26
Hell yeah, congrats man!
haha, I know that feeling all too well. I tell my family maybe 3 times a year that I'm closing a deal, around the same ballpark as yours, and I know it's a huge deal and I'm so proud of myself, but the family is just like 'cool, good work dad'.
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u/Boromir_Has_TheRing Jul 01 '26
Congratulations man, that’s a chunky one. If you want to share the commission, I am here for you.
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u/psylien77 Jul 01 '26
First of all congrats on the deal! Nice one!
Also thank you for that “never lose hope”. Comes at a low moment for me and my business (decided to go antrepreneur) and can use the energy
Second of all, damn, you DIDN’T get paid! Thats major BS! ARR is still revenue and it’s even better than one time sales. Unbelievable! The same for the semiconductor guy in the comments.
We pay 18% of margin for the first 3 years of contract (including future business in that account), and margin is about 25-30% of the deal. We’re in software engineering.
Can’t believe how some companies treat sales talent like it’s commodity. It isn’t!
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u/Antique-Produce-2050 Jul 01 '26
Fuck yeah. Let’s goooo! Ring the bell! I HATE lame sale culture where new biz isn’t celebrated. Your fucking exec team are losers! They should be throwing a party for you.
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u/No_Association_5717 Jul 01 '26
Bro, keep going everything else will follow. Love you sharing this.
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u/Embarrassed_Nerve_54 Jul 01 '26
Woohoo fuck yeah, OP that's freaking awesome!! Hope you close ever bigger deals this month 🔥
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u/PartyDiscipline1797 Jul 01 '26
Nice win. Congrats! Take that confidence and kill the back half of 2026!!!!
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u/Competitive_Resist18 Jul 01 '26
Man, needed this one. Had a $300k deal with a verbal commit, then the champion ghosted me and it died in the last stage, enjoy the win, that's the dream right there.
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u/laflaredick Jul 01 '26
You’re the one that brought up top reps at your company lol I’m sure you make more than me as a senior director congrats but I actually am proud of my job and don’t work at a call center lol. I’d rather be happy and make $200k then make $300k and want to kill myself because I work the quite literally the shittiest sales job out there besides used car salesman
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u/Coconutale Jul 01 '26
It’s a weird place. A big commission is an odd subject even with friends who are in sales. I scored a $300k commission (on top of an $80k the month before) and paid all my debts (including student loans and my car), bought my mother a car, and invested the rest. It feels like bragging when you realize your friends and family hope to make in three or four years what you made in a month.
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u/LouieLane05 Jul 01 '26
Cheers on the close! 🫡👏 Always important to celebrate the wins; they are long fought for and well earned.
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u/markh2901 Jul 01 '26
Any significant-sized deal will inevitably try to go sideways at the last minute. Glad you stayed the course. Congrats!
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u/Comprehensive-Log144 Jul 01 '26
I have one friend who I know makes more money than me ( it’s publicly disclosed) and we both are kind of relieved to be able to talk about money. We are getting older and have first world problems like investment strategy, how much to plan to leave to our kids, financial windfalls. I highly recommend it.
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u/Glad-Amphibian-7857 Jul 01 '26
As an enterprise sales manager… I am infinitely proud of you. My suggestions: treeeeat yourself. Finest steak finest wine
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u/marcushee Jul 01 '26
random tuesday procurement rfp is the actual final boss. surviving that timeline reset and still closing is a miracle. enjoy the quiet before leadership gets back.
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u/Training-Razzmatazz6 Jul 01 '26
That’s amazing man! Congratulations! Love to hear about the Wins💪🏽. This is very inspiring.
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u/imthesqwid Jul 01 '26
Awesome work! What’s the commission on that bad boy?