What are fixed rate commissions?

A fixed rate commission consists of a set, unchanging dollar amount which a salesperson earns for making a sale. Unlike variable rate commissions or percentage based commissions, fixed rate commissions do not change. The salesperson earns the same amount for each sale, regardless of how much the value of the sale is.

One advantage of fixed-rate commissions is that they don't create a direct link between the commission amount and the transaction value. This can be beneficial in situations where the effort or work required to complete the transaction doesn't necessarily correlate with its monetary value. Additionally, this approach provides consistency for both the salesperson and the company; the salesperson has a more predictable source of earnings, and the company has a simpler financial planning process with more predictable commission payouts.

However, fixed-rate commissions can also raise concerns if the fixed amount is disproportionately high for a lower-value transaction or too low for a higher-value one. In cases where the effort required for a transaction varies significantly, a fixed-rate commission might not accurately reflect the level of work involved. Depending on the complexity of the service, the potential range of transaction values, and the market norms, other commission structures, such as percentage-based commissions or tiered commissions, might be more appropriate.