Post job

What does a business sales representative do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Sara Perry Ph.D.
What does a business sales representative do

A business sales representative's role is to develop strategies in identifying leads and opportunities to secure sales. Their responsibilities revolve around reaching out to clients to offer products and services, discussing the pricing and specifications of products, processing payments, and gathering necessary client information. They may also arrange appointments with clients to negotiate and sign contracts. Furthermore, as a business sales representative, it is essential to produce progress reports and presentations, handle issues and complaints, maintain records of all transactions, and regularly update databases.

On this page

Business sales representative responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real business sales representative resumes:

  • Lead recruitment and marketing efforts via social media channels such as LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, etc.
  • Generate qualify leads through B2B telemarketing services specialize in identifying and nurturing prospects for computer hardware, software and technology services.
  • Assist with coordinating and organizing marketing projects such as direct mail and team telemarketing initiatives.
  • Generate qualify leads through B2B telemarketing services specialize in identifying and nurturing prospects for computer hardware, software and technology services.
  • Assist in the training of newly hire salespeople on technical aspects of CCTV camera systems.
  • Maintain a neat display kiosk that are up to par with Costco's standards
  • Utilize negotiation and influencing abilities by offering customers solutions using products and services from MCI portfolio.

Business sales representative skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Business Sales Representatives are proficient in Business Sales, Customer Accounts, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Interpersonal skills, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Business Sales Representatives that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Business Sales, 13%

    Established, maintained and expanded direct business-to-business sales of wireless telecommunications products and service to small- and medium-sized accounts.

  • Customer Accounts, 12%

    Analyze customer accounts and provide solutions to promote efficient and effective telecommunication services based on business needs.

  • Customer Service, 11%

    Focused on providing excellent customer service while up-selling products and solving general customer inquires regarding billing, products and service.

  • Business Relationships, 11%

    Developed and maintained personal and business relationships with the local community.

  • Lead Generation, 11%

    Honed in on opportunities for new business development and expanded customer database to 500+ business professionals through self-lead generation.

  • Security Industry, 6%

    Learn and implement various IT solutions related to the security industry and sales arena.

Most business sales representatives use their skills in "business sales," "customer accounts," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential business sales representative responsibilities here:

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a business sales representative to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." Additionally, a business sales representative resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "help train new hires with sales techniques, day to day procedures and allow them to shadow me during customer transactions. "

Interpersonal skills. Many business sales representative duties rely on interpersonal skills. "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people," so a business sales representative will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways business sales representative responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "used interpersonal skills to achieve weekly sales quotas * planned, organized, and initiated successful sales tactics. "

Physical stamina. This is an important skill for business sales representatives to perform their duties. For an example of how business sales representative responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a business sales representative: "manage physical inventory for a $24 million per year account including order entry, work flow management and delivery. ".

Self-confidence. business sales representative responsibilities often require "self-confidence." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." This resume example shows what business sales representatives do with self-confidence on a typical day: "settle billing discrepancies, customer complaints, product issues in a timely manner to ensure customer confidence in the company. "

See the full list of business sales representative skills

Choose from 10+ customizable business sales representative resume templates

Build a professional business sales representative resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business sales representative resume.
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume
Business Sales Representative Resume

Compare different business sales representatives

Business sales representative vs. Sales development representative

A sales development representative qualifies leads at the sales funnel's initial stages. Sales development representatives need to conduct research for prospective clients and qualify the leads before handing them to the sales team. They develop sales strategies to attract buyers or solicit potential customers. They need to build relationships with their customers to determine their needs and qualify the viability of interests to drive sales. Also, they collaborate with the sales executives making certain that corporate targets and goals are met.

If we compare the average business sales representative annual salary with that of a sales development representative, we find that sales development representatives typically earn a $6,784 lower salary than business sales representatives make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between business sales representatives and sales development representatives are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, business relationships, and lead generation.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, business sales representative responsibilities require skills like "business sales," "customer accounts," "strong presentation," and "adt." Meanwhile a typical sales development representative has skills in areas such as "sdr," "account executives," "linkedin," and "saas." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Sales development representatives tend to reach similar levels of education than business sales representatives. In fact, sales development representatives are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Business sales representative vs. Sales representative internship

In a sales representative internship, an intern's duties depend on the directives of a supervising staff or manager. Typically, they are responsible for gaining industry insights while performing clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documents, greeting visitors, disseminating and organizing files, and running errands as needed. They may also participate in communicating with clients through calls and appointments to offer products and services, ensuring client satisfaction. Furthermore, as an intern, it is essential to familiarize and abide by the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

A career as a sales representative internship brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a business sales representative. In fact, sales representative interns salary is $23,732 lower than the salary of business sales representatives per year.A few skills overlap for business sales representatives and sales representative interns. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "customer accounts," "customer service," and "product knowledge. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real business sales representative resumes. While business sales representative responsibilities can utilize skills like "business sales," "business relationships," "lead generation," and "strong presentation," sales representative interns use skills like "kids," "market research," "press releases," and "sales reps."

Sales representative interns earn similar levels of education than business sales representatives in general. They're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for business sales representatives in the next 3-5 years?

Sara Perry Ph.D.Sara Perry Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Baylor University

Video conferencing will need to get even easier to use and richer in terms of communication abilities with options to hold both informal and formal interactions to substitute for 100% in-person interactions. Will also see enhancements to tools that allow for secure and remote collaboration.

Business sales representative vs. Sales support representative

A sales support representative is responsible for assisting the complex operations of sales departments, performing administrative duties under the supervision of a direct manager. Sales support representatives' tasks include acknowledging and encoding customers' orders in the system, processing payments, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the products, writing sales reports, and updating the customer of the shipment details. They also support the sales representatives on selling goods and services to potential customers by creating marketing materials and communicating with customers over the phone and e-mail to generate revenues and increase profits.

On average scale, sales support representatives bring in lower salaries than business sales representatives. In fact, they earn a $19,978 lower salary per year.business sales representatives and sales support representatives both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "customer accounts," "customer service," and "product knowledge," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from business sales representative resumes include skills like "business sales," "business relationships," "lead generation," and "strong presentation," whereas a sales support representative is more likely to list skills in "sales support," "phone calls," "pos," and "good communication. "

When it comes to education, sales support representatives tend to earn similar degree levels compared to business sales representatives. In fact, they're 1.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Business sales representative vs. Business sales associate

A business sales associate's primary goal is to secure sales and reach sales targets. To make this possible, a business sales associate conducts market research and analyses to identify new business and client opportunities, generates leads, and develops sales strategies. They usually reach out to potential clients or representatives through calls or correspondence, arrange appointments, discuss product or service specifications, organize payment plans, and negotiate contracts, building positive business relationships along the way. Moreover, they produce progress reports and coordinate with managers regularly.

Business sales associates typically earn higher pay than business sales representatives. On average, business sales associates earn a $1,197 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, business sales representatives and business sales associates both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "business sales," "customer accounts," and "customer service. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A business sales representative uses "business relationships," "lead generation," "strong presentation," and "security industry." Business sales associates are more likely to have duties that require skills in "crm," "customer support," "sales associates," and "sales quota. "The average resume of business sales associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to business sales representatives. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of business sales representative

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.