7+ Tips On How To Build Your First Sales Team. When You Have Zero Experience Building One.
Dear SaaStr: How do you structure a sales team … when you’ve got zero experience doing sales? Well, first go get some experience with sales. 🙂 At least, close the first 10 customers yourself. If you don’t, you’ll never have any idea how to do it. And the odds...
The Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Hiring a CRO / VP of Sales with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin
Hiring a VP of Sales isn’t new, but the conversations have evolved as the world has. SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin shares the top 10 mistakes he sees.
Should You Hire a Sales Rep First, Or a Sales Manager?
Dear SaaStr: Should I Hire a Sales Rep First, Or a Sales Manager First? The ideal flow is: You (founder-CEO) close the first batch of customers, say the first 10 or 20. If you don’t, you’ll never really know how it’s done. Or be able to help anyone else, really. Then,...
The 9 Qualities of a Great Sales Rep
Dear SaaStr: What qualities do the great salespeople have? When I'm ready to buy, A great sales rep makes it easier. And better. And gets all my questions answered. A mediocre rep just makes it harder. — Jason ✨👾SaaStr.Ai✨ Lemkin (@jasonlk) April 2, 2022 I...
Dear SaaStr: As a Co-Founder, When Do You Know It’s Time to Quit?
Dear SaaStr: As a Co-Founder, When Do You Know It’s Time to Quit? You don’t. Why? Because 50% or more of the time, it’s because you are tired. And when you’re tired, you don’t always make the right decisions. Before you quit: Talk to 2–3 mentors you trust. See...
Dear SaaStr: What Role Do Founders Play Once They Hire an Outside CEO?
Dear SaaStr: What Role Do Founders Play Once They Hire an Outside CEO? Let me take a slightly different take on the question. Maybe you are really asking – “Am I still on the hook if we hire a ‘real’ CEO to run the company? ‘Cause...
You’ll Know if That New VP is Going to Fail at the First Board Meeting. Here Are The Clear Tells.
When a new CRO / VP Sales shows up to the first board meeting and doesn't know: – The top accounts cold– The top deals in flight cold– Their team and leaders cold– The top deals at risk cold There's like 0% chance it will work out...
Dear SaaStr: My Co-Founder is Threatening to Quit Unless I Give Him More Equity
Dear SaaStr: My Co-Founder is Threatening to Quit Unless I Give Him More Equity; what should I do? Generally, this is the last, best chance to fix things. Founder equity splits are a tough thing. What seems fair on Day 0 may seem less fair on Day 720. The one that...
Which to Choose, If You Can Choose, Between Bootstrapping and Raising a Seed Round
"Bootstrapping wasn’t a magical choice for Mailchimp. No one would fund them."https://t.co/I0X6sJVY5t — Jason ✨👾SaaStr.Ai✨ Lemkin (@jasonlk) May 22, 2023 Dear SaaStr: If you started a new company today how long would you be bootstrapped for...
Dear SaaStr: What Should I Do after a Failed Startup? Get a Job or Try Again?
Dear SaaStr: What Should I Do After a Failed Startup? Get a Job or Try Again? If it “failed” after < 12 months or so, even 24 months, it doesn’t matter too much. No one will care either way. And there’s no need to explain yourself, apologize, or feel like a...
Dear SaaStr: How Big a Discount Should I Give For Multi-Year Deals?
Q: What are the typical discounts SaaS companies offer for a multi-year contract paid upfront for a 2, 3 & 5 year contract? You need to back into what you are solving for: Is your churn material? If it’s close to zero by logo, and negative based on cohort revenue...
Dear SaaStr: Should I Publish My Pricing?
Dear SaaStr: Should I Publish My Pricing? If you aren’t sure — then yes. Transparent pricing has many advantages: It makes the sales process simpler. It allows prospects and leads to do more discovery work on their own. And it places your app in pricing context with...
Dear SaaStr: How do VCs Really Feel About Founder Salaries? I Was Told That a General Rule of Thumb is 75% of Market
Dear SaaStr: How do VCs Really Feel About Founder Salaries? I Was Told That a General Rule of Thumb is 75% of Market The 75% Rule once you are VC Funded for more than a few million dollars is a good one. But if you raise less than that — 75% may well be too...
Dear SaaStr: When Should a Startup Hire its First Sales Person, and What Should Their Profile Look Like?
Dear SaaStr: When Should a Startup Hire its First Sales Person, and What Should Their Profile Look Like? We’ve talked a lot about this on SaaStr, let me summarize my top learnings from 15+ years Try to close at least 10–20 customers yourself first, before you hire a...
Founder SaaStr
Related Posts
Industry News
- Zeta Global raises 2026 revenue forecast to $1.855bn after 46% Q3 jump
- AppLovin Just Ripped 47% in a Month: Is It Too Late to Buy APP Stock Now?
- FBI says US has seized $1.2 billion worth of cryptocurrency stolen from Binance
- AI agent tooling provider LangChain secures $300M investment - SiliconANGLE
- AI took 86% of private funding in the first half of 2026. How you sell has to change
- Not so fast, bot: Companies are banning AI agents. Here's the list.
- Exclusive: Gainsight cuts about 270 jobs as it refounds business around AI agents
- HubSpot stock rises 6% on sweeping CEO and CFO leadership overhaul
- Motive Secures More Than $1.3 Billion in Growth Financing from General Catalyst
- Fastly Is Still Down 40% in the Past Month: Can FSLY Stock Get Back to $30?