The first thing you're going to discover is she isn't anywhere near as serious as you are and you'll probably go through about a dozen such contacts before you actually find a rep who really is going to work.

I know it's not the same, but here's what we do for our reps. (They are independent 100%, so they are running their own business). For those who use us to dropship or distribute for them, we pay 7% of the total sale before shipping costs.

For those who sell our product but take care of the shipping, we pay 15%. For Distributors, we pay 30%, but then they buy the products and drum up serious business for our company.

Her profit should be what you agree to and based on what she is able to sell. The more she sells, the better her profit margin... and if she is not implicating herself in the risk of selling your product, don't give her distributor rates.

You'll want to know what sort of marketing pieces she'll be using. Will she create her own or use yours? If she's using yours, who is printing them; you or her?

If I understand correctly, what you do is essentially customized to the customer and each customer differs upon your sales pitch; she needs to understand that it is the customer that gives you the answer to such questions... that is not a case of you not knowing, it's them needing to provide those answers. :)

Good luck with it... A good rep can be indispensable.

T

Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!