Hiring outside salespeople may be a good idea for businesses wanting to expand without spending too much money. However, if those salespeople are successful, there may be a creeping skepticism present as to why they are making so much cash.

Jay Goltz discusses this issue in the New York Times, and tells a story of  one such business owner and what he learned from his skepticism. He has a few pearls of wisdom for the up and coming small business owner regarding his relationships with outside salespeople:

- Rejoice in their money making capabilities. If they make a lot of money, you are making even more.

- Be respectful at all times. Don’t resent your salespeople.

- Check your calculations and make sure salespeople are working as you intended them to work, even for unexpectedly large orders.

- Sign your salespeople to some form of noncompete agreement.

- Sometimes, befriending your outside salespeople can be counterproductive. (read the story)

Good salespeople are not easy to come by, says Jay Goltz. Not many people can stand the pressure of initiating contact and hearing many rejections. What seems easy for one can be very tough for another, so if you found a great one, it is worth hanging on to him/her, especially in this economy.

Image thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/75003318@N00/3103741090/