Before
you sign

1 of 5. CAN YOU CHANGE MY PAY OR THE RULES ANY TIME, WITHOUT TELLING ME?

—Show me in the agreement. Explain it to me.

Look under

Pay. Changes to this agreement.

Watch for

“At any time.” “Sole discretion” (that means their call alone).

A good answer

Changes come in writing first, and only apply to new sales.

2 of 5. IF I QUIT OR GET FIRED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY I’VE BEEN PAID AND THE MONEY I’M STILL OWED?

Do I have to stay for a set amount of time?

—Show me in the agreement. Explain it to me.

Look under

Ending the agreement. Later payments. Length of agreement.

Watch for

Losing pay you haven’t received yet. Paying back money you already got. “Cause” that they define however they want.

A good answer

You keep what you earned and know the date you’ll get it. Any minimum time is written down.

3 of 5. WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM SALES NUMBERS, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS THEM?

—Show me in the agreement. Explain it to me.

Look under

Requirements. Quotas. Probation.

Watch for

A weekly number that gets you fired, or loses your housing, if you miss it. Or “to our satisfaction” with no number.

A good answer

The number is written down. So is the penalty.

4 of 5. WHO DECIDES WHETHER MY SALE COUNTS?

—Show me in the agreement. Explain it to me.

Look under

Definitions. Pay. Cancellations.

Watch for

“Sole discretion.” Pay taken back later with no written reason.

A good answer

What counts is written down, and you can question the call.

5 of 5. I BRING IN FRIENDS. THEN I LEAVE. THEY WANT TO COME WITH ME. WHAT HAPPENS?

—Show me in the agreement. Explain it to me.

Look under

Non-solicit (can’t take people with you). Non-compete (can’t work elsewhere). Fixed fines (“liquidated damages”).

Watch for

How long it lasts. Whether it covers people you didn’t recruit. A set dollar fine per person.

A good answer

Short and clear, and the penalty is a number you can see.