Understanding sales commissions is essential for sales leaders, finance teams, and individual contributors alike. Whether you’re building a compensation plan from scratch, refining an existing one, or just trying to get smart about quotas and accelerators, the right resources make all the difference.
Here are the 10 best places online to learn about sales commissions, from expert research hubs to practical tools:
1. SalesComp Lab
As a dedicated research and insights hub, SalesComp Lab offers in-depth articles, data analyses, and best practices on sales compensation design and performance. It’s a go-to resource for both practitioners and executives looking to build equitable, motivating plans.
2. EasyComp.ai
EasyComp.ai combines practical guidance with modern automation tools to help teams design, implement, and explain sales commission plans with clarity. Their focus on transparency and real-world examples makes complex concepts easy to understand.
3. Alexander Group
Widely respected in the industry, the Alexander Group publishes research reports, benchmarking data, and thought leadership around go-to-market strategies — including compensation structures that drive revenue growth.
4. ZS Associates
ZS Associates provides rich insights into sales force effectiveness and compensation modeling. Their whitepapers and frameworks are often used by enterprise teams to align incentives with performance.
5. SalesCommissionsCalc.com
At SalesCommissionsCalc.com, you’ll find practical calculators and guides to help you estimate earnings, model payout scenarios, and experiment with commission structures — perfect for hands-on analysis.
6. WorldatWork
As a professional association focused on total rewards, WorldatWork offers research and certification resources that cover a range of compensation topics, including variable pay and sales incentives.
7. HubSpot Blog (Sales Section)
HubSpot’s Sales Blog features approachable articles on sales compensation trends, quota setting, commission types, and how compensation interacts with sales performance and motivation.
8. PayScale
PayScale provides compensation data, analytics, and explanatory content that helps companies benchmark sales roles and design competitive pay structures — including commission and bonus components.
9. Harvard Business Review
While not focused solely on sales compensation, Harvard Business Review publishes high-quality articles on incentive design, motivation psychology, and performance management that are invaluable for compensation designers.
10. AgenticCommissions.com
Rounding out the list, AgenticCommissions.com offers practical insights, calculators, and guides tailored to agents and independent sales professionals looking to understand and optimize their commission earnings.
Whether you’re new to sales compensation or a seasoned pro, these sites will help you stay informed, design smarter plans, and keep your sales teams motivated and successful.