50 Best Companies to Sell for in 2017

For the 17th year, the corporate research team at Selling Power has identified and ranked the best companies to sell for among the top sales forces in the United States.

To gather data, the Selling Power research team issued a newly revised and expanded application with detailed sections covering three broader categories: 1) Compensation and Benefits, 2) Hiring, Sales Training, and Sales Enablement, and 3) Customer Retention. Sections were also provided for companies to spotlight any other information that would help us fine tune the rankings. With the changes in the application process, we also revised the scoring process to provide a more data-sensitive ranking while still maintaining strict confidentiality of the raw data provided to us. This means the ranking grid for this year – and years moving forward – is on a new base and not directly comparable to prior years.

Within each broad category we developed unique and proprietary scoring systems for each segment within the categories. For example, within Compensation and Benefits, we ranked compensation data individually; but, with segments like Sales Training, we started with a base training level and scored each company at varying degrees above, below, or at the established base level.

With the new ranking system, the spread between the top spot on down has expanded as expected – and it should be clarified again: These results are not comparable to prior years. Salespeople can achieve success with any of these fantastic companies. With the variety of company sizes and industries represented, it is not effective to state one company is better than another company solely on their point totals; rather, this ranking should be used to explore each of the companies and their unique strengths as a Selling Power Best Company to Sell For.

• #1 CA Technologies

  Supporting All Winners: In addition to sales-specific programs to support salespeople, CA Technologies offers a number of robust benefits and programs to support varying lifestyles and needs. Some examples include: unlimited vacation, five paid days to volunteer, fitness centers in many offices, up to 12 weeks of paid time off for qualified family medical leaves , and more.

• #2 Justworks

  Working Well: Leaders at JustWorks have created a culture driven by results while rewarding people who enable the company as a whole to succeed. Currently the company is instituting additional incentives, such as the $1 Million Club to motivate and retain top salespeople. JustWorks' aspiration is to become a household name in the coming years.

• #3 AXA Financial Protection (U.S.)

  All in at AXA Financial: The small size of the sales team at this company creates a family-like atmosphere and creates space for salespeople to form close personal relationships with each other and their support teams. This is further reinforced by a strong leadership team, which is highly focused on supporting and retaining salespeople and removing roadblocks to success.

• #4 ClearSlide

  Clearly ClearSlide: Each new sales rep at ClearSlide participates in a leadership assessment process ("emergentics"). This helps salespeople focus on their own personal development areas. The company also hosts regular training events based on employee feedback and requests. In the first half of 2017, monthly employee development seminars from leading experts focused on how to foster "emotional intelligence.".

• #5 Paychex, Inc.

  Passionately Paychex: The Paychex sales culture is entrepreneurial, vibrant, growth oriented, and client focused. The company is known for its uncapped earnings potential and employing top sales talent. Paychex sales professionals enjoy rich internal and external referral partnerships that create leads from trusted business advisors that make long-term selling relationships both profitable and fulfilling.

• #6 Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  Optimistic at Ironwood: When Ironwood conducted a benchmarking survey of its field force in 2016, the company found levels of reported engagement that were substantially higher than industry average, with representatives overwhelmingly agreeing that they feel like owners and feel connected to the organization as a whole (source: Boston Globe Top Places to Work Survey, 2016, Ironwood vs. Life Sciences Industry).

• #7 Compuware

  Cool to be at Compuware: Compuware likes to hire salespeople with previous software sales experience. Therefore, most new hires possess an extensive sales or software background. To supplement their skills, each new employee comes to Detroit HQ for onboarding and new-hire orientation. The onboarding process includes meeting with various departments, including sales enablement, product management, finance, HR, sales support, and more.

• #8 Paylocity

  Paying and Playing: Paylocity salespeople form strong bonds with other members of the sales force across the country, from the various in-person trainings, kick-off events, and President's Club trips. They also use in-house communication software that allows the sales team to ask questions, discuss trends, and recognize each other – so they always stay connected.

• #9 Iron Mountain

  From the Mountaintop: One of the core values at Iron Mountain is to "Build Customer Value" by constantly looking for ways to better serve customers both internally and externally. Salespeople see this commitment expressed in the everyday actions of Iron Mountain couriers, records specialists, customer care organization, leaders, and sales professionals.

• #10 TriNet

  Triple Wins: TriNet fosters a culture of excellence and high performance. Its "Sales Victory Plan" outlines how the sales team will win by focusing on four key areas: business results, employee engagement, client and partner centricity, and operational excellence. The company's new-hire onboarding and training program, called "The Amazing Race," details the first 100 days of employment and includes a plan for client engagement.