Short answer: Sales outsourcing pricing follows three models: a monthly retainer, commission only, or a hybrid of the two. Published retainer ranges run from about $2,500 a month for a lean engagement to $15,000 or more for a full-service one, according to the vendor guides cited below. The model matters as much as the price, because it decides what the provider is paid to care about.
- Retainer: a fixed monthly cost. The provider is paid for the work.
- Commission only: no fixed fee. The provider is paid on results and chooses where to spend effort.
- Hybrid: a lower base plus a performance fee. Risk is shared.
The dollar figures in this guide come from published vendor guides and one recruiter’s compensation guide, each linked where it is used. They are estimates, not quotes.
How does sales outsourcing pricing work?
“Outsourced sales” covers a wide range. At one end, a provider handles only the top of the funnel: finding prospects and starting conversations. At the other, a provider supplies people who run calls and close deals in your name. Most outsourcing sold to small and mid-size B2B companies sits at the first end, and that is what most published pricing describes.
| Model | What you pay | Provider is paid for |
|---|---|---|
| Retainer | Fixed monthly fee | Doing the work |
| Commission only | Share of closed deals | Deals that close |
| Hybrid | Base plus per result | Work and results |
| Pay per meeting | Fee per meeting | Booked meetings |
What does a sales outsourcing retainer cost?
A retainer is a flat monthly fee for an agreed scope of work. LeadHaste’s 2026 sales outsourcing pricing guide gives three bands: $2,500 to $6,000 a month for lean or startup engagements, $6,000 to $15,000 for mid-market engagements, and $15,000 and up for full-service or multi-segment work. Revnew’s guide to SDR outsourcing cost puts the typical 2026 retainer at $4,000 to $18,000 a month.
What it does to incentives: the provider is paid whether or not meetings result. That gives you a predictable cost and usually more control over targeting and messaging. It also means you carry the risk, so you need clear reporting and a way to leave if the work is poor. The provider’s incentive is to keep you as a client, which is healthy only if you can see what they are doing.
How does commission only sales outsourcing work?
In a commission only deal, also sold as pay for performance sales outsourcing, you pay nothing fixed. The provider takes a share of the revenue from deals it brings in. We could not find a reliable published figure for typical commission rates, so we will not quote one. Rates depend on your deal size, margin and sales cycle, and are negotiated case by case.
What it does to incentives: on paper, interests line up, since the provider earns only when you do. In practice there are three catches.
- Effort goes where the money is easiest. A provider with several commission only clients will spend time on the ones that close fastest. If your product is hard to sell, you may get little attention.
- Good providers are selective. They are funding the work themselves, so they tend to accept only offers that already sell well. New or unproven offers often cannot find a taker.
- Pressure to close. A seller paid only on closed deals has a reason to oversell or discount. You inherit those customers.
You also need a clear agreement on attribution: which deals count, for how long after the introduction, and what happens to commissions if the customer renews.
What does a hybrid model cost?
A hybrid combines a lower base fee with a payment per result. Revnew’s guide gives a typical 2026 range of a $3,000 to $8,000 base retainer plus $100 to $300 per qualified appointment. Where the fee is entirely per meeting, the same guide gives $150 to $600 per appointment, and LeadHaste gives $150 to $500 per accepted meeting.
What it does to incentives: the base covers the provider’s costs, so they can afford to do the setup work properly. The performance part gives them a reason to care about outcomes. The weak point is the definition of a result. If a “qualified appointment” is loosely defined, the performance fee rewards volume over fit. We cover that problem in our guide to B2B appointment setting services.
How does the cost to outsource sales compare to hiring?
The usual comparison is with hiring a sales development representative (SDR). Betts Recruiting’s 2026 SDR compensation figures for US tech companies put entry-level base salary at $55,000 to $70,000 on average, and $60,000 to $75,000 for SDRs with at least six months of experience. On-target earnings in its regional tables run from $70,000 to $100,000 depending on location and experience.
Salary is not the whole cost. An employee also brings payroll taxes, benefits, software, contact data, a manager’s time and a ramp-up period before they produce. As a simple illustration, a $60,000 base salary is $5,000 a month before any of those extras. That sits inside the lean retainer band above, before you add anything on top of salary.
| Factor | In-house hire | Outsourced |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed cost | Salary plus extras | Fee, by model |
| Time to start | Hire, then ramp | Usually faster |
| Control | High | Varies by provider |
| Knowledge stays | With you | Partly with provider |
| Ease of stopping | Hard | Per contract terms |
Hiring makes more sense when you have enough work for a full-time person, a manager who can coach them, and a long-term need. Outsourcing makes more sense when you want to test a channel, need to start soon, or cannot justify a full salary yet. Our SDR cost calculator lets you put your own salary, tool and fee numbers side by side, and our guide to the outsourced SDR model covers the trade-offs in more depth.
What affects outsourced sales cost besides the model?
- Scope. Starting conversations costs less than running calls and closing.
- Channels. Phone work needs people by the hour. Email-only outreach needs fewer.
- Volume. More prospects means more data and more sending setup.
- Setup fees. Ask what they cover and who owns the domains and data afterward.
- Minimum terms. A low monthly price with a long commitment can cost more than a higher price you can leave.
One way to lower the cost is to narrow the scope. Next Reply covers one part of outsourced sales: done-for-you cold email. We do not do cold calling or LinkedIn outreach, and your own team takes the sales calls. Plans are flat monthly fees of $1,500, $3,000 and $6,500. See how that compares in our guide to cold email agency pricing.
Comparing a hire, a full outsourced team and something smaller? Tell us who you sell to and how many conversations you need, and we will tell you honestly whether a cold email plan makes sense, or if outbound isn’t a fit yet. Get a straight answer →
Related guides: how sales outsourcing works, what sales prospecting services include, and what lead generation costs on its own. For the full decision, see outsourced lead generation and our B2B lead generation services.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to outsource sales?
Published retainer ranges start around $2,500 to $6,000 a month for lean engagements and rise to $15,000 or more for full-service ones, according to LeadHaste’s 2026 guide cited above. Narrow, single-channel services can cost less.
Is commission only sales outsourcing a good idea?
It can work for a proven offer with good margins and a short sales cycle. It works poorly for new offers, because capable providers will not fund the risk, and the ones who accept may give it little attention.
Is outsourcing sales cheaper than hiring a salesperson?
Often, at small scale, once you count benefits, tools, data, management and ramp-up time on top of salary. At larger scale, or where deep product knowledge matters, an in-house team can be the better value.
What is the difference between a retainer and a hybrid model?
A retainer is one fixed fee for the work. A hybrid has a lower fixed fee plus a payment for each result, such as a qualified appointment. The hybrid shares risk, but the definition of a result has to be tight.
What should I ask before signing an outsourced sales contract?
Ask what is included, what counts as a result, who owns the data and domains, how you can see the work, and how you can leave.
Want the outbound part at a fixed price?
Next Reply runs done-for-you cold email for B2B companies, starting at $1,500 a month. A campaign goes live in 14 days, and you approve every list before anything sends. Tell us who you want to reach.