Should You Hire a Salesperson for Your Print Shop?

If you’re running a print shop and feeling the pressure to grow sales, one question inevitably pops up: Should I hire a dedicated salesperson?

It’s a big decision. A good sales rep can drive new business, free up your time, and help scale your operations. But the wrong hire can drain resources, cause frustration, and distract you from running your shop.

The Pros of Hiring a Sales Rep

• Focused Outbound Effort
  A sales rep’s job is to find, qualify, and nurture leads. Imagine someone spending 40 hours a week focused just on sales! That’s time you don’t have to spend chasing prospects while juggling production, customer service, and everything else.

• Expertise in Sales Techniques
  Professional reps bring sales skills, messaging frameworks, and negotiation strategies that can accelerate deal closures.

• Scalability
  Once you have a rep running a repeatable process, you can build a predictable pipeline and scale faster than relying on word-of-mouth or owner-led selling.

• Customer Relationship Management
  A dedicated rep can keep communication flowing, manage objections, and maintain customer engagement; and keep your CRM up to date leading to more repeat business.

The Cons of Hiring a Sales Rep

• Cost and Risk
  Hiring someone means a fixed cost (salary, commissions, training) with no guaranteed return. A bad hire can cost you time and money.

• Training and Oversight
  Without proper onboarding and ongoing coaching, reps often struggle to represent your brand well or follow your sales process.

• Dependence on One Person
  If your rep leaves or underperforms, you could be left scrambling without a backup plan.

• Cultural Fit
  Salespeople must fit your company culture and understand your niche. A mismatch can hurt your reputation and sales.

When Should You Hire a Sales Rep?

1. You’ve Built a Repeatable Sales Process
If you don’t have a clear sales system or predictable lead flow, hiring a rep too early means they’ll spend more time figuring things out than selling.

2. You’re Overwhelmed by Leads and Current Customers
If you’re turning down work or struggling to keep up with follow-ups, a rep can help manage the demand.

3. You’re Ready to Scale
If growth is your priority, having someone focused solely on sales allows you to concentrate on operations and fulfillment.

4. You Have Resources for Training and Tools
Hiring is more than adding a seat. You need to invest in CRM software and resources to ensure they are successful. 

Conclusion

Hiring a sales rep can be a game-changer for your print shop, but only if you’re ready.

Before you bring someone onboard, make sure your sales process is solid, your lead flow can support them, and you’re prepared to invest in training and tools.

When done right, a dedicated rep frees you to focus on what you do best…running a quality print shop; while growing your sales predictably and sustainably.

Need help building your sales process or onboarding your first rep? Sales Ink is here to help you every step of the way.