Remote sales jobs with no experience: what’s realistic
Yes, you can land a remote sales job with no experience, but not every remote sales job. In Australia and the US, the roles that genuinely hire beginners are mostly appointment setting, entry-level SDR/BDR (sales development) roles and inbound sales or customer success jobs with an upsell component. Closer roles for high-ticket offers usually want proof you can sell first. The trade-off is that beginner-friendly roles often pay a lower base or lean heavily on commission, and the first role and first commission take time.
For the general how-to, start with how to get into sales with no experience. This is the remote reality check.
Which remote sales roles actually hire beginners?
Some remote sales jobs are built to train newcomers. Others hand you warm leads and expect results from day one, so they hire people who have already done it.
| Role | Beginner-friendly? | Typical pay basis | What they screen for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointment setter | Often, yes | Hourly, base plus bonus per booked or attended call, or commission-only (varies a lot by business) | Clear written and spoken communication, reliability, comfort with messaging and short calls, coachability |
| SDR / BDR (sales development or business development rep) | Yes, at the entry level, especially in larger companies | Salary plus commission or bonus on meetings booked | Resilience with cold outreach, organisation, some evidence of drive (any customer-facing work counts) |
| Inbound sales / customer success with upsell | Often, yes | Salary or hourly, with bonus or commission on upgrades and renewals | Customer service background, product curiosity, patience, CRM and admin habits |
| High-ticket closer | Rarely without proof | Mostly commission, sometimes a small base or retainer | Call recordings, past results, a clear sales process, ability to handle objections on a 45 to 60 minute call |
Appointment setter
Setters start conversations (often by DM, text or a short call), qualify people and book them in with a closer. The conversations are shorter and the pressure to close sits with someone else, which is why it’s the most common entry point into remote sales for complete beginners. We cover the role properly in appointment setter jobs from home.
SDR and BDR roles
Sales development reps are the salaried cousins of setters, usually in software and B2B companies, often with structured training. The catch: many are full-time, some are hybrid rather than fully remote, and the outreach is often cold.
Inbound sales and customer success
Here the customer comes to you, and part of your job is helping them upgrade or renew. If you’ve worked in retail, hospitality, reception or a call centre, this is often the gentlest move because your service experience counts directly.
Why closer roles rarely hire true beginners
A closer is the last step before money changes hands, so businesses selling coaching, courses or services at a high price want to hear you on a call before they hand over their leads. Most beginners get there by setting first, or by training with lots of recorded role play. If you’re weighing the two, read remote closer vs appointment setter.
What “no experience” in a job ad actually means
“No experience required” almost never means “no evidence required”. In practice it usually means no previous sales job title. Employers still screen for:
- Communication: a short Loom or voice note, or how you write in your application message.
- Reliability: can you work set shifts, including some early or late ones if the buyers are in another time zone?
- Transferable experience: teaching, nursing, retail, hospitality, admin, customer service. Talking with people all day counts.
- Coachability: how you respond to feedback in a role-play interview.
- Basic tech: a laptop, stable internet, a headset, and comfort learning a CRM.
The trade-off: lower base or more commission
Beginner-friendly roles tend to pay less in fixed wages, or put more of the pay into commission, because the business is taking a chance on you. Higher pay usually comes later, with proof.
What public pay data shows (AU and US)
Pay varies a lot by company, location and how the role is structured, and commission-only roles rarely show up in salary surveys at all. With that said, here is what Payscale reports:
- SDR, US: base salary of roughly US$40,000 to US$67,000 (10th to 90th percentile), total pay roughly US$45,000 to US$82,000, from 840 profiles (Payscale US, updated May 2026).
- SDR, Australia: base salary of roughly AU$54,000 to AU$74,000, total pay roughly AU$54,000 to AU$79,000, but from only 11 profiles, so treat it as a rough guide (Payscale AU, updated May 2026).
- Appointment setter, US: roughly US$12.74 to US$20.85 an hour (10th to 90th percentile), median about US$16.08, from 76 profiles (Payscale US, updated May 2026).
- Appointment setter, Australia: roughly AU$24.40 to AU$30 an hour (25th to 75th percentile), from just 8 profiles (Payscale AU, updated March 2026).
These are hourly and salaried roles. Many setter and closer jobs in online coaching businesses are commission-based contractor roles instead, which can pay well below or above these figures. For closer pay specifically, see how much remote closers make.
Employee vs contractor rules
In Australia, the Fair Work Ombudsman says an employee can only be paid commission-only when an award or enterprise agreement allows it, and employees not covered by an award or agreement still need at least the National Minimum Wage. Many remote setter and closer roles are set up as contractor arrangements, in both Australia and the US (often called “1099” roles in the US), which means you handle your own tax and, in Australia, your own super. Always ask which one you’re signing.
Not sure which entry role suits your life? Book a free call with the She Sells team and talk it through.
A realistic timeline to your first role and first commission
I won’t give you a number of weeks, because it genuinely depends on how many hours you can practise, how many roles you apply for, and the business you land with. What I can tell you is the order things usually happen in:
- Learn the basics: what setters and closers do, the call structure, common objections.
- Practise out loud: role play until the script stops sounding like a script.
- Build evidence: recordings, a short course, any customer-facing wins (more below).
- Apply consistently: expect rejections and trial shifts or role-play interviews.
- Onboard: your first weeks in a role are mostly learning the offer, the CRM and the lead flow.
- First commission: in commission roles, pay often lands after the customer pays, and refunds or payment plans can affect it. Ask exactly when you get paid.
For what it’s worth, I made $440 in my first month of remote sales back in 2020. That’s my result, not a typical one, and it’s a good reminder that most people build up slowly. I started as a primary school teacher in a small town, so I know what beginning from zero feels like.
Red flags in “no experience, earn big” ads
Beginner ads attract scammers because they know you’re keen. The US Federal Trade Commission’s guide to job scams is blunt: “If someone asks you to pay to get a job, that’s a scam.” It also warns about ads claiming you can “make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time and effort”, and about people who end up paying for “starter kits, so-called training, or certifications that are useless”. In Australia, Scamwatch keeps a page on jobs and employment scams and is where you can report one.
Walk away if you see:
- A fee to start the job, unlock leads or buy a “starter kit” from the employer.
- Income that depends on recruiting other people rather than selling to real customers.
- A set income promised, or screenshots of huge pay days as the main pitch.
- No interview, no written agreement, and contact only through WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Vague answers about the product, the customers, or when commission is paid.
Paying for training you choose is a separate decision from getting a job. A real employer doesn’t charge you to take the role.
How to manufacture evidence when you have none
You can’t fake experience, but you can create proof:
- Role-play recordings: record two or three practice calls (setting and closing) with a friend or practice partner. A five-minute clip of you handling an objection says more than any résumé (CV in Australia) line.
- A short course: pick one with live role play and feedback, not just videos. Check what it actually includes, and be wary of anyone promising job outcomes they can’t back up.
- Volunteer selling: run the raffle or sponsorship drive for the school P&C or PTA, sell tickets for a community event, or help a friend’s small business book calls. Note what you did and the result.
- Rewrite your background in sales language: “handled parent concerns calmly” is objection handling; “upsold memberships at the gym front desk” is upselling.
Where She Sells fits
She Sells exists for exactly this gap: the skill, then the job. She Launches is the foundation program (live coaching, role play and frameworks), and it doesn’t include direct placement. She Soars is the career program through the She Sells “Cert III in Remote Sales” certificate. Once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. You can compare them on our programs page or check the FAQ.
Want to see if remote sales could work for you? Book a free call with the She Sells team. No pressure, just an honest chat about whether it fits your life.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really get a remote sales job with no experience?
Yes, mainly as an appointment setter, an entry-level SDR or BDR, or in inbound sales and customer success. High-ticket closer roles usually want proof first, such as call recordings or past results. Most beginners start in a setting or support role and move up.
What is the easiest remote sales job to get as a beginner?
Appointment setting is the most common starting point because the conversations are shorter and the closing pressure sits with someone else. Inbound customer success roles are another gentle entry if you have a service background. Neither is effortless, and both still involve rejection.
Are no-experience remote sales jobs commission-only?
Some are, especially setter and closer roles in online coaching businesses, while SDR and customer success roles more often pay a salary or hourly rate plus commission or bonus. In Australia, employees can only be paid commission-only if an award or enterprise agreement allows it. Always check whether you’re an employee or a contractor.
How do I know if a no-experience sales job is a scam?
The FTC says that if someone asks you to pay to get a job, it’s a scam. Be wary of promised income, earnings that depend on recruiting, no interview, and contact only through messaging apps. A real role has a real product, real customers and a written agreement.
Do I need a course to get hired in remote sales?
Not always, but you do need evidence you can hold a sales conversation. A course with live role play can help, along with practice recordings and volunteer selling.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
