Welcome to 2025!
With the start of a new year, go-to-market leaders can align their sales teams with fresh goals and incentives.
Many RevOps and Sales leaders will continue to finalize their compensation plan rollouts to unveil at their annual kickoffs. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start off the year with some fast-start bonuses or SPIFs to ignite motivation ahead of the new plans.
After all, a strong start can set the tone for the entire year.
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Start TrialThat’s where strategic SPIFs come in.
These short-term bonuses drive urgency, competition, and focus among your sales reps. Whether rewarding the first to close new logos or incentivizing early pipeline building, SPIFs can generate momentum — and revenue.
Below, we outline five actionable SPIF ideas tailored to jumpstart your team’s performance this quarter.
Let’s get started.
1. First to 3 new logos SPIF
What it is: Reward the first rep to close three new customer accounts (“logos”) in Q1 with a bonus or special prize, such as a cash reward, a tech gadget, or a weekend getaway.
Why it works: Encourages fast action and prioritization of new business development. This creates friendly competition among team members, motivating everyone to identify and close new opportunities early in the quarter.
Example: $1,000 cash bonus or equivalent (e.g., a high-value tech gadget like an Apple Watch or noise-canceling headphones).
2. SPIF on all deals c/w by Feb. 15
What it is: Offer a bonus on every deal closed by a specific date, such as February 15. For example, add a flat bonus per deal (e.g., $500 per deal) or a percentage of deal value (e.g., an additional 5% commission).
Why it works: Drives urgency and focus during the critical early weeks of the year, ensuring deals in the pipeline move quickly through the sales cycle. It helps build momentum for the team and sets a strong foundation for hitting quarterly and annual targets.
Example: $300–$500 per closed deal or an extra 3–5% commission on deal value
3. Pipeline Builder SPIF
What it is: Reward reps for building a strong sales pipeline early in the year. Offer a bonus for sourcing and qualifying a set number of new viable opportunities by the end of January or mid-February.
Why it works: Encourages prospecting and ensures a steady flow of leads to set up success for the rest of the quarter.
Example: $50–$100 per qualified new opportunity added to the pipeline, capped at 10–20 opportunities.
Note: We recommend setting clear guidelines so reps don’t game the system. For instance, demo occurred might be a good rule to enact.
4. Upsell or Cross-Sell SPIF
What it is: Incentivize reps to upsell or cross-sell to existing customers. For example, offer a bonus for adding additional products or services to existing accounts by March 1.
Why it works: Helps grow revenue from your existing customer base while showing customers the value of your broader offerings.
Example: 5–10% of the upsell value as a bonus, or $250 per successful upsell.
5. Team Challenge Bonus
What it is: Create a team goal where everyone gets rewarded for hitting a collective target by the end of the first quarter. For instance, if the team collectively closes $X in new business or reactivates Y dormant accounts, they all receive a bonus or special experience (e.g., a team lunch, gift cards, or a fun outing).
Why it works: Fosters collaboration and motivates underperforming team members to contribute to the group’s success.
Example: $500–$1,000 per team member if the collective goal is met, or a shared group prize like a team outing worth $2,500.
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As you kick off the new year, remember that a well-structured compensation plan can be the catalyst for driving early success.
Whether through innovative SPIFs, strategic bonuses, or team-based incentives, starting the year with a flurry of sales can set the tone for sustained performance throughout the remaining quarters.
QuotaPath offers a seamless way to adapt your compensation strategies to align with shifting market demands, seasonality, or even short-term motivational boosts for your reps.
With features like the flexible Plan Builder and AI-driven component suggestions, you can quickly refine and deploy compensation plans and temporary bonus paths that resonate with your team and drive the proper outcomes.
Automate complex calculations and adjust components such as quotas and accelerators with QuotaPath to ensure your comp plans remain dynamic and effective.
Stay agile and let QuotaPath take the complexity out of compensation management so you can focus on inspiring your sales team and achieving your revenue goals.
Here’s to a strong Q1 and an even stronger 2025.
To learn more, schedule time with our team today.
