Before you can step into this world, you need to understand it. Let's break down what remote sales really looks like—the types, the industries, and where you fit.
Here's the misconception most people have:
They hear "sales" and picture a pushy car salesperson, a telemarketer cold-calling at dinner, or someone going door-to-door. That's not what we're talking about.
Remote sales is professional. It's relationship-driven. It's done mostly over email, video call, and phone—from home. And it's one of the most accessible high-income paths available to someone without a degree.
Remote sales isn't one thing. There are several different models, and understanding them helps you figure out which lane is right for you.
This is selling products or services from one business to another. You're not talking to individual consumers—you're talking to decision-makers at companies. Procurement managers, operations directors, facility managers, business owners.
What it looks like day-to-day:
Industries that hire B2B sales reps (and there are thousands):
This list barely scratches the surface. Every industry that has businesses in it has B2B sales happening within it.
Income potential:
Entry-level SDR/BDR roles offer a base salary plus commission. Account Executive roles offer higher base and higher commission. Income grows significantly as you advance—and varies by industry, region, and company. The structure rewards consistency and relationship-building over time.
This is selling directly to individual people—consumers like you and me. B2C remote sales can range from insurance and financial products to home services, real estate, education programs, and more.
What it looks like day-to-day:
Industries with B2C remote sales roles:
Key difference from B2B:
B2C tends to be faster-paced with more volume. You're often talking to more people daily, but each deal is typically smaller. The emotional connection matters a lot—you're often helping someone solve a personal problem.
A 1099 sales role means you're working as an independent contractor, not a salaried employee. You don't receive a base pay—your income is entirely commission-based. This sounds scary, but it comes with real advantages if you're good at what you do.
What makes 1099 appealing:
Who this works well for:
People who are self-motivated, experienced enough to know how to close, and ready to work without a safety net. This is typically not a first role—it's a move you make once you've built your skills and confidence. But it's worth knowing it exists.
Common 1099 sales industries:
Insurance, real estate, financial services, solar energy, health & wellness, digital marketing services, and more. Many SaaS companies also use commission-only reps for specific territories or products.
This is a newer lane that's grown massively. Companies hire people to generate leads and drive sales through social media—LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook groups. Some roles are entirely about social outreach. Others involve creating content that attracts inbound leads.
What it looks like:
Why this lane is growing fast:
Buyers are doing more research online before they ever talk to a salesperson. Companies need people who can show up where buyers already are—and that's social. If you're comfortable on social platforms and know how to communicate value in short form, this lane has real income potential.
One of the most important things I want you to understand is that remote sales isn't limited to tech companies. It's not just SaaS startups and software firms. The need for skilled sales people exists everywhere a business exists. And businesses exist in every sector of life.
Healthcare & Medical
Hospitals, clinics, medical device companies, pharmaceutical distributors, healthcare staffing firms—they all need sales. Healthcare is one of the largest B2B sales ecosystems in the country.
Technology & SaaS
Software companies sell to businesses of all sizes. Project management tools, payroll systems, cybersecurity, HR software—if businesses use it, someone sold it to them.
Construction & Real Estate
Commercial real estate, construction materials, property management services, security infrastructure—massive B2B sales ecosystem with long-term contracts and high deal values.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Shipping companies, warehousing solutions, trucking fleets, last-mile delivery services—every product that moves from one place to another involved a sales rep somewhere.
Education & Training
Universities, trade schools, corporate training programs, e-learning platforms, tutoring networks—enrollment and admissions sales is one of the oldest B2C sales roles in existence.
Government & Public Sector
Government agencies at the federal, state, and municipal level purchase enormous amounts of goods and services. Government sales reps are some of the most in-demand in the field.
Insurance & Financial Services
Life insurance, commercial liability, employee benefits, investment products—this entire world runs on sales. Many of these roles offer remote work and strong commission structures.
Marketing & Media
Digital advertising agencies, media publications, PR firms, SEO companies—they all sell to businesses. Ad sales and marketing services is a huge, accessible B2B lane.
The point isn't to memorize all of these.
The point is to see that wherever you have interest, experience, or context—there's likely a sales role in that world waiting for someone who understands it. Your background isn't a limitation. It's a targeting advantage.
You don't have to decide today. Week 3 is going to show you the real landscape in detail—what roles pay, what they look like, and how to identify where you'd thrive. And Week 4 is going to help you choose your lane and make a plan.
For now, what matters is that you see the full picture. Remote sales isn't one door—it's a hallway full of them. And they're all open.
Quick reflection before you move on:
Think about the industries listed here. Is there one that feels familiar—either from your work history, your life experience, or something you know a lot about?
Write it down. That familiarity is an asset. You'll know the language, the problems, and the people. That's a head start most sales reps don't have.
Now that you understand the types of remote sales and the industries they live in, let's talk about the tools you'll actually use every day. Don't worry, you don't need to master any of these right now. I just want you to know what they are so nothing catches you off guard when you start seeing them mentioned in job descriptions.
CRM Systems
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. Think of it like a super-powered contact list that tracks every conversation, email, and deal you're working on. Popular ones include Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive.
Your everyday equivalent: Your phone contacts, calendar, and to-do list combined into one system.
Email Outreach Tools
Tools like Outreach, SalesLoft, or Apollo help you send personalized emails at scale and track who opens them, who clicks, and who responds. They save you hours of manual work.
Your everyday equivalent: Sending a group text but personalized for each person, and knowing who read it.
Video Platforms
Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams are where most remote sales meetings happen. Some companies also use Loom for asynchronous video messages, letting you send a quick personal video instead of a long email.
Your everyday equivalent: FaceTime or video calls with family and friends. Same skill, different setting.
LinkedIn is the professional social network where a huge amount of B2B sales happens. You'll use it to research prospects, connect with decision-makers, share content, and build your professional brand. It's not optional in modern sales.
Your everyday equivalent: Social media, but for work. If you can use Instagram or Facebook, you can use LinkedIn.
Real Talk from Katherine:
When I first heard "CRM" I thought it was some complicated software that I'd never figure out. Turns out it's basically a spreadsheet with superpowers. And LinkedIn? I thought that was for corporate executives. Nope. It's for anyone who wants to connect with professionals. Including you. You'll learn all of these tools as you go. Nobody expects you to walk in knowing them on day one.
One of the biggest questions I get is: "What does a typical day actually look like?" So let me walk you through a week. This is based on my own experience and the experiences of women in B2B, B2C, and 1099 roles. Your exact schedule will vary, but this gives you a real picture.
Monday: Planning & Outreach
Start with reviewing your pipeline. Who needs follow-up? Who's new? What proposals are pending? Then hit your outreach. Send personalized emails to new prospects, connect with people on LinkedIn, and schedule calls for the week.
Time: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (with breaks) | Mostly screen time
Tuesday: Discovery Calls & Meetings
Your call-heavy day. You'll have 3-5 scheduled calls with prospects or clients. Between calls, you update your CRM with notes, send follow-up emails, and prep for the next conversation. These calls are usually 15-30 minutes each.
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM | Mix of calls and screen time
Wednesday: Proposals & Follow-ups
Mid-week is for pushing deals forward. Send proposals to interested prospects. Follow up with people who went quiet. Check in on deals that are close to closing. This is where persistence pays off.
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Mostly screen time with a few calls
Thursday: Team Meeting & Training
Most companies have a weekly team meeting or training session. You'll hear what's working for others, share wins, get coaching, and learn new strategies. The rest of the day is a mix of outreach and follow-ups.
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Team call + independent work
Friday: Wrap-Up & Planning Ahead
Review your week. What deals moved? What stalled? Update your CRM. Send any last follow-ups before the weekend. Plan your priorities for Monday. Then close the laptop and be done.
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Lighter day, screen time only
I built this course for women, and specifically for moms, because remote sales is one of the few high-income careers that genuinely works around family life. I'm not talking about the "work from anywhere" fantasy where you're on a beach with a laptop. I'm talking about real, practical flexibility that lets you be present for your family and still build a career you're proud of.
School Hours Friendly
Most remote sales work can be done during school hours (roughly 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM). Calls, emails, proposals, research. You can do the job while your kids are at school and be there when they get home. Some days will run a little longer. But unlike most jobs, you have real control over your schedule.
No Commute, No Wardrobe, No Guilt
You're not spending 45 minutes in traffic. You're not buying a new work wardrobe. You're not paying extra for before-and-after-school care. The money you save on all of that adds up fast. And the time you save? That's time with your family, or honestly, time for yourself. Both matter.
Sick Days and Snow Days Don't Derail You
When your kid wakes up sick, you don't have to scramble for backup care or call in to work. You adjust your schedule, move a call or two, and handle it. In remote sales, your ability to adapt (which you already have) is an asset, not a liability. Life happens. Remote work lets you handle it without choosing between your kid and your career.
Real Talk from Katherine:
I want to be real with you: remote sales isn't a magic bullet. Some weeks are hard. Some months you'll miss a target. You'll have days where your kid is screaming in the background during a call and you'll want to crawl under the desk. That's happened to me more than once.
But here's what's different: you're building something. You're not trading hours for minimum wage at a job that doesn't see you. You're building a career with real income potential, real flexibility, and real growth. And the hard days? They're worth it. Because the good days change your whole life.
What you just learned shows up differently depending on which sales path you're exploring. Click your path to see how this applies to you specifically.
The B2B remote sales landscape is massive and growing every year. Companies that sell software, equipment, services, supplies, and solutions to other businesses are constantly hiring remote sales reps. The typical entry-level roles are SDR (Sales Development Representative) and BDR (Business Development Representative). In these roles, your job is to find potential customers, reach out, qualify them, and set up meetings for Account Executives to close.
Typical companies hiring remote B2B sales reps include SaaS companies (like HubSpot, Salesforce, or thousands of smaller ones), healthcare distributors, manufacturing suppliers, logistics companies, and professional services firms. Most B2B companies offer a base salary plus commission, health benefits, and a clear path for advancement. An SDR can become an Account Executive within 12-18 months, which comes with a significant pay increase.
Your day-to-day in B2B remote sales revolves around your CRM, your email outreach tool, and your phone or video platform. You'll spend mornings researching accounts, mid-day on calls, and afternoons on follow-ups and admin. The weekly schedule I outlined above is very close to a typical B2B SDR's week. The pace is steady and manageable, and the work is mostly done independently with weekly team check-ins.
The tools you'll use most: Salesforce or HubSpot (CRM), Outreach or SalesLoft (email), LinkedIn Sales Navigator (prospecting), and Zoom or Google Meet (calls). Don't worry about learning them now. Every B2B company trains you on their specific stack during onboarding.
Before you move on, let's make sure the key concepts really clicked. Answer all questions correctly to unlock the next lesson.
1. What does B2B mean in sales?
2. What is a CRM?
3. What is the key difference between B2C and B2B sales?
4. What makes a 1099 sales role different from a W-2 salaried role?
5. Why is remote sales particularly well-suited for moms?
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