Is Door To Door Sales Actually Worth It?
Your old friend from high school who you haven’t seen or heard from in months just randomly DM’ed you, telling you about how much money he made doing door to door sales.
Now he wants you to join him next summer. He plays to your ego telling you how good he thinks you’ll do.
Not only does this sound like every pyramid scheme you’ve been recruited for but the money seems borderline unbelievable and might even be a flat out scam.
But then you start to think, “wait, if THIS dude made THAT kind of money, there’s no telling what I can do.”
So you’re at least a little curious about this door to door sales thing which is why you’re here researching if this makes sense for you.
You’re wondering “Is door to door sales legit?” or “Can you really make good money doing door to door sales?” and the ultimate question “Should I do door to door sales?”
I know this story well because it’s my story. I’ve been through this exact same thing and have asked the same questions.
My goal with this article is to shed some light on door to door sales and give you my honest advice. We’re going to break down the pros and the cons. Who door to door sales is for, and who it’s not for. At the end I’ll share my story and give you my recommendation.
Cons of Door-to-Door Sale
Con #1 - It's Hard!
There’s no sugar coating it. Door to door sales is hard! It’s physically demanding and emotionally exhausting. It involves dealing with a ton of rejection on a regular basis.
Imagine spending hours in the hot sun knocking on doors and getting rejected all day. Taking that cushy summer internship sounds a lot easier.
Not to mention that selling is an art and it takes time and effort to master which can be frustrating when you don’t pick it up right away.
It’s hard to stay positive and continue to be persistent when you’ve had so much rejection. Mentally, door to door sales will push you to your breaking point on many occasions.
Some people just can’t mentally handle how rigorous door to door sales can be and that’s ok. It might not be for you.
Con #2 - It Can Be Risky
Moving on from the challenge of door-to-door sales can be, you also have to also have to consider the risks.
In door-to-door sales, you don’t have a guaranteed salary. If you don’t sell, you don’t make money.
This uncertainty can stress even the most seasoned salesperson. One of my good friends woke up every morning during summer feeling sick to his stomach because of the anxiety this uncertainty caused him.
Safety can be another concern. Being on unfamiliar grounds exposes sales representatives to potential dangers. High-pressure tactics that push too far might not only lose a sale but could provoke negative reactions. While these interactions are rare, it is something to be aware of.
Each encounter is unpredictable, making it essential for sellers to stay alert and prioritize their wellbeing above all else.
If you’re someone who doesn’t have an appetite for risk or uncertainty, door-to-door sales may not be the right option for you.
Con #3- You're Gone for the Summer
Door-to-door selling usually takes you away from home during the summer. This means missing out on family gatherings, local events, and relaxation time. You spend days under the sun, moving from one door to another instead of enjoying typical summer activities.
While friends are at pool parties or barbecues, you're grinding in the hot sun. In order to make door-to-door sales work, you need to have a strong work ethic and a powerful “why” or else the FOMO could break you.
Identifying and relying on your “why” for doing door-to-door sales is critical. If you don’t have a compelling reason to do sales, you’re probably better off staying at home
Pros of Door-to-Door Sales
Those cons can be pretty convincing. Maybe you’ve already weeded yourself out and decided that door-to-door sales isn’t for you.
For the rest of you who haven’t been turned off and are still curious about if door-to-door sales is worth it, let’s keep reading.
Pro #1 - It's Hard!
Like we hit on earlier, knocking on doors every day is tough! You face rejection, weather challenges, and long hours on your feet. Door-to-door sales tests your patience and resilience. It's easy to feel down when you're not getting the results you want fast enough.
Yet, pushing through these hard times teaches incredibly valuable lessons. There is nothing more satisfying than taking on a difficult challenge and coming out stronger on the other side. Taking on hard things builds your confidence and prepares for the real world.
Think about door to door sales like running a marathon. You don’t always enjoy the grueling runs and hard work, but when you cross that finish line… it’s elation.
All of that hard work FINALLY paying off! Few things compare to the satisfaction you feel accomplishing a goal that tested you.
You’ll understand this feeling as you drive home after a summer doing sales and after achieving your summer goal.
It’s pure bliss.
Pro #2 - Learn the Most Valuable Life Skill
Mastering the art of door-to-door sales can equip you with the 21st century’s most valuable skill - effective communication. This involves understanding non-verbal cues, adapting to different personalities, and tailoring your message to resonate with your audience.
It hones your ability to build rapport quickly and handle rejection gracefully. These skills are transferable across any professions and most life situations, making them indispensable in today's competitive landscape.
Think about the edge you’ll have in job interviews, on resumes, when you’re dating and literally anything else you do involving other people.
Developing strong sales techniques will not only enhance your earning potential but also cultivate resilience, empathy, and persuasive abilities that are crucial for success in any field.
Pro #3 - Massive Earnings Opportunity
Door-to-door sales presents a massive earnings opportunity with uncapped potential. The harder individuals work, the more they can earn through commission. Successful door-to-door selling can lead to substantial financial rewards for those committed to putting in the effort and dedication required.
This line of work presents an opportunity for ambitious individuals to significantly increase their income based on their own efforts and performance, making it a lucrative option for those willing to put in the hard work.
It’s empowering to have your earnings potential solely up to you. The more you put in, the more you get out. You don’t get that in a typical 9-5.
Most first year reps expect to make at least $20-$30K in 3-4 months. That’s an average of $7K/month as a rookie. In your second year and beyond, it’s not uncommon to earn multiple six figures.
Pro #4 - Make Unforgettable Memories
There is something so unifying about being the trenches with your friends and fellow sales people, working hard and facing rejection.
You bond over the shared experiences and celebrate together over the incredible wins. Every weekend you have the opportunity to explore a new city and see what that place has to offer. Weekends feel that much sweeter after a week of hard work!
Some of my most cherished memories happened during my summers in New York and Austin, Texas. It was a blast to try new food, meet new people, and try new things.
Pro #5 - Path to Entrepreneurship
Embarking on a career in door-to-door sales can serve as the initial step toward entrepreneurship. It provides valuable experience in customer engagement, negotiation, and building a solid sales foundation.
The skills acquired through this challenging but rewarding process are essential for future business ventures and entrepreneurial success.
Not to mention networking with like minded individuals most of whom also have goals of starting their own business.
If you’re goal is to be an entrepreneur, you can’t go wrong with door-to-door sales.
My Personal Experience
My uncle had a successful door to door sales selling both alarms and pest control. He did so well that he decided he could earn more by starting his own business.
That’s what lead him to start Stampede Pest Control in Dallas, Texas.
He tried to recruit my friends and I sell with him. We almost signed and shipped off for the summer before we all met girls and our priorities shifted.
A few years past, I got married, and was working as a stock broker at E*TRADE. I had always been curious about door to door sales ever since meeting with my uncle to chat about it. More than anything I wanted to learn to how to sell. I felt like that was a valuable skill that I wanted to master.
When a few of my friends decided to sell pest control in Utah and my mom planted the seed in my mind that I could lose my job at E*TRADE when they were acquired by Morgan Stanley, I decided to quit my office job as a stock broker to give door to door sales a try.
We lived in a hotel in Orem, Utah during the 2020 COVID summer and I knocked doors selling pest control, wearing a mask every day.
To say it was a grind would be under selling it! Most of the reps on my team ended up going home early but I worked, by myself, until mid September to reach my goal of 250 accounts to receive my next commission tier.
I was the top rep on my team and that summer I made $50K in 4 in a half months. That was how much I made at E*TRADE after a full year!
After that I was hooked!
There were days that I wanted to quit and times when I felt completely trapped by my goal, but ultimately, it was the most worthwhile goal that I had accomplished to that date. It set me up for success in my next 2 summers and has been the foundation for my career in B2B sales.
Concluding Thoughts: Is Door to Door Sales Worth It?
In my opinion, EVERYONE should try door-to-door sales at least once. Even if you didn’t make any money, the personal growth alone from door-to-doors sales would be worth it.
The mental toughness, communication skills, and work ethic you gain doing door-to-door sales makes it one of the most valuable experiences you can have in your early 20’s.
The fact that you can make more money in 4 months than most people do over an entire year is the cherry on top!
Whether you end up making a career out of sales is something completely different, but if you have the chance to door-to-door sales, my recommendation is to take it, regardless of what career path you think you’ll take.
If you’re looking more advice on door-to-door sales, check out my Complete Door to Door Sales Guide where I break down the strategies and tactics that helped me to earn more than $300K in my sales career.
Good luck!
