Summary
Remote sales teams in India are not only highly efficient but also cost-effective. They work best in flexible work environments and already come with the required skill training. Plus, an employer of record can help you hire the best sales team in India legally without setting up an entity here.
Are you planning to build a remote sales team internationally? Then, India should definitely be on your radar. Why? Because, the country’s vast talent pool, solid digital infrastructure, and proven adaptability make it one of the most effective places to hire a remote sales team today.
Also, Indian professionals are better suited to flexible work. Thus, the concept of a remote sales team has been bustling with success in modern-day India.
Let’s see the things you can learn from this blog:
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- How remote sales roles in India are adapting to the global shift.
- Why do companies choose India to hire remote sales teams?
- What role does an EOR play in this?
- The key steps to follow while hiring a remote sales team through an EOR.
And let me tell you, whether you are a team of 50 or 500, this blog has an answer to all your queries. Shall we get started?
How Remote Sales Teams in India Are Evolving?
The way of hiring remote sales teams in India is changing fast. What started as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic has now evolved into a serious, long-term strategy. Here’s how today’s remote sales teams are stepping up and scaling up.
For example, India saw a 34% jump in remote-first sales roles last year. This happened especially in telecalling and digital B2B sales. On the flip side, field sales shrank by 4%.
Why? Let’s jot them down:
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- Cost-efficiency
- Wider reach
- Faster hiring cycles
Hubs like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad give you the perfect window to hire a remote sales team in India.
Read why global companies are hiring remote employees from India.
Tech Is Boosting Sales and How!
Modern remote sales teams rely heavily on AI-backed tools for prospecting, lead scoring, and CRM integration. Tools like LeadSquared, Freshsales, and Zoho CRM are now standard in most Indian setups. These platforms enable smart targeting and automated follow-ups. Do you see the hours of manual effort saved every week?
Plus, WhatsApp and LinkedIn outreach are now core parts of the Indian remote sales strategy. Sales professionals are not confined to just email anymore.
If you’re managing a remote sales team, real-time engagement tools like Slack and Zoom are just the beginning. Companies are also investing in call analytics and gamification to boost productivity.
Sales Professionals Are Opting for Continuous Upskilling
Training has become an integral part of remote sales teams in India. Indian companies are investing in sales coaching platforms like GrowthSchool to upgrade their training programs. They’re virtually running mock pitch sessions via Zoom to upskill reps in storytelling, negotiation, and rapport-building.
Women Are Taking the Lead
As per trends, female participation in tele-sales grew by 80% in 2024. To add more, female job postings for business development roles have witnessed a spike of 8%. The flexibility of remote work has allowed more women to enter and thrive in sales roles. This is especially true for women from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Selling Beyond Boundaries
As famously quoted by Chris Grosser, “Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.”
Indian professionals are doing the same when it comes to managing a remote sales team. They’re making sure not to be restricted by geography. Indian reps can now sell into the UK, US, and Middle East without having to catch a flight. The result? Global reach at local costs. That’s a huge blessing for startups and similar enterprises.
Now, let’s move on to the section where we see the various reasons to hire remote sales teams in India.
Benefits of Building a Remote Sales Team in India
Top 5 benefits of hiring an Indian remote sales team for global growth.
As we talked about in the earlier section, India has evolved into a global sales hub. All thanks to its rich talent pool and strong digital infrastructure. Let’s now look at the benefits of building a remote sales team in India.
Access to Broad-skilled Talent Network
Indian professionals have made skill training their bread and butter now. Fresh graduates are already experts in international sales tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator. These professionals are sharp, driven, and speak fluent English.
When you hire a remote sales team here, you hire experts skilled in consultative selling and lead qualification. You get candidates who excel at multi-channel outreach. Yes, that includes everything from cold calls, emails, social selling to generating high-quality leads.
India’s Time Zone Advantage
With India’s geographic positioning, its time zone is better aligned with working hours across regions. This provides your business with extended coverage. Consequently, your remote sales team can follow up on leads overnight while your HQ sleeps. This keeps your sales funnel active 24/7 and shortens the sales cycle. And it’s a well-known fact that faster response times increase the chance of converting warm leads. At least much before competitors do.
Lower Costs and Higher ROI
Managing a remote sales team in India slashes office costs, travel, and admin expenses. Huge savings from the overhead front. Plus, you can hire three skilled reps in India for the cost of one in the West. Thanks to the lower cost of living in India. Also, Indian sales teams are known for their strong work ethic and ability to meet aggressive sales targets. Does it sound like a dream team now?
Read the cost of hiring remote employees in India.
Tech-Ready and Remote-First Culture
Feedback from various MNCs has only established the fact that India’s remote work culture is extremely mature and efficient. Sales reps here are experienced in CRM management, pipeline tracking, and using analytics to optimize their sales approach.
Hence, managing a remote sales team here means you get real-time reporting and data-driven insights. Can you fathom the room for performance improvement? Huge, right?!
Now comes the part where we’ll see how to efficiently filter out the cream sales rep from India’s wide talent funnel. Wait, I have an employment model in mind. Let me share that with you in the next section.
How Does an EOR Help in Hiring Remote Sales Team in India?
Okay, now we’ve to go through a few important pointers before planning to hire remote sales teams in India. Let’s see what those factors are and who will help you in addressing those factors.
Now, the first thing that comes to your mind when you plan to hire a remote sales team in India is setting up your own entity. But we all know that requires an enormous amount of commitment. For example, it’ll take roughly 6 months, an estimated USD 20,000, and a few grey hairs to start with.
The good news is all of ṭhese can be avoided with a simple employment model. Yes, I’m talking about the Employer of Record (EOR).
When partnered with an EOR, you’ll be able to:
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- Hire a remote sales team without having to register for a local entity.
- Manage Indian payroll with the right elements like PF, TDS, ESIC, etc.
- Draft and send offer letters that won’t get flagged by labor authorities.
- Avoid misclassifying employees and accidentally inviting any lawsuits.
- Handle terminations the right way.
The best part? You don’t even manage these operational duties on your own. The EOR does them on behalf of you. You just monitor and take the final decisions. Yes, you heard that right.
For example, an EOR will help you build a remote sales team with the right compensation mix which is region-specific. All you’ve to do is take the final call.
What a dreamy way of building a remote sales team!
We’ll now walk through all the important pointers step by step that you need to take when you hire a remote sales team in India.
Read the role of international PEOs in managing remote workforces.
Key Steps to Follow while Hiring a Remote Sales Team Through an EOR
Building a remote sales team in India through an employer of record is the ideal way to enter the country. However, you need to follow a few crucial steps to reap off the most profit. So, let me explain them to you one by one.
1. Design Your Sales Structure
Before you even approach an EOR, map out the exact sales roles you need. Are you looking for sales development representatives? Or, are you looking for closers and account managers? Define their KPIs and sales stages they’ll manage.
2. Choose an Experienced EOR
Not every EOR understands the ins and outs of sales hiring. Look for ones that have helped businesses in your industry, and hire remote sales team members. Seek client testimonials from your target markets. A strong EOR can also offer insights on market-specific expectations around pay, commissions, and benefits. They also advise you about onboarding and retention strategies.
3. Automate Your Hiring Process
Ask the EOR to include real-time CRM skills testing or sales call role plays in the interview process. Because let’s be honest, hiring based on resumes alone won’t land you the best candidates. You need proof they can sell, not just talk about it.
4. Compliance and IP Protection
One major perk of an EOR? They act as the legal employer for your remote sales employees in India. But don’t assume everything’s covered. Make sure that everything is documented in the contract. This includes IP protection, commission plans, compliance clauses, etc.
5. Discuss Onboarding Process with the EOR
Once you hire remote sales team members, make sure the onboarding process aligns with the sales team. Talk about the sales funnel, your buyer personas and sales tools. A relevant onboarding can make a huge impact on the new hires.
6. Opt for Regular Feedback and Performance Reviews
Taking regular surveys and feedback from your remote sales team can help you two things. One, you can assess the team’s momentum. Two, you’ll have a hold on how they approach customers. Also, regular performance reviews can keep the team motivated and on track.
I’m sure you’re now familiar with the key to building a remote sales team.
Conclusion
As we saw, India has become a go-to destination for companies wanting to build a high-performing remote sales team without the hassle of setting up shop locally. Additionally, we also learnt that when you hire a remote sales team in India through an EOR, you avoid all the legal troubles but keep full control of outcomes.
From handling compliance to fast onboarding, the EOR model helps you focus on your business, sales growth, and revenue generation. But remember, hiring is only step one. How you train, manage, and retain your team determines your sales team’s productivity and performance.
And only an experienced EOR in India can help you check all the boxes mentioned above. So, when I say partner with an EOR, what I really mean is partner with the right EOR that’s suited to your business.
FAQs
What is an EOR, and how does it help with hiring in India?
An Employer of Record is the legal employer of your international sales team and takes care of all the legal and HR stuff. It includes payroll, taxes, and compliance, so you can hire in India without setting up a company here. It’s an easy and efficient way to build your team while staying compliant with local employment laws and regulations.
Can I hire a full sales team in India using an EOR?
Definitely yes! No matter the number of sales rep you require for your team, an EOR makes it easy to hire them in India and picks only the best candidates for you. They focus on finding the right talent and draft proper employment contracts for all of them.
Do I get to choose who I hire?
Yes, 100%. You’ll be in full control of the hiring process starting from interviews, decisions, everything. The EOR brings the best candidates to your table while you choose them. So yes you build your dream team while the EOR helps you set it up legally in India.
Will my sales team work only for my company?
Yes, they’re dedicatedly hired for you. The team will be officially on the EOR’s payroll but will follow your direction, report to you, and represents your brand. The team is completely yours just not in-house.
How fast can I get started?
As fast as you can imagine, and usually in a few days to a couple of weeks. Once you’ve picked your team and shared the details, the EOR handles contracts and onboarding quickly. There would be hardly any obstacle in the hiring process or post that and you can leave it all up to the EOR.
