What Are the Best Entry Level Remote Sales Jobs for Beginners?

If you're trying to break into remote sales and you're not sure which role to go after first, this post gives you a clear answer. There are three specific entry level remote sales positions that are consistently easier to land than a closing role and knowing which one fits your situation can save you months of rejection and frustration. Whether you're drawn to high ticket sales or just want to get your foot in the door with remote sales jobs, the path forward starts with understanding what these roles actually are, why they're more accessible, and how to use them as a launchpad.

Why Most Beginners Struggle to Land a Remote Sales Closer Role

The closing role is usually the first thing people want when they discover remote sales. The earning potential is real, the lifestyle looks appealing, and the idea of getting paid commissions to have conversations sounds straightforward. But walking straight into a sales closer job as a complete beginner is genuinely difficult not because you couldn't eventually be good at it, but because the business owner taking the risk on you has a lot to lose.

Here's the math that most beginners don't see: companies running high ticket offers are spending anywhere from $200 to $800 per booked call to fill a closer's calendar. When you multiply that across a full week, some businesses are dropping $5,000 to $10,000 just to keep one closer's calendar full. If you're a brand new rep with no track record, no metrics, and nothing to show a recruiter or business owner beyond enthusiasm, you're asking them to gamble that kind of money on an unknown. Some businesses with strong training systems will take that chance. A lot won't. That's the honest reality, and it's why the three roles below exist as a smarter starting point.

What Is an Appointment Setter Role and Is It Worth Starting There?

The appointment setter is the most well known entry point into remote sales, particularly in the high ticket coaching, consulting, and info product space. The job is exactly what it sounds like: your role is to have shorter conversations typically 10 to 15 minutes with inbound leads and qualify and book them onto a call with a closer. You're not responsible for collecting payment or closing the deal. That pressure sits elsewhere. What you're responsible for is communication, follow through, and moving qualified prospects forward in the pipeline.

What makes this role genuinely accessible for beginners is the risk profile for the business. Instead of risking hundreds of dollars per call, a company is spending $5 to $20 per lead on the setting side. The stakes are lower, which means the threshold for hiring someone without a proven track record is also lower. If you can demonstrate strong communication skills, show that you're coachable, and handle a script with confidence, you have a real shot at landing this role even without prior sales experience. Many reps spend six months to a year as a setter, build a track record of booked calls and show rates, and then transition into a closing position with actual metrics to back them up. It's a legitimate path, not a consolation prize. If you want to explore what these opportunities look like, browsing commission sales jobs is a good place to start seeing what's out there in both setting and closing.

What Is a DM Setter Role and How Does It Differ From Phone Setting?

The DM setter role is a variation of appointment setting that's even more beginner friendly, and it's become extremely common in the Instagram driven coaching and fitness influencer space. Instead of getting on the phone, your entire job is conducted through direct messages. A business usually a coach, consultant, or influencer runs content or paid ads with a call to action that prompts people to send them a DM. That inbox fills up fast, and they need someone to manage those conversations, qualify prospects, and move them toward booking a call.

The reason this role is easier to land than even phone based appointment setting comes down to the skill gap. On a phone call, your tone, energy, pacing, and ability to handle objections in real time all matter. In a text based conversation, you have more time to think, you can use scripted responses more naturally, and the pressure of live interaction is removed. Business owners know this, which is why they're generally more willing to bring on someone with limited experience for a DM setting role. If you're genuinely new to sales and you're nervous about jumping straight into phone calls, this is one of the most realistic first steps available to you. It still builds real skills qualifying prospects, handling objections in writing, moving conversations forward and it gives you experience you can point to when going after bigger roles later.

What Is an SDR Role and How Does It Compare to Appointment Setting?

The SDR (Sales Development Representative) role is the corporate world's version of an appointment setter, but it operates differently and comes with a different compensation structure. Where a high ticket appointment setter is typically working with inbound leads flowing in from paid ads, an SDR is usually doing heavier outbound work across multiple channels cold email, cold calls, LinkedIn outreach, Instagram DMs essentially whatever it takes to generate pipeline for an account executive (the corporate equivalent of a closer).

The main advantage of the SDR role is that it usually comes with a base salary, typically in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, plus commission on top. That stability makes it an appealing entry point, especially if you're coming from a traditional job background and aren't ready to go fully commission based. The tradeoff is that you're spreading yourself across more channels and doing more prospecting legwork. It's a grind in a different way than high ticket setting. But from a hiring risk perspective, the business is protected because they're doing cold outbound they're not spending thousands filling your calendar. That lower risk makes it easier to get hired without an extensive track record. If you're considering this path, the remote sales jobs guide covers the full landscape of remote selling roles and how they compare, which is worth reading before you decide which direction to pursue.

The Honest Downside: What Beginners Get Wrong About These Entry Roles

A lot of people treat appointment setting or SDR work as something to rush through on the way to a closer role. They take the job, do the bare minimum, and expect that just having the title on their resume is enough to get promoted. That's not how it works. The reps who successfully transition into closing roles are the ones who actually treated the entry role seriously they tracked their numbers, they learned what makes a qualified lead, they paid attention to how closers handled objections, and they built a real case for themselves.

The other mistake is taking any role just to say you have one. Not all appointment setting roles are equal. A setter role on a poorly run offer with bad marketing, no inbound leads, and a weak product puts you in a position where you're grinding with nothing to show for it. Before accepting any role, you want to understand the offer quality, how leads are generated, what the show rate looks like, and whether the closer on the other end is actually converting. If the whole system is broken, your performance as a setter won't reflect your real ability. This is exactly why understanding how the sales hiring process works before you start applying gives you a real edge you'll know what questions to ask and what red flags to watch for.

How to Use a Beginner Role to Land a Closing Position Later

The transition from setter to closer is one of the most common career moves in remote sales, but it doesn't happen automatically. You need to be intentional about building the proof that a closer role requires. Start by tracking everything how many leads you contacted, how many appointments you booked, what the show rate was, and what percentage of your bookings converted. Those numbers tell a story, and when you go to interview for a closing role, that story is what gets you hired.

Beyond the numbers, use your time in a setting role to absorb as much as you can about the sales process. If you have access to recorded closer calls, listen to them. Ask the closer on your team questions. Pay attention to what objections come up repeatedly and how they're handled. The reps who treat a setter role as a sales education not just a job are the ones who make the leap to closing faster and perform better once they get there.

Find Your First Remote Sales Role Faster

RepSelect connects beginner reps with vetted remote sales jobs and helps you land interviews with the right recruiters. From resume and intro video feedback to interview prep and direct recruiter connections, the platform is built to help you get placed faster whether you're going after your first setter role or making the jump to closing. Create your free RepSelect account and start finding the right role for where you are right now.

Frequently Asked Questions About Entry Level Remote Sales Jobs

Do I have to be an appointment setter before becoming a sales closer?

No, you don't have to start as an appointment setter before moving into a closing role. It is possible to land a closer role as a beginner, especially if you have strong communication skills or some relevant background. That said, it's significantly harder because businesses are investing thousands of dollars per week to fill a closer's calendar, and they want confidence you can convert. Starting as a setter gives you a track record to point to, which makes landing a closing role much more realistic.

What's the difference between a DM setter and a phone appointment setter?

A DM setter handles all prospect conversations through direct messages typically on Instagram or similar platforms while a phone appointment setter conducts live calls. DM setting requires less real time skill in areas like tone and energy, which makes it easier for beginners to perform well and for business owners to feel comfortable hiring someone with less experience. Both roles have the same end goal: booking qualified prospects onto a sales call with a closer.

How much do SDR roles typically pay?

SDR roles in a corporate remote sales environment typically come with a base salary in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, with commission added on top of that. The base salary is one of the main reasons people choose the SDR path over commission only appointment setting roles. The tradeoff is that SDR work tends to involve heavier outbound activity across multiple channels, which requires more hustle and consistency to perform well.

How long should I stay in an appointment setter role before applying for closer jobs?

There's no fixed timeline, but most reps who successfully transition to closing have at least six months to a year of documented setter experience. What matters more than time is the quality of the proof you've built your booking numbers, show rates, and any conversion data you can point to. If you can show a recruiter or business owner real metrics that demonstrate you understand the sales process and can move prospects forward, that's what opens the door to closing roles.

What should I look for in a good appointment setter role?

Look for roles where the business has a strong inbound lead system, ideally driven by paid advertising, so you're not relying entirely on cold outreach. You want to understand the offer quality, the cost per lead, and what the show rate and close rate look like on the offer. A setter role on a high quality offer with good marketing will give you real experience and real numbers to show. A role on a poorly run offer with bad leads will just drain your time without building anything useful for your career.

Can I get a remote sales job with no experience at all?

Yes, it's possible but you need to be realistic about which roles are accessible at that level. DM setter and appointment setter roles are the most beginner friendly options in remote sales because the risk to the business is lower and the skill requirements, while still real, are more learnable on the job. SDR roles can also be accessible if you're applying to companies with structured onboarding and training. Going straight into a closing role with zero experience is much harder, though not completely impossible if you can demonstrate strong natural communication skills and coachability in the interview process. Sign up for RepSelect to get connected with roles that match your current experience level and get support through the interview process.