Area Rep Program FAQs
How do I apply to become an Area Rep?
How do I make money?
How much money will I make per sale?
How do you track my sales?
How often will I be paid?
Am I required to install pergolas or can I just sell them?
Am I expected to generate sales myself or do you send me leads?
What all materials will you send me?
How am I expected to market the pergolas?
How do I quote pergolas?
How do I place orders?
Will I be the exclusive rep in my area?
How big is my selling area? Can I get a bigger area?
Can I sell outside my area?
Will I be an employee of your company?
How many hours per week will I need to work?
Is there a monthly/quarterly/annual quota I need to reach?
Will the pergola kits be shipped to me or to the customers?
How much is shipping, and how long do orders take to arrive?
What if there are missing or damaged parts?
How do I apply to become an Area Rep?
To apply to become an Area Rep, simply submit the application here.
Once your application is accepted (which we'll notify you of via email and text), you'll just need to do the following 3 things (all of which should take no more than 1.5 - 2 hours)...
- Watch all of the training videos (total play time is about 1 hour, broken into 10 parts)
- Score at least 80% on the Area Rep Quiz (note: you can retake the quiz as many times as necessary)
- eSign the "Area Rep Affiliate Agreement" (you'll receive an email from DocuSign containing a link to view and e-sign the agreement after passing the quiz)
How do I make money?
As an Area Rep, you'll make money in 2 ways:
- You'll earn a $300 - $1,000 commission on each sale you're responsible for generating. The commission amount is based on the order total (shown in the FAQ below), with the average commission being $500-600.
- You'll collect an installation fee directly from customers whose pergolas you install. How much you charge your customers for installation is completely up to you, but it may be helpful to note that most of our Area Reps charge $500 - $1,500 per install (depending on their location, the size of the pergola, and installation details).
How much money will I make per sale?
The following table shows our current commission structure for each pergola sale...
| Your Customer's Order Amount | Your Commission |
| $2,500 - $4,000 | $300 |
| $4,001 - $6,000 | $400 |
| $6,001 - $8,000 | $500 |
| $8,001 - $10,000 | $600 |
| $10,001 - $15,000 | $700 |
| $15,001 - $20,000 | $800 |
| $20,001 - $25,000 | $900 |
| $25,001 and up | $1,000 |
Additionally, if you install the pergola for a customer, you'll collect whatever installation fee you and the customer agree upon (that's completely up to you).
How do you track my sales?
Once you're signed up as an Area Rep, we'll give you a unique promo code (coupon code) that you and your customers will use when you place orders. This unique promo code serves 2 purposes:
- It gives your customer a $150 discount (which incentivizes them to use the coupon code, even if they place the order on their own); and
- It triggers your $300 - $1,000 commission in our system, so we know that we need to pay you.
How often will I be paid?
Commissions are credited to your account once your customer has received their pergola kit. Commissions will be paid out within 10 days of the end of each calendar month. For example, commissions for the month of June will be paid out no later than July 10th.
Am I required to install pergolas or can I just sell them?
No, you are not required to install pergolas. Most of our Area Reps choose to do so, but it's entirely up to you.
Our relationship is that of an online retailer (us) and an affiliate (you). We're simply paying you an affiliate commission for sending customers to our website to purchase our pergola products. When you send us a customer who places an order on our website, we pay you a commission to reward you for sending that customer our way.
That's really where our relationship ends. Whether you decide to offer assembly/installation services to your customers (and how much you choose to charge them) is completely up to you. We are uninvolved in the installation process. If you do choose to offer installation services, we strongly recommend that you have all the necessary insurances and licenses to do so.
Am I expected to generate sales myself or do you send me leads?
As an Area Rep, you will need to generate sales yourself through various promotional and marketing activities. Occasionally, we'll have a customer order a pergola directly from us and ask if we know of anyone in their area who installs pergolas, in which case we'll give them your contact information (assuming you do installations). But for the most part, you'll need to generate your own sales.
This tutorial discusses the top 10 ways our most successful Area Reps are generating sales.
What all materials will you send me?
Once you're signed up as an Area Rep, we will:
- Send you all of our marketing materials (videos, flyers, brochures, buying guides, etc.) in digital format;
- Mail you 6-12" beam samples of our vinyl and aluminum pergola materials (in both white vinyl and tan vinyl); and
- Mail you a "welcome packet" that contains quote sheets and other printed materials.
You'll typically receive the mailed materials within 4-5 business days, but you don't need to wait for these materials before getting started.
We also offer various promotional items (flyers, door hangers, business cards, polo shirts, car magnets, yard signs, etc.) in the Area Rep Store. All of these promotional items (which we source through VistaPrint.com) are sold at cost with no price mark-ups. You are not required to purchase any promotional materials from us, but most of our Area Reps choose to do so.
To help you get rolling, we'll even reimburse your first Area Rep Store purchase (up to $150) after the completion of your first sale. For example, if you purchase $150 of promotional items from the Area Rep Store and your first sale generates a $800 commission, your first payment from us will be for $950 (the $800 commission plus a $150 reimbursement).
How am I expected to market the pergolas?
As long as you abide by the Area Rep Affiliate Agreement we'll both sign when you become an Area Rep, you can promote and market our pergolas any way you'd like. This tutorial discusses the top 10 ways our most successful Area Reps are generating sales.
How do I quote pergolas?
This tutorial explains how to price (quote) our pergola kits to your customers.
How do I place orders?
You (or your customer) will place the order directly on our public website. When doing so, you (or your customer) will use the unique promo code (coupon code) we'll give you when you become an Area Rep. This promo code will 1) give the customer a $150 discount on their order, and 2) trigger your affiliate commission.
Will I be the exclusive rep in my area?
Yes, you will be the only Area Rep within your assigned area. You won't be competing with other Area Reps.
How big is my selling area? Can I get a bigger area?
We start all new Area Reps out with a 25-mile radius around their chosen location on the map (usually their home or business address, but it can be another chosen location nearby). But if you do well and make several sales in the first couple/few months, we will be more than happy (even eager) to expand your geographic area to include multiple cities/communities (or county/ies), as long as it doesn't encroach on another Area Rep's work.
Can I sell outside my area?
We don't have any problem at all with you selling to people outside your area as long as you're not actively marketing in an area that already has an Area Rep. We just don't want scenarios where an Area Rep leaves door hangers or passes out flyers in an area that another Area Rep is actively working.
But if you know people (family, friends, past customers, etc.) or get a referral for someone outside your area, you can certainly let them use your coupon code (which gives them a $150 discount and triggers your commission) and also install it for them.
Will I be an employee of your company?
No, you will not be an employee of our company. You will be your own boss and work whatever hours you choose to work.
Our relationship will be that of an online retailer (us) and an affiliate (you). We'll simply be paying you an affiliate commission for sending customers to our website to purchase our pergola products. When you send us a customer who places an order on our website, we pay you a commission to reward you for sending that customer our way. That's really where our relationship ends.
Whether you decide to offer assembly/installation services to your customers (and how much you choose to charge them) is completely up to you. We are uninvolved in the installation process. If you do choose to offer installation services (which you are not required to do), we strongly recommend that you have all the necessary insurances and licenses to do so.
How many hours per week will I need to work?
That's completely up you you. It depends on how much money you want to make each month! You won't be an employee of our company with set hours or a set schedule. When and how much you work is completely up to you. But we'll say this... Our most successful Area Reps who are making $5,000 - $10,000+ per month are putting in at least 30 hours per week and are very active in promoting pergola sales.
Is there a monthly/quarterly/annual quota I need to reach?
Not officially, no. But we do ask that you be active and engaged in generating sales. If an Area Rep goes several months without making any sales (especially during the warmer months of the year), we will reach out and discuss what's going on. While we don't like to do it, we reserve the right to either revoke your exclusivity (which would allow other Area Reps to advertise in the same geographic area) or terminate the affiliate agreement.
Will the pergola kits be shipped to me or to the customers?
Whichever you (or the customer) specifies when the order is placed. Most of our Area Reps choose to have the pergola kits shipped directly to their customer's driveway. But if you'd like the kit to instead be shipped to you, just specify that as the ship-to location when placing the order.
How much is shipping, and how long do orders take to arrive?
Shipping to the continental USA is FREE (included in the prices shown on our site). On average, it takes 2-3 weeks for an order to arrive. See this page for more information about shipping and delivery.
What if there are missing or damaged parts?
First of all, this is extremely rare. We triple-check to make sure every kit has all of its components (with hardware, fasteners and end caps to spare) before it ships out, and we pack it very well.
That said, if any parts are damaged or missing upon arrival, we will ship out replacement parts ASAP (and expedite the shipment in order to delay installation as little as possible) at no expense to you or the customer.