I've caught over $15,000 in commission errors over my career. Not huge amounts each time - a deal credited at the wrong rate here, a forgotten SPIF there. But they add up.
Here's why you need to track your own numbers.
Commission Errors Are Common
Studies suggest 3-8% of commission payouts contain errors. With the average AE earning $80-150K+ in variable comp, that's $2,400 to $12,000 at risk every year.
Common errors include:
- Deals credited at the wrong tier
- Multi-year deals counted as 1-year
- Clawbacks applied incorrectly
- SPIFs and bonuses missed entirely
- Wrong close dates affecting quarter
Payroll Doesn't Catch Everything
Finance teams are busy. They're processing commissions for dozens or hundreds of reps. They don't know your deals like you do. They're working from system data that might be wrong.
You are the only person who truly knows what you should be paid.
How to Track Effectively
- Log every deal - Amount, close date, contract length, tier at time of close
- Know your plan - Tier thresholds, rates, SPIF rules
- Calculate before payroll - Know what to expect
- Compare immediately - Check your pay stub against your calculations
- Escalate discrepancies - Politely but firmly
💡 Pro tip
Take screenshots of your CRM on the last day of each month/quarter. This creates a paper trail if there are disputes later.
Track your commission automatically
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Trust but verify. Your company probably isn't trying to shortchange you, but mistakes happen. The reps who track their own numbers are the ones who catch the errors.