Commission / Sales Compensation Agreement - New Hampshire

COMMISSION / SALES COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Table of Contents

1. Parties and Recitals
2. Position and Duties
3. Term of Agreement
4. Commission Structure
5. Base Compensation and Commission
6. Payment Timing
7. Draw Against Commission
8. Clawback Provisions
9. Post-Termination Commission Rights
10. Quota and Performance Standards
11. Territory and Accounts
12. Expenses and Reimbursement
13. Dispute Resolution
14. Termination
15. General Provisions
16. New Hampshire-Specific Notices
17. Signatures

1. Parties and Recitals

Employer:
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
City/State/ZIP: [____________________], NH [__________]
Phone: [________________________________]
Entity Type: [________________________________]

Employee (Sales Representative):
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
City/State/ZIP: [____________________], NH [__________]
Phone: [________________________________]
SSN (Last 4): [____]

Effective Date: [__/__/____]

This Commission / Sales Compensation Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into by and between the Employer and Employee identified above. The parties agree that the Employee's compensation shall be governed by the terms set forth herein, in compliance with New Hampshire RSA 275:42–48.

2. Position and Duties

Job Title: [________________________________]

Primary Responsibilities:

• [________________________________]
• [________________________________]
• [________________________________]

Reporting To: [________________________________]

Work Location: [________________________________]

Employment Status:
☐ Full-time employee
☐ Part-time employee

3. Term of Agreement

This Agreement shall commence on [__/__/____] and shall continue:

☐ Indefinitely (at-will employment) until terminated by either party
☐ For a fixed term ending on [__/__/____], subject to renewal

New Hampshire is an at-will employment state. Unless a fixed term is specified above, either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.

4. Commission Structure

Commission Type:
☐ Percentage of gross sales
☐ Percentage of net sales (after returns and allowances)
☐ Percentage of gross profit
☐ Flat fee per sale or unit
☐ Tiered/graduated commission schedule
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Commission Rate(s):

Commission Trigger Event:
☐ Upon execution of the sale or contract
☐ Upon delivery of goods or services
☐ Upon receipt of customer payment
☐ Other: [________________________________]

5. Base Compensation and Commission

Base Salary: $[________] per [☐ hour / ☐ week / ☐ month / ☐ year]

Total Compensation Structure:
☐ Base salary plus commission
☐ Commission only (see Draw provision in Section 7)
☐ Draw against commission (see Section 7)

6. Payment Timing

Commission Payment Schedule:
☐ Weekly (standard under RSA 275:43)
☐ Biweekly (permitted under RSA 275:43)
☐ Monthly (requires Commissioner approval per RSA 275:43)
☐ Other (requires Commissioner approval): [________________________________]

Regular Pay Period: [________________________________]

Commissions shall be calculated and paid no later than [____] days after the end of the period in which the commission was earned.

7. Draw Against Commission

☐ This section applies / ☐ This section does not apply

Draw Amount: $[________] per [☐ week / ☐ pay period / ☐ month]

Draw Type:
☐ Recoverable draw (advances offset against future commissions)
☐ Non-recoverable draw (guaranteed minimum, not offset)

Negative Balance: If commissions earned are less than draws paid:
☐ The deficit carries forward to the next period(s)
☐ The deficit is forgiven at the end of each [☐ month / ☐ quarter / ☐ year]
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Reconciliation Schedule:
☐ Monthly (default per RSA 275:42, VII)
☐ Other (per written agreement): [________________________________]

8. Clawback Provisions

☐ This section applies / ☐ This section does not apply

Commissions previously paid may be subject to clawback under the following circumstances:

☐ Customer cancels order within [____] days of sale
☐ Customer returns product within [____] days
☐ Customer defaults on payment within [____] days
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Maximum Clawback Period: [____] days from the date commission was paid.

9. Post-Termination Commission Rights

Upon termination of employment (whether voluntary or involuntary), the Employee shall be entitled to:

☐ All commissions earned and unpaid through the last day of employment
☐ Commissions on sales closed but not yet paid by customers as of termination
☐ Commissions on pending orders submitted before the termination date that close within [____] days after termination
☐ No post-termination commissions beyond the last day of employment

Payment of Final Commissions:

• Discharge: Under RSA 275:44, when an employer discharges an employee, all wages (including earned commissions) must be paid within 72 hours of discharge.

• Resignation: Under RSA 275:44, II, wages are due no later than the next regular payday. If the employee gives at least one pay period's notice of intention to quit, all earned wages are due within 72 hours.

10. Quota and Performance Standards

Sales Quota:
☐ Monthly quota: $[________]
☐ Quarterly quota: $[________]
☐ Annual quota: $[________]

Consequences of Failing to Meet Quota:
☐ Performance improvement plan
☐ Reduced commission rate of [____]%
☐ Reassignment of territory or accounts
☐ Grounds for termination
☐ Other: [________________________________]

11. Territory and Accounts

Assigned Territory: [________________________________]

Account Assignment:
☐ Exclusive territory — Employee is sole representative in the defined area
☐ Non-exclusive territory — Employer may assign additional representatives
☐ Named accounts only (see attached Exhibit A)

Territory Modifications: Employer reserves the right to modify territories with [____] days' written notice.

12. Expenses and Reimbursement

Reimbursable Expenses:
☐ Mileage at IRS standard rate ($[____] per mile)
☐ Travel expenses (airfare, lodging, meals) with prior approval
☐ Client entertainment with prior approval up to $[________] per [☐ month / ☐ quarter]
☐ Office supplies and equipment
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Expense Reporting Deadline: Expenses must be submitted within [____] days of being incurred.

13. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement:

Step 1 — Internal Resolution: The parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute through good-faith negotiation within [____] business days.

Step 2 — Mediation/Arbitration:
☐ Binding arbitration in [________________________________], New Hampshire, under the rules of [________________________________]
☐ Mediation before [________________________________]
☐ Litigation in the courts of the State of New Hampshire, [________________________________] County

14. Termination

By Employer:
☐ At will, with or without cause
☐ For cause, including but not limited to: [________________________________]
☐ With [____] days' written notice

By Employee:
☐ At will, with or without cause
☐ With [____] days' written notice (at least one pay period's notice triggers the 72-hour final-pay rule in RSA 275:44, II)

Effect of Termination: Upon termination, all company property, client lists, and proprietary materials must be returned within [____] business days. Commission payments after termination shall be governed by Section 9.

15. General Provisions

Entire Agreement: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, or agreements.

Amendments: This Agreement may be modified only by written instrument signed by both parties. Commission rate changes require [____] days' advance written notice to Employee.

Severability: If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Hampshire.

Protected Discussions and Proprietary Information: Nothing in this Agreement prohibits an employee from discussing wages, commissions, hours, or working conditions; engaging in protected concerted activity; reporting suspected unlawful conduct; or communicating with a government agency. Employee shall protect nonpublic customer lists, pricing strategy, and other lawfully protectable proprietary sales information, subject to those rights.

16. New Hampshire-Specific Notices

Draw Against Commission Defined: RSA 275:42, VII defines "draw against commission" as a compensation method where the employee receives at least monthly draw payments of not less than minimum wage as advances against anticipated commissions. Reconciliation occurs monthly unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Payment Frequency: Under RSA 275:43, wages must be paid weekly or biweekly unless the Commissioner approves less frequent payments (but at least monthly). Payments must be made regularly on a predesignated date.

Final Pay — Discharge: Under RSA 275:44, upon discharge, all earned wages including commissions must be paid within 72 hours.

Final Pay — Resignation: Under RSA 275:44, II, earned wages are due no later than the next regular payday. If the employee gives at least one pay period's notice, earned wages are due within 72 hours.

Late-payment remedies: Under RSA 275:44, IV, an employer that willfully and without good cause fails to make required final payment may owe 10% of unpaid wages for each continuing day other than Sundays and legal holidays, capped at an amount equal to the unpaid wages. A court may allow costs and reasonable attorney fees under RSA 275:53, III.

Minimum Wage: New Hampshire follows the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour). Draw payments must meet or exceed minimum wage.

17. Signatures

By signing below, the parties acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

EMPLOYER:

Signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Title: [________________________________]

EMPLOYEE:

Signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed Name: [________________________________]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

☐ Employee acknowledges receipt of a signed copy of this Agreement on [__/__/____].

Sources and References:

• RSA 275:44 — Final pay: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xxiii/275/275-44.htm
• RSA 275:48 — Wage withholding: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xxiii/275/275-48.htm
• RSA 275:52 — Penalties: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xxiii/275/275-52.htm
• RSA 275:53 — Employee remedies: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xxiii/275/275-53.htm
• New Hampshire Department of Labor: https://www.dol.nh.gov
• RSA 275:43 — Weekly or Biweekly Payment: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xxiii/275/275-43.htm