Sales Glossary
Sales Glossary
21 Sales terms
Sales teams are responsible for the growth and revenue side of the business. This glossary will provide definitions to complicated sales terms you can reference each time you encounter sales speak you're unfamiliar with. If you want to work in this field, but there is a few words you don't understand, this glossary is here to help you. So, keep on reading to brush up on your sales knowledge.
Source: Walker, N. (2015). Actively Engaged Online. Montreal, QC.
- benchmarking
- verb
- Comparing one's products to those of competitors in order to improve quality and performance.
- fr: analyse comparative
- bill of lading
- noun
- A document issued by a carrier to a shipper, listing and acknowledging receipt of goods for transport and specifying terms of delivery.
- fr: connaissement
- broker
- noun
- A person who buys and sells goods or assets for others.
- fr: courtier
- cooperative
- noun
- A farm, business, or other organization that is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits.
- fr: coopérative
- corporation
- noun
- An association of individuals, having a continuous existence independent of its members and with powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members.
- fr: corporation
- currency
- noun
- A system of money in general use in a particular country.
- fr: devise
- dividend
- noun
- A portion of a company's earnings which is paid to the shareholders or stockholders on a quarterly or annual basis.
- fr: dividende
- down payment
- noun
- Good faith deposit made by a buyer to underline his or her commitment to complete the deal.
- fr: premier versement
- franchise
- noun
- An association between a wholesaler and an independent business person who buys the right to own and operate a branded retail unit for the wholesaler's products.
- fr: franchise
- freight
- noun
- Goods transported by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
- fr: cargaison
- get the axe
- verb
- To get fired.
- fr: se faire licencier
- goodwill
- noun
- An intangible, salable asset arising from the reputation of a business and its relations with its customers, distinct from the value of its stock and other tangible assets.
- fr: bonne volonté
- incentive
- noun
- A thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.
- fr: motivation
- invoice
- noun
- A list of goods sent or services provided, with a statement of the sum due for these; a bill.
- fr: facture d'achat
- joint venture
- noun
- A way of entering a foreign market by joining with a foreign company to manufacture or market a product or service.
- fr: coentreprise
- overdraft
- noun
- A deficit in a bank account caused by drawing more money than the account holds.
- fr: découvert
- purchase order
- noun
- A commercial document used to request someone to supply something in return for payment and providing specifications and quantities.
- fr: bon de commande
- union
- noun
- An organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests.
- fr: syndicat
- warranty
- noun
- A written guarantee, issued to the purchaser of an article by its manufacturer, promising to repair or replace it if necessary within a specified period of time.
- fr: garantie
- wholesale
- noun
- The sale of goods in large quantities, as for resale by a retailer.
- fr: vente en gros