Pay plans, in plain words

How door-to-door security sales pay works

Knock Alarm doesn't publish pay figures, because every security sales company sets its own plan and the numbers vary by market and by rep. What we can do is explain the parts of a typical pay plan, so you can read the one a company gives you and know what to ask.

Pay is usually per account

Most door-to-door security plans pay reps for each new account: a homeowner who signs up, gets the system installed and starts monitoring. An account usually has to be installed, and often approved by the company's credit or quality check, before it counts. Ask exactly what makes an account count, because "sale", "install" and "funded account" can mean different things on different plans.

The common parts of a plan

• Upfront pay per account. An amount paid soon after the install, often weekly or every two weeks.
• Backend or holdback. Part of your pay held until later, often until the end of the season or until accounts stay active for a set time. Plans use it to protect against cancellations. Ask when it's paid and what you lose if you leave early.
• Chargebacks. If an account cancels within a set window, the company may take back what it paid you for that account. Ask how long the window is.
• Bonuses and tiers. More per account once you pass a volume level, or bonuses for hitting weekly goals.
• Base or hourly pay. Some companies pay an hourly rate or a base on top of, or instead of, commission. Many don't.
• Housing and costs. Rent deductions, equipment, gas and travel can come out of your pay. Count them.

W-2 or 1099

Some security sales reps are employees (W-2): taxes are withheld, minimum-wage rules apply, and the company controls the schedule. Others are independent contractors (1099): you're paid on results, you handle your own taxes, and you set aside money for them. The company decides which, and it should tell you before you start. If you're a 1099 contractor, plan for taxes from your first payment.

Why we don't publish numbers

Recruiting ads for summer sales often quote big averages. An average hides the spread: a few reps sell a lot and many sell a little, and expenses differ. A number on a page also can't account for your market, your team or your effort. So we'd rather you get the company's actual plan in writing and do the math with your own expectations. If someone quotes you a number, ask what share of last summer's reps actually reached it.

Questions to ask about any pay plan

1. What exactly counts as an account for pay?
2. What is paid upfront, and when?
3. What is held back, until when, and what happens to it if I leave early?
4. How do chargebacks work, and for how long?
5. Is there a base or hourly rate?
6. What gets deducted: housing, equipment, anything else?
7. Am I W-2 or 1099?
8. Can I see last season's spread of results, not just the top reps?

Pair this with our checklist before you sign, and read what the job is if you haven't yet.

How Knock Alarm gets paid

The security sales companies pay us for reps we introduce who start and sell. Applicants never pay us, and nothing we receive comes out of your pay plan.

Questions

Updated November 11, 2026