Eat What
You Kill.
Shellback SEO is opening slots for independent, commission-only sales reps. No base. No cap. No quota. You close the deal, you get paid 20–30% of the recurring revenue for as long as that client stays with us.
One open role. Sell SEO that actually works.
We’re a Disabled Veteran-owned SEO and AI-search agency with real case studies and real revenue receipts, serving clients worldwide. What we don’t have is enough people out front. That’s the job.
20–30% recurring. Every month. For the life of the client.
Not a one-time finder’s fee. Not three months and done. As long as your client is paying us, you’re getting a cut. Your exact rate is set by product line and territory — locked in writing before your first pitch.
Core Retainers
Standard SEO and maintenance retainers. Example: a $1,500/mo Vanguard client would pay 20% — $300 — for each month that client renews and pays.
Technical & Enterprise
Technical Ops, multi-location, and enterprise-scoped engagements. Bigger contracts, bigger slice.
Priority Markets
Target verticals and expansion territories we’re actively pushing into. Top rate for reps who plant the flag first.
How commission is computed: Commission equals the representative’s contracted percentage (20–30%, set by product line and territory in the signed agreement) multiplied by the net monthly revenue actually collected from each client that representative closed, excluding taxes, third-party pass-through costs, and refunded amounts.
When commission is paid: Commission on payments collected in a given calendar month is paid by the 15th day of the following month. Commission is reversed only where the underlying client payment is refunded or charged back. There are no holdback periods, quotas, or forfeiture conditions.
Structure: This is a 100% commission-based, business-to-business independent contractor engagement — not employment. There is no base salary, hourly wage, draw, or guaranteed minimum, and representatives are not eligible for employee benefits, expense reimbursement, or paid time off. Representatives operate their own business entity, control their own schedule and sales methods, supply their own tools, and are responsible for their own taxes and business expenses. Because earnings depend entirely on individual sales results, total compensation ranges from $0 to uncapped.
Any dollar figures shown on this page are illustrative examples of the commission calculation only and are not a projection, promise, or guarantee of earnings. All terms are governed exclusively by the signed written representative agreement, which controls in the event of any conflict with this page.
This is not for everybody. Read honestly.
Commission-only is a real trade: total upside for zero safety net. If the right column describes you, don’t apply — we’ll both save the time.
You’ll do well here if
- You’ve sold B2B services before and closed your own deals
- You already have relationships with small business owners
- You’re comfortable being paid on results, not hours
- You can go 30–60 days building pipeline before the first check
- You want residual income that compounds, not a one-time bounty
- You’re running an agency, freelance, or consulting book already and want a service to attach
- You want to get paid on results instead of hours
Don’t apply if
- You need a paycheck this Friday
- You want leads handed to you and a script to read
- You need daily management to stay in motion
- You’re planning to over-promise rankings to get a signature
- You want a base salary — that’s a different conversation, and this isn’t it
- You’ve never sold anything and want to learn on our clients
- You’re based in California — we don’t engage contractor reps there
From application to first commission.
Apply for a rep slot.
We read every application.
Expected response: under 24 hours. If you’re a fit, the next step is a direct call with the founder — not a screening queue.
Prefer to skip the form?
Call the command line: (307) 288-3823
Ask for the sales rep program.
About Shellback
Disabled Veteran-owned. US-based team. HQ in Cheyenne, WY, with satellite offices in Parker, CO and Miami, FL. We service clients worldwide. Proud supporter of the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Questions we get asked.
Is there really no base salary?
Correct. This is 100% commission, 1099 independent contractor. In exchange you get a 20–30% recurring cut with no cap and no quota — which is a far better deal than a base plus 5% one-time.
What determines whether I’m at 20% or 30%?
Product line and territory. Core retainers sit at the base rate; technical, enterprise, and priority-expansion markets pay higher. Your rate is set on the intro call and written into your rep agreement.
What does “lifetime of the client” actually mean?
As long as the client you closed keeps paying Shellback SEO, you keep collecting your percentage of that monthly revenue. Not 3 months. Not 12 months. The life of the account. The exact conditions — including what happens if the agreement ends or a client lapses and later returns — are spelled out in the representative agreement.
Is my commission ever taken back?
Only if the money doesn’t stay collected. If a client’s payment is refunded or charged back, the commission on that payment is reversed. There are no other clawbacks, no holdback periods, and no forfeiture for hitting or missing a number.
Do I have to know SEO?
No. You need to know how to open a conversation and get a business owner to a meeting. We’ll handle the technical depth on the call and every day after the close. Selling is the skill we’re hiring for.
Are leads provided?
You own your pipeline. We provide the pitch deck, pricing, free AI-visibility audit as a door opener, case studies, and founder support on live deals. Prospecting is yours — that’s why the commission is what it is.
What am I actually selling, and at what price points?
Retainers start at $500/mo (The Scout) and scale through $750, $1,500, and $3,000/mo tiers, plus custom enterprise and multi-location engagements. Web builds, e-commerce, and maintenance contracts are also in scope.
Do you run background checks?
Yes. If we approve you after the call, we run a standard background check before issuing an agreement. We’ll get your written authorization first. Not every record is disqualifying — we look at what’s relevant to representing Shellback in front of clients, and if something in the report affects our decision we’ll give you a copy and a chance to respond before we finalize anything.
Do I need an LLC or a business license?
No. You can sign as yourself. If you already run a business, you can sign through it — either way works. You’ll fill out a W-9 and get a 1099 at year end, same as any contractor. There are no startup costs, no fees, and nothing to buy from us. Ever.
Can I do this part-time or alongside my own agency?
Yes. Plenty of good reps are consultants, freelancers, or agency owners attaching SEO to an existing book. There’s no minimum hours requirement — only results.
How fast can I start?
Usually within a week, depending on scheduling. Once the agreement is signed you get the full sales arsenal the same day.
Give ‘Em Shell.
If you can sell, we’ll make it worth your while — every single month, for as long as your client stays. Bring us the deals.
