Definition
A managed service where a third party handles sales activities — calls, follow-up, booking, quoting — on a business's behalf rather than the business hiring sales staff.
Why it matters
Hiring a salesperson is a big bet for a small business — salary, ramp time, and the risk that they don't work out — which is why many owners handle sales themselves long past the point where they have time for it. An outsourced sales department is the alternative when the owner is the bottleneck but can't justify a full-time hire. The failure mode to watch for is a provider that doesn't understand the trade well enough to speak credibly to prospects, so fit and training matter more than headcount.