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I think we're getting into the difference btw a rep (contractor; not an employee) and a salesman (can be an employee). This stuff was heavily discussed in the early part of the year.

I just have not seen/heard of people in sales who didn't ultimately have to pay their own business expenses. Sales people are constantly made to justify themselves and the "privilege" of holding their position. This doesn't matter much to the highly successful sales person, b/c that person is making money hand over fist and so they aren't worried about paying expenses. But from what I've seen, it's different for the sales person who is starting out and hasn't worked up a head of steam yet.

I once was set to work for an insurance/investment company, selling. I was told that I should have about 3 months worth of money put aside to cover my living expenses, b/c I wouldn't see any profit for about that amount of time. (As it turned out, I didn't take that job.)

I just really think Scott would have faced "chargebacks" and stuff like that--where he would have maybe been given a stipend, which he'd have to pay back b/f they'd give him his commission. I don't think he had any free-flowing expense account that he never had to account for.

In companies I have known, sales reps filled out monthly expense reports. Company paid air travel (where the company made reservations and purchased airline tickets for salesmen, et al,) was listed on the expense reports and accounted for by ticket stubs. If a salesman had rented a car, receipt for same was attached. Same with lodging, meals, entertaining, you name it. If it was a reimburseable expense, they got a check. They could take clients out to dinner and drinks--but they had to list the clients' names, place they went. That's about all I know about sales reps, except that they received a handsome salary, also.