When designed well, a sales SPIF (Sales Performance Incentive Fund) can supercharge your team’s motivation, accelerate results, and create some healthy competition.
But not all SPIFs are created equal.
In this guide, we’ll break down some of the best SPIF examples, sales contest themes, and tactics used by high-performing sales teams - so you can replicate what works.
Whether you’re launching a new product, trying to hit end-of-quarter goals, or just want to shake up the energy on your floor, these sales contest ideas are built to deliver.
A SPIF is a short-term incentive designed to influence specific sales behaviors - often layered on top of commissions.
SPIF stands for Sales Performance Incentive Fund
Unlike standard bonuses, sales SPIFs are highly targeted:
Push a lagging product
Encourage CRM updates
Boost demos or meetings
Improve cross-sell or upsell behavior
SPIFs often take the form of cash bonuses, non-cash rewards, or gamified competitions.
Goal: Increase deal velocity
Incentive: €500 for the first rep to close 3 deals in a week
Best for: New product pushes or End-Of-Month sprints
This rewards reps for fast action - and creates urgency when momentum is low.
Goal: Book meetings or demos
Incentive:
5 demos = €50
10 demos = €150
15+ demos = €300
Best for: SDR/BDR teams
This type of sales SPIF example drives consistent output and works great for monthly sales contests.
Goal: Close the most revenue
Incentive:
1st: €1,000 bonus
2nd: Premium headphones
3rd: Extra Paid-Time-Off day
Best for: Closing teams or Q4 blitzes
Tip: Add daily updates to your CRM dashboard to keep energy high.
Goal: Encourage upsells or add-on sales
Incentive: €75 bonus for each bundle package sold
Best for: Retail or software with optional add-ons
A smart way to increase average deal size without changing base commission.
Goal: Book meetings or create opportunities
Incentive: Each qualified meeting = 1 spin on a prize wheel
Best for: Remote teams, call blitzes
Popular sales contest game for energizing repetitive tasks.
Goal: Drive competition between sales regions
Incentive:
Winning region gets a team dinner
Individual top rep gets a weekend trip
Best for: Global or multi-office teams
A team-based sales competition that builds collaboration and rivalry.
Goal: Complete a mix of key activities
Incentive: Complete 5 in a row = €100
Best for: New reps or ramping campaigns
Tasks could include:
Book a C-level meeting
Sell 3 new products
Log 20 activities in CRM
Submit a deal to legal
Goal: Spike activity during slow periods
Incentive: Unannounced €50 bonuses at random intervals
Best for: Keeping reps engaged and alert
Think of it like a flash sale—but for your own sales team.
Goal: Increase units per transaction
Incentive: Top store wins new gear + team bonus
Best for: Retail sales environments
Perfect sales contest idea for retail, especially around product launches or holiday seasons.
Goal: Everyone hits goal
Incentive: If everyone hits quota, the entire team gets a bonus
Best for: Tight-knit teams or culture-focused orgs
Builds shared accountability. You win together - or no one does.
If you're running long-term SPIFs or sales competitions, give it a theme to boost participation:
“Level Up” – Gamified contest with badges
“Quota Island” – Reach goals to “unlock” parts of a tropical getaway
“Sales School” – Earn grades based on output
“Launch League” – Compete during product launch
“Unbox Revenue” – Each deal opens a surprise prize
Use a mix of cash and non-cash incentives
Keep time frames short (1–4 weeks max)
Promote daily in Slack or dashboards
Recognize winners publicly
Make it fun and easy to understand
Motivation drops when contests feel like a chore.
If you want your sales contest or SPIF program to drive performance, it’s not just about the prize - it’s about:
The clarity of the goal
The perceived attainability
The excitement it creates
Try mixing short-term cash SPIFs with occasional non-cash games to keep things fresh.
Bentega helps sales leaders build, automate, and optimize SPIF programs with real-time tracking and flexible reward structures. Power your next sales contest with us. Visit www.bentega.io to explore more.