Sell through a commercial agent

Commercial agents are intermediaries that sell your goods or services on your behalf in return for commission.

Businesses usually appoint agents because they need their specialist help in reaching markets in a particular sector or geographical location.

Agents can be particularly useful for new businesses that have yet to build up a substantial number of contacts or can't yet afford to employ a dedicated salesperson.

Many businesses use agents to access domestic markets - but they can be particularly useful in overseas markets where different customs, ways of doing business or language barriers come into play.

This guide covers the law on commercial agents and will help you select a commercial agent. It also highlights some advantages and disadvantages of using commercial agents.