Getting started
Set up a commission workflow in Quota Queue
A reliable commission setup starts with source data and approved plan terms, then connects representatives, periods, statement review, and payout handoff in that order.
- Product location:
- Dashboard → onboarding checklist
- Reviewed:
- 2026-08-23
Before you begin
- An approved compensation plan
- A participant roster with effective dates
- A representative CRM export from a closed period
- Known payout totals for reconciliation
Worked example
Northstar Software setup
Illustrative Northstar Software workspace. The people and transactions are fictional; the workflow and product UI are real.
| Input | Example | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Account Executive FY2026 | 8% base rate; 12% above quota |
| Participants | Ava Chen, Marcus Reed, Priya Shah | Assignments and effective dates match |
| Source data | Four closed-won CRM deals | $170,000 total eligible revenue |
| Control total | $14,400 commission | Statement and payout export agree |
Result: The historical period reconciles before Northstar releases any statements or payroll export.
Before you begin
Collect the signed compensation plan, the participant roster, effective dates, quotas, and a representative CRM export. Decide which source fields establish close date, credited value, owner, stage, and any product or transaction conditions used by the plan.
Use a closed historical period for the first reconciliation. It gives you a known result to compare before the workflow reaches payroll.
Recommended setup order
- 1
Connect or import deal data
Connect Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, or Attio, or begin with a CSV import. Confirm field mapping and the synchronization window.
- 2
Create or import the plan
Import a PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, Markdown, text, or HTML plan, or author the rules directly. Review every extracted term before creating the draft.
- 3
Assign people, dates, and quotas
Match the plan to the correct representatives and effective period. Confirm quota distribution and any assignment-level overrides.
- 4
Reconcile calculations
Open representative statements and compare deal-by-rule line items with the known historical result. Resolve source-data and plan-term differences separately.
- 5
Run the lifecycle
Lock the period, release statements into the configured approval workflow, resolve disputes, approve the period, and export reviewed results.
What to verify before going live
- Every active representative has the intended plan assignment.
- Close dates land in the expected pay periods.
- Deal ownership and split credit match the CRM source.
- The hardest tiers, accelerators, bonuses, caps, draws, or clawbacks reconcile.
- Statement totals equal the approved payout source.
- Outbound email remains paused until queued messages and invitations have been reviewed.
Product walkthrough
See the workflow in Quota Queue
These captures show the real product interface with demonstration data. Product UI shown as of August 2026.
Expected result
Every participant has the intended active plan, the closed test period reconciles to the known payout, and statements are ready for controlled release.
Open this workflow in Quota QueueTroubleshooting
Why is a deal missing from the first calculation?
Check its stage, close date, owner, credited participants, and the plan's eligibility conditions before changing the commission rule.
Why does the total differ from payroll?
Reconcile source revenue, assignments, rule terms, and adjustments independently. A period total alone cannot identify which layer differs.