Salesmanship Merit Badge
Seven requirements, with the sales plan and presentation of requirements 3 and 4 marked as starting with what your counselor assigns, requirement 5 (one real sale, with a cost sheet) and requirement 6 (one interview) drawn as questions, and the career work of requirement 7 drawn as two steps.
8 steps (9 parts inside them). 5 parts depend on questions you have not answered yet. · Version 1, published 8 October 2026 · About Salesmanship Merit Badge
No questions answered
This is the whole plan: everything that could apply to anybody. Answering the 2 questions at the address above takes out the parts that are not for you.
Which of this applies to you
You have not answered anything yet, so this is the whole plan: everything that could apply to anybody. Answering 2 short questions will take out the parts that are not for you.
Your progress
15 steps can be started now; 1 is waiting on something else.
Clear ticksYour ticks are kept in this browser, so they will still be here next time. They are in the address as well, so a link to this page carries them to another device.
The steps
Stage 1 of 8
1 step
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1. What a salesperson does Requirement
Two explanations.
Stage 2 of 8
1 step,
all ticked
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2. Why a salesperson researches, learns and follows up Requirement
Explain why it is important for a salesperson to (a) research the market to be sure the product or service meets the needs of customers; (b) learn all about the product to be sold; (c) if possible, visit where the product is built and learn how it is constructed, or, for a service, learn its benefits to the customer; (d) follow up with customers after their purchase to confirm their satisfaction and discuss their concerns.
Stage 3 of 8
1 step
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3. Write and present a sales plan Often forgotten Requirement
For a product and a sales territory assigned by your counselor.
Stage 4 of 8
1 step
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4. Make a sales presentation Requirement
Of a product assigned by your counselor.
Stage 5 of 8
1 step
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5. A real sale, with a cost sheet. Do ONE Requirement
Keep a record (cost sheet), use the sales techniques you have learned, and share your experience with your counselor. The badge states the choice: unit fundraising, your services, or retail selling.
3 parts
Stage 6 of 8
1 step
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6. Interview someone in sales. Do ONE Requirement
The badge states the choice: a salesperson or a retail store owner.
2 parts
Stage 7 of 8
1 step
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7. Career opportunities in sales Requirement
Investigate and report on them, then do (a) and (b).
Stage 8 of 8
1 step
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Counselor signs it off Milestone
The completion date is the date you met the requirements, not the date of the signature.
Usually comes after 1. What a salesperson does, 3. Write and present a sales plan and 4 others.
Merit badge requirements are republished annually. A Scout beginning work uses the requirements as they stand then; a Scout already working may finish under the ones they started with. Guide to Advancement 7.0.4.3 governs which applies. This page records the date its copy was read. Check it against the official page before relying on it.
This plan is a planning aid: the current Boy Scouts of America publication is always the authority, and the sources used here are listed in full. Each step names its own.