What is the difference between a spiff and a commission?

A "Spiff" is a reward (monetary, a gift/prize) to induce/inspire sales behavior that is usually time-bound and short in duration for a SPECIFIC product/unit/service. For example, if a company launched a new product or service and wants to "goose" or improve sales, a company may announce a "Spiff" of an additional $100.00 (or $25..) until the end of the month/quarter/year for every unit sold, etc. This is almost always offered IN ADDITION to the standard commission/bonus plan. A "Commission" is the variable compensation component of a salesperson's on-target earnings. Commissions are typically paid weekly, or monthly whine "Bonus" payments are typically paid quarterly. Sometimes, "Commission" and "Bonus" are synonymous, referring to the variable compensation component of OTE. For example: Salary + Commission (monthly) + Bonus (quarterly_= 100% of OTE. Spiffs are used when sales may be lagging for certain products. services, etc. I hope this helps!!