In all businesses, but especially in small and startup business the sales team are the ones that will make the business happen or not.
Most of you would likely agree with me, that when it really comes down to it everyone's got great product and services, each with strengths and weeknesses, but the businesses ability to properly sell and market will make the difference.
A lot of new business owners underestimate how much selling they in fact need to be doing, and if they dont do it, their business ends up suffering. They focus on the product instead of the business (a la E-Myth by Michael Gerber).
Little wonder that sales people usually do better on average than others when starting and growing a business.
I think a good strategy that a business can take is offering ownership in the company that the salesperson sells for. Perhaps not right off the bat, while relationships are being built, but with a very solid/strong agreement for what WILL happen based on results.
So sell well for 1 year, grow the busines...get your stake in the company.
There...now see if you can attract some sales people!
Localman
Simple Sales Tracking | Web Based Hosted CRM, Free Version Available, Lead Tracking, Sales Force Automation - Free version, wont expire. Full featured version, $15 /month /user.