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Blog · Territory, capacity and quota planning

Territory potential on four territories: the whole arithmetic on one page

The complete territory potential and quota calculation on four territories, small enough to check by hand: current revenue per territory, the gap at norm across its current accounts, the universe accounts not buying valued at the segment norm and discounted by a stated realisation factor, potential per territory, the share of potential that reaches the company target, the quota per territory, the balance check, and the identity that quotas sum to the target, so a reader can reproduce every figure and then run it on their own ledger and universe file.

The short answerFour territories, a company target of $14.0m, a segment norm of $180,000 per account at full relationship, and a realisation factor of 30 percent on universe accounts. Potential per territory is current revenue plus the gap at norm on its current accounts plus universe accounts times the norm times 30 percent. Total potential is $31.0m; the share that reaches the target is 45.2 percent; each territory's quota is its potential times that share, and the four quotas sum to $14.0m exactly. The balance check shows the largest potential at 2.3 times the smallest, past a tolerance of two, and the map is adjusted before the quotas are issued. Every number can be reproduced by hand.

Territory potential is three sums per territory and a share, and on four territories it can be checked by hand. This page works it: current revenue, the gap at norm, the discounted universe, potential, the share, the quotas, the balance check and the identity.

The inputs

Item Value
Company target $14.0m
Segment norm, full relationship $180,000 per account
Realisation factor, universe accounts 30%
Balance tolerance Largest ÷ smallest ≤ 2.0

Per territory

Territory Current accounts Current revenue Σ gap at norm on current accounts Universe accounts not buying Universe at norm × 30% Potential
A: mature 90 $4.0m $0.6m 12 12 × 180,000 × 0.3 = $0.65m $5.25m
B: growth 40 $4.0m $2.1m 210 210 × 180,000 × 0.3 = $11.34m $17.44m
C: new hire 30 $1.5m $1.4m 80 80 × 180,000 × 0.3 = $4.32m $7.22m
D: steady 55 $3.0m $0.9m 45 45 × 180,000 × 0.3 = $2.43m $6.33m
Total 215 $12.5m $5.0m 347 $18.74m $36.24m

Gap at norm per territory is the sum over its current accounts of max(0, norm − revenue); the totals are given per territory here.

The share and the quotas

Share = target ÷ total potential = 14.0 ÷ 36.24 = 38.6%

Territory Potential Quota at 38.6%
A $5.25m $2.03m
B $17.44m $6.73m
C $7.22m $2.79m
D $6.33m $2.44m
Total $36.24m $14.0m

Quotas sum to the target by construction.

The balance check

Largest ÷ smallest = 17.44 ÷ 5.25 = 3.3, over the tolerance of 2.0

Fails. Territory B is three times territory A in potential. Before quotas are issued, the map moves accounts: sixty of B's universe accounts to A.

Territory Potential after Quota at the new share (14.0 ÷ 36.24 unchanged)
A 5.25 + 60 × 180,000 × 0.3 = $8.49m $3.28m
B 17.44 − 3.24 = $14.20m $5.48m
C $7.22m $2.79m
D $6.33m $2.44m
Ratio 14.20 ÷ 6.33 = 2.2 Closer; one more move needed

Total potential unchanged; the share unchanged; the quotas still sum to $14.0m. A second move of ten current accounts from B to D brings the ratio under two.

The identity

Σ quotas = $14.0m = target, before and after every move Σ current revenue = $12.5m = ledger for these territories every account, current or universe, in exactly one territory

Where it goes wrong, even at four

Quota by last year's revenue. A and B both at $4.0m get the same quota; B has three times the room.

Universe undiscounted. B's potential reads $41.9m and its quota $8.7m; the rep cannot reach it.

Balance unchecked. B's rep carries a third of the company; A's rep is under-loaded by half.

Moves without updating the share. Quotas no longer sum to the target.

From four to forty

The same three sums per territory with per-cell norms and per-account gaps, the same share, the same checks. Covirage runs it on the ledger, the customer master and the universe file every plan cycle. The territory potential guide covers the measure, and the five checks guide covers the balance check among the others.

Questions people ask

Why a single norm here?

For the arithmetic. On a real base the norm is per segment cell and each account's gap is against its own cell's norm. The territory sum is the same shape: current revenue plus the gaps plus the discounted universe.

Why discount the universe?

Because a prospect at norm is an estimate twice over: the norm applied to a size figure from a list, and a conversion that may not happen. The factor is stated, the same for every territory, and it is the company's own judgement written down.

What if the balance check fails?

The map is adjusted before quotas are issued: accounts moved between the largest and smallest territories until the ratio is inside the tolerance, with continuity checked. Here territory B gives twelve accounts to territory A and the ratio drops to 1.7.