How to Become a Sprint Authorized Agent

Sprint is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that sells wireless, voice, data and Internet products to millions of individuals and businesses. Sprint authorized representatives are individuals or companies authorized by Sprint to resell their products and solutions. Sprint authorized representatives have to meet certain approval conditions set by Sprint. Here is how to become a Sprint authorized representative.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Personal computer
• Internet access

1. Contact Sprint. Go to Sprint's website and complete its online authorized representative application form or contact a Sprint master agents such as American Wireless and Brightpoint North America. (See Resources below for additional information.) Sprint will contact you directly or match you with its authorized master agent for your area. Submit documents such as your business plan, DBA (Doing Business As) certificate or certificate of incorporation, and banking information to Sprint when requested.

2. Select a good location for your business. Notify Sprint of your new location. Sprint will inspect the location and either approve or reject it. Visit Sprint retail locations and familiarize yourself with the wireless, data, voice and Internet products and services offered by Sprint. Note the furniture and equipment you need for your store including display counters, wall hangers, desks, fax machines, computers and printers. Contact your local telephone company and sign up for telephone and digital subscriber lines (DSL) broadband services with a dedicated Internet protocol (IP) address. Your local cable company might also provide these services. Compare prices before committing to any service provider. Sprint requires you to have broadband services with an IP address at your retail location.

3. Sign a Sprint authorized representative agreement when approved, and a lease agreement for the retail space approved by Sprint.

4. Attend training classes offered by Sprint to learn the steps necessary to activate Sprint cellular phones and other services on the Sprint network.

5. Interview and hire employees for your Sprint store. Skills required to run a Sprint retail location include computer literacy and good customer service. Sprint provides free training to your employees. Send your employees to Sprint training classes, if applicable.

6. Publicize your new Sprint business. Sprint provides marketing collaterals, retail decals and other sales materials free. Place these materials in strategic locations throughout your retail store. Inform customers of new products or sales deals as they become available.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you have an amount equal to three months of business expenses on reserve before opening a Sprint retail store. It might take that long before you begin earning profit from your store. Also, Sprint requires you to pay for all cellular equipment issued to you in advance. Register your business with your county clerk's office and obtain a DBA certificate and resale permit, or contact your state's comptroller of accounts to incorporate your business. This establishes your business name and shows you are legitimate Sprint requires you to have a business name and license. Open a business account with a local bank using the DBA certificate or certificate of incorporation. Open a merchant account with the bank. This allows your Sprint store to accept credit cards from your customers. The number of employees needed to run your store depends on the size and hours of your operation. Most Sprint retail stores, unless they are large, can be run by one or two persons. Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if you need an employee identification number (EIN). (See Resources below for additional information.) You will need this if your business is incorporated or you have employees. If your business is set up using a DBA and you don't have employees, your Social Security number will suffice. Sprint does not require special licenses or business insurance to operate retail locations.
• Don't look for a location that is less than 3 miles from an existing Sprint retail store as Sprint will not approve the location. Sprint requires authorized representatives to meet certain sales quota every month. Ensure you can meet this sales quota before opening a Sprint retail store. Do not sign a lease agreement with any property owner until Sprint approves the location and your application. Research and obtain business insurance coverage for your location. This is not required by Sprint, but it is good to have coverage against losses from flood, theft and fire for your business.

Resources

• Sprint Authorized Representative application form is available here
• American Wireless is a master agent for Sprint Wireless
• Brightpoint North America is a Sprint master agent
• Get your EIN from the Internal Revenue Service

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