Business Development Manager

Groupon; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) match

Comprehensive training and ongoing coaching

Job summary

Groupon is seeking a Business Development Manager in Chicago to find and develop new merchant partnerships on their platform. This individual contributor role focuses on generating new business, managing the full sales cycle, and achieving individual sales targets.

The ideal candidate has over 3 years of business development experience, strong consultative selling skills, and a passion for helping small businesses succeed. The compensation includes a base salary ranging from $60,000 to $70,000, plus uncapped commission and bonus opportunities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of business development or full-cycle sales experience.
• Proven track record of hitting or exceeding quota.
• Experience working with local or small business merchants is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Generate new business by cold calling and prospecting local merchants.
• Manage the full sales cycle from outreach through to closing.
• Develop understanding of each merchant's business for effective positioning.

Skills

Business development

Sales experience

Negotiation

Prospecting skills

Consultative selling

Tools

Salesforce

AI-enabled sales tools

Job description

Groupon connects 42 million customers with local experiences - restaurants, events, wellness and travel - and the million-plus merchants who deliver them. Our mission is to get people offline and into the real world at prices that make it possible. We are an AI‑native company in the middle of a platform transformation, moving from a deals marketplace to an experience discovery platform that works for customers and merchants at the same time.

The Role

This is an individual contributor, quota‑carrying sales role. As a Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for finding, developing, and closing new merchant partnerships on the Groupon platform within an assigned region. You are not managing a team; you own your own book of business and results.

Responsibilities

• Generate new business by cold calling and prospecting local merchants within an assigned region, selling across all verticals including Beauty & Wellness, Food & Drink, Things To Do, and Home & Auto
• Manage the full sales cycle — from initial outreach and consultation through negotiation and close
• Prospect new accounts through established networks, independent research, and the lead management pipeline
• Develop a genuine understanding of each merchant's business to position Groupon as the right solution for their goals
• Own the contract negotiation process, including margins, discounts, and deal structure
• Apply consultative selling strategies to reach merchants' desired outcomes while maximizing revenue
• Consistently achieve and exceed your individual sales targets
• Partner with Merchant teams post‑close to ensure a smooth account transition and aligned merchant strategy
• Drive market growth by improving both the quality and revenue of merchants on the platform

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of business development or full‑cycle sales experience is required, with a proven track record of hitting or exceeding quota
• Experience working with local or small business merchants is strongly preferred
• Strong consultative selling, negotiation, and prospecting skills
• The right balance of coachability and confidence — eager to grow while owning your results
• Adaptable and solutions‑oriented when facing new challenges or difficult conversations
• Strong accountability and ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• High standards of integrity and work ethic
• Genuine curiosity about people and local businesses, with the ability to build trust quickly

Who You Are

• A self‑starter who thrives on ownership and is motivated by achieving ambitious goals
• Consultative and confident, capable of leading conversations with business owners and adapting your pitch to their needs
• Resilient and results‑oriented, maintaining focus and positivity in a fast‑changing environment
• Collaborative and curious, eager to share insights and learn from your peers
• Passionate about helping small businesses succeed and excited to shape the future of local commerce

How We Measure Your Success

• Consistent achievement of monthly and quarterly GP and revenue targets
• Quality and retention of merchants onboarded
• Improved deal margins and conversion rates through effective negotiation and structuring
• Demonstrated ownership and pipeline accuracy in Salesforce
• Effective use of AI‑enabled sales tools to improve outreach quality, follow‑up consistency, and data accuracy

What We Offer

• Base Salary: $60,000 - $70,000 + uncapped commission & bonus opportunities
  • On Target Earnings: $90,000+ based on gross profit you deliver
• Hybrid work model: Chicago office
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, FSAs, EAP, 401(k) match, ESPP, and more.
• Learning & Development: Comprehensive training, ongoing coaching, and a supportive team committed to your success.

Why This Role? Why Now?

Groupon is evolving — and our Sales team is at the heart of that transformation. This is more than a role where you just make calls; it’s an opportunity and a place where your energy, curiosity, and voice can shape real success stories for local businesses.

Groupon is an AI‑First Company

We’re committed to building smarter, faster, and more innovative ways of working and AI plays a key role in how we get there. We encourage candidates to leverage AI tools during the hiring process where it adds value, and we’re always keen to hear how technology improves the way you work. If you’re passionate about AI or curious to explore how it can elevate your role, you’ll be right at home here.

Groupon’s purpose is to build strong communities through thriving small businesses.

As set forth in Groupon’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.