How to Build a Fractional Sales Business – Jake Kreider’s Journey from Job Loss to Ownership

Just Some BS

Jake Kreider was laid off—and instead of hunting for the next 9-to-5, he built his own path forward. This episode dives deep into how Jake turned decades of sales experience into a fractional business development company, the mindset it took to launch, and the real work behind making it sustainable.

In this episode:

• What fractional sales actually looks like in practice
• Why smaller manufacturers are skipping full-time hires
• How Jake balances multiple clients, pipelines, and industries
• Lessons from being both let go and launching a new company
• Personal branding and how LinkedIn changed everything
• Why authenticity builds better business faster
• The rise of B2B brand ambassadors—and how to get paid for connections

If you’ve ever thought about freelancing, going solo, or building a flexible sales career, this conversation will give you the roadmap (and the reality).

📎 Connect with Jake on LinkedIn
🏷️ Want to partner? Find Jake’s info at KreiderSourcing.com (site in progress—connect on LinkedIn!)

Chapters
00:00 Jake's Career Journey and Transition
03:08 Embracing Change: The Impact of Job Loss
06:08 The Birth of CriterSourcing: Fractional Sales Explained
08:59 Navigating Personal Branding and Selling Yourself
11:57 Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Growth
14:59 The Process of Fractional Sales: How It Works
18:03 Building Relationships and Team Dynamics
21:03 Targeting the Right Contacts in Sales
23:58 Feedback and KPIs in Fractional Sales
26:53 The Current State of the Manufacturing Industry
29:57 Ghosting in Sales: Perspectives and Strategies
32:10 Innovative Sales Strategies
35:37 The Importance of Engagement in Culture
37:06 Vision for Growth and Future
40:03 Building a Personal Brand
43:08 Navigating Opportunities and Challenges
49:12 Time Management in a New Role
53:07 Finding Freedom in Flexibility
56:02 The Power of Connection