Action Selling
Action Selling is a B2B sales training provider founded in 1990 that delivers the proprietary 9-Act sales methodology to mid-market and enterprise clients. The company has trained over 500,000 salespeople across 4,000+ companies and now operates under the Brickwork brand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Action Selling does
Action Selling is a B2B sales training company founded in 1990, operating as a brand and division of The Sales Board, Inc., headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. The company provides a structured sales methodology built around a trademarked 9-Act sales communication process and the 5 Critical Selling Skills framework (managing the buyer/seller relationship, sales call planning, questioning, presentation, and gaining commitment). Its flagship is Action Selling 7.0, supplemented by Customer Relationship Professional (CRP) training, Sales Leadership training, the LearningLink online learning management system, the Sales Coaching Tool (Rx) for diagnosing selling errors, the TFBR (Tie-back, Feature, Benefit, Reaction) technique, and CRM Adoption Services that embed the methodology into client CRM workflows. Programs are delivered via in-person workshops, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), and self-paced online certification at the Associate Level.
The company has trained over 500,000 salespeople across more than 4,000 companies globally and operates a top-of-funnel content engine including the eCoach newsletter, blog, white papers, sales books, and a suite of free benchmark assessments (Team Benchmark, Virtual Selling, Closing, Buyer/Seller, Questioning, and Call Planning) that compare prospects' teams against the 500,000-person dataset. Revenue is generated primarily through professional services fees for customized enterprise training engagements, with multi-year contracts and quote-based pricing tied to participant count, delivery format, and customization requirements. Customers span mid-market and enterprise accounts across financial services, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, and imaging, with named clients including Edward Jones, WESCO International, SpartanNash, Thomas Petroleum, Envision Imaging, RML Specialty Hospitals, and Supply Chain Services.
Action Selling was acquired by Sales Empowerment Group (SEG), which in March 2026 completed its integration and rebranded to Brickwork, an "AI-powered go-to-market partner" for mid-market companies that unifies Action Selling, Square 2 Marketing, and Sales Empowerment Group under a single identity. The company has maintained Top 20 Sales Training Company recognition from Training Industry and Selling Power Magazine across multiple consecutive years.
Action Selling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Action Selling
- Legal name
- The Sales Board, Inc.
- Website
- https://actionselling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Action Selling is a B2B sales training provider founded in 1990 that delivers the proprietary 9-Act sales methodology to mid-market and enterprise clients. The company has trained over 500,000 salespeople across 4,000+ companies and now operates under the Brickwork brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Action Selling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sales Training Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sales Management & Coaching (Frontline Leadership) (EDABABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solution Selling & Value-Based Selling (EDABABAD), Consultative Selling & Discovery (EDABABAC), Negotiation & Closing Skills (EDABABAE), Sales, Customer Service & Soft Skills Training (BPACANAD)
Keywords
Where Action Selling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Action Selling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Sales Training Programs: Professional sales training programs delivered through in-person workshops, virtual training, and online certification. Training is customized for client organizations and includes ongoing reinforcement and coaching support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise training programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Action Selling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Action Selling provides professional sales training programs based on a proprietary 9-Act sales communication process and 5 Critical Selling Skills framework. The company delivers training through in-person workshops, virtual instructor-led training, and online certification via its LearningLink platform, serving mid-market and enterprise organizations seeking to improve sales execution, shorten sales cycles, and transform sales culture.
Product overview
Action Selling® is a professional sales training company offering a comprehensive suite of programs based on the Action Selling® system—a structured sales methodology comprising the 9 Acts process and 5 Critical Selling Skills. The core product is Action Selling® 7.0, supplemented by Customer Relationship Professional (CRP) training, Sales Leadership training, Virtual Sales Training, Sales Force Management, and the Sales Coaching Tool (Rx). The company delivers training through the LearningLink online platform and offers certification programs. Additional offerings include free sales skills assessments (Team Benchmark, Virtual Selling Benchmark, Closing Skills Benchmark, Buyer/Seller Benchmark, Questioning Skills Benchmark, and Call Planning Benchmark), sales books, and the eCoach newsletter. Founded in 1990, the company has trained over 500,000 salespeople across 4,000+ companies. Action Selling® is a division of The Sales Board and is part of the newly rebranded Brickwork (formerly Sales Empowerment Group).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Sales cycle reduced by 48% (from 9.8 to 5.1 calls)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Action Selling
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Action Selling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Action Selling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Action Selling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sandler Training: Sandler Training is a global sales training franchise built around a proprietary sales methodology and certification system, directly comparable to Action Selling's 9-Act structured process and LearningLink certification offering. Both serve mid-market B2B and enterprise sales organizations with instructor-led and reinforcement programs.
- Dale Carnegie Training: Dale Carnegie Training delivers long-established sales training, leadership development, and professional skills programs to mid-market and enterprise clients globally, competing directly with Action Selling's sales skills, leadership training, and customer relationship offerings.
- Richardson Sales Performance: Richardson Sales Performance provides sales training and sales performance consulting built around a proprietary methodology (including Consultative Selling skills), directly comparable to Action Selling's structured process for planning, conducting, and closing sales.
- The Brooks Group: The Brooks Group is a sales training and sales coaching company that sells a structured methodology (IMPACT) to mid-market and enterprise B2B organizations, directly comparable to Action Selling's 9-Act framework and coaching tool (Rx).
- BTS: BTS is a global sales force effectiveness and sales transformation consultancy that delivers custom sales training programs to enterprise clients, comparable to Action Selling's customized training and CRM adoption offerings for enterprise sales organizations.
- Wilson Learning: Wilson Learning is a global sales and leadership development company with proprietary methodologies for sales training, comparable to Action Selling's Action Selling® Skills & Process and Sales Leadership training programs.
- Vantage Point Performance: Vantage Point Performance provides sales training, sales coaching, and sales management development programs, directly comparable to Action Selling's emphasis on sales leadership, coaching, and structured sales processes for B2B organizations.
Emerging players
- Sandler (Sales Gravy / Jeb Blount): Sales Gravy is an emerging sales training and training community provider focused on mid-market B2B and SMB sales teams with content-led delivery, representing a more digitally-native and lower-touch competitor to Action Selling's instructor-led model.
- Sales Hacker (Sales Assembly / Pavilion): Sales Hacker and adjacent sales training communities offer modern, community-driven sales enablement and training programs targeting B2B sales teams, representing an emerging digital-first competitor to traditional instructor-led sales training providers like Action Selling.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry (Sales Effectiveness): Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm that offers sales effectiveness, sales training, and sales transformation services as part of a broader HR and talent portfolio, competing with Action Selling for enterprise sales training mandates with deeper resources and broader account coverage.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Action Selling social profiles
Digital presenceAction Selling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Action Selling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Action Selling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Action Selling M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Action Selling
What does Action Selling do?
Action Selling provides professional sales training programs based on a proprietary 9-Act sales communication process and 5 Critical Selling Skills framework. The company delivers training through in-person workshops, virtual instructor-led training, and online certification via its LearningLink platform, serving mid-market and enterprise organizations seeking to improve sales execution, shorten sales cycles, and transform sales culture.
Is Action Selling a public or private company?
Action Selling is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Action Selling founded?
Action Selling was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Action Selling based?
Action Selling is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Action Selling make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Sales Training Programs.
Who are Action Selling's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sandler Training, Dale Carnegie Training, Richardson Sales Performance, The Brooks Group, BTS, Wilson Learning and Vantage Point Performance. Emerging players are Sandler (Sales Gravy / Jeb Blount) and Sales Hacker (Sales Assembly / Pavilion). Korn Ferry (Sales Effectiveness) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Action Selling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Action Selling.
What industry is Action Selling in?
Action Selling's product category is Sales Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABABAI, Sales Management & Coaching (Frontline Leadership), with a secondary code of EDABABAD, Solution Selling & Value-Based Selling. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 8200.