Sales Glossary

Sales Qualification

Definition

Sales qualification is the process of evaluating prospects to determine if they are likely to become customers and worth pursuing with sales resources.

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Understanding Sales Qualification

Sales qualification involves assessing prospects against criteria that indicate likelihood to buy and fit with your solution. Common frameworks include BANT (Budget, Authority, Need, Timeline), MEDDIC (Metrics, Economic Buyer, Decision Criteria, Decision Process, Identify Pain, Champion), and GPCTBA/C&I (Goals, Plans, Challenges, Timeline, Budget, Authority, Consequences, Implications). Effective qualification happens throughout the sales process, particularly during discovery calls, and requires thorough prospect research to inform assessment.

Key Takeaways

What You Need to Know

1

Qualification prevents wasted time on poor-fit opportunities

2

Frameworks like BANT and MEDDIC provide structured evaluation criteria

3

Qualification is ongoing throughout the sales process, not a one-time assessment

4

Pre-call research provides data that informs qualification decisions

5

Strong qualification improves win rates and sales efficiency

Real-World Examples

See It in Action

BANT Qualification

Assessing whether a prospect has Budget (can afford), Authority (can decide), Need (has problem you solve), and Timeline (urgency to act).

MEDDIC Qualification

A more comprehensive framework evaluating Metrics, Economic Buyer, Decision Criteria, Decision Process, Identify Pain, and Champion.

Disqualification

Recognizing when a prospect doesn't fit and professionally ending the engagement to focus resources on better opportunities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about sales qualification.

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