Build a sales rep territory plan
Use this free sales territory mapping tool to group US states into territories, assign your existing independent reps or agencies, and identify coverage gaps. Your sales rep territory plan should answer three questions: which states belong together, who sells there today, and where you still need representation.
- Start from how reps sell, not from a blank page. Census regions or divisions are a reasonable default. Adjust them to match how agencies in your industry are organized, for example a “Southeast” territory of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and the Carolinas.
- Size territories so one rep or agency can cover them. A territory a rep can drive in a day or two is easier to fill than half the country. Large states such as Texas or California often justify their own territory.
- Follow where your buyers are. If most of your distributors or end users are in a handful of states, make those states separate territories so you can see coverage clearly.
- Record the reps you already have. Add each rep or agency to the territory they work, and note gaps in the notes, for example “covers GA only.”
Spotting coverage gaps
Switch the map to By coverage to see the gaps at a glance. Open territories have nobody selling. Partly covered territories have a rep who covers only some states, only some product lines, or isn’t active. States that aren’t in any territory are shown separately, because unassigned states are usually forgotten markets rather than deliberate choices.
Before recruiting, decide which gaps matter. A rep in a territory where you have no buyers is expensive in onboarding time, even on commission. Prioritize open territories where you already have customers, inbound demand, or distributors without rep support.
Covered vs. partly covered
Mark a territory covered only when someone is actively selling across it. Partly covered is the honest middle ground: a rep who works one state of a five-state territory, an agency that carries a competing line for some of your products, or a rep who hasn’t produced orders in a year. Treat partly covered territories as recruiting targets too. Many manufacturers split them, or add a second rep for the uncovered states.
When you need full sales territory mapping software
This map is built for planning rep coverage. Direct sales teams that need ZIP or county drawing, account and workload balancing, route optimization, or CRM territory assignment need dedicated territory mapping software. We compare those tools in our guide to the best sales territory mapping software.
How Zilla Sales finds reps for open territories
When you click Show matching reps on an open or partly covered territory, Zilla Sales searches approved independent reps for what you sell and whose listed coverage includes at least one of the territory’s states. Each result says which of your states the rep lists. Rep coverage is self-reported at state or province level and isn’t verified, so confirm the actual territory, account access, and competing lines in your first conversation.
Searching and previewing reps is free. Create a free account to save the selected reps to your favorites. Open their profiles for contact options under your plan. Creating an opportunity is a separate, optional step. Not sure the rep model fits? Read what a manufacturers’ rep does, model a fair commission rate, and put territory terms in a sales commission agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the sales territory map really free?
Yes. You can build territories, set coverage, and export a PNG, CSV, or printable PDF without an account or an email address. Searching for reps is also free to preview. A Zilla Sales account is only needed to save a rep shortlist, and a paid plan is only needed to unlock rep contact details.
Where is my map saved, and who can see it?
Your map is saved in this browser only. Territory names, rep names, and notes are never sent to Zilla Sales. Rep discovery sends what you sell and the state codes being searched. Saving a shortlist also sends opaque references for the profiles you select. Your existing rep names and territory notes stay in this browser.
Can I map territories by ZIP code, county, or metro area?
No. This tool works at state level, which is how most independent reps and rep agencies define their territories. If you need ZIP-level drawing, account balancing, route planning, or CRM territory management for a direct sales team, use dedicated territory mapping software.
What do covered, partly covered, and open mean?
Covered means you have a rep or agency actively selling across the territory. Partly covered means you have someone, but not across all of it (for example, a rep who only works Georgia in a Southeast territory) or not for all your product lines. Open means nobody is selling there. Territories start as open. Select the states each rep covers: coverage updates automatically as open, partly covered, or covered. You can also set the status yourself.
How accurate is the rep coverage when I search for reps?
Rep coverage on Zilla Sales is self-reported by reps at state or province level and is not verified. A rep matches a territory if their listed coverage includes at least one of its states, and each result says which of your states they list. Reps who list nationwide coverage match every territory. Reps who describe coverage only as a region, such as “Southeast,” may not appear. When there are few close matches, we may show the closest reps and say that their listed coverage doesn’t include your territory.
What do the rep counts and blurred photos show?
The map starts with a Zilla network overview. When you enter your niche, we count approved Zilla Sales reps with related product or buyer experience whose listed coverage includes each open or partly covered territory. We also show how many of them list a home state inside the territory, and separately how many list nationwide coverage. Map stacks and results show exact profile counts, including nationwide reps. Territory planning cards summarize counts as ranges. HQ counts overlap coverage counts. Locked rep photos are blurred on the server; your unlocked reps show clear photos. Click a rep to preview their listed states, relevant experience, and match limitations. You can preview the reps for free, and see names, clear photos, and contact details for reps you unlock.
Can I include Canada?
Not on this map yet. It covers the 50 US states and Washington, DC. You can still search Zilla Sales for reps covering Canadian provinces when you post an opportunity.
Have open territories now?
Preview independent reps for your products before you sign up.
State boundaries: US Census Bureau cartographic boundary files via us-atlas.