Req 5 — Choose Your Sales Project
5.
Do ONE of the following and keep a record (cost sheet). Use the sales techniques you have learned, and share your experience with your counselor:
You must choose exactly one option for this requirement. Each option gives you real practice with planning, talking to customers, handling money or pricing, and reviewing what happened afterward.
Your Options
- Req 5a — Support a Scout Fundraiser: Help your unit sell merchandise or event tickets. You will practice short customer conversations, teamwork, and cause-based selling.
- Req 5b — Sell a Neighborhood Service: Offer a service like mowing, pet watching, or car washing. You will practice setting expectations, doing the work, and following up afterward.
- Req 5c — Try Retail Selling: Earn money through retail selling. You will see how product display, customer questions, and transaction flow work in a retail setting.
How to Choose
Choosing the best option for you
Think about time, setting, and what you want to learn
- Time available: Req 5a may fit an event schedule. Req 5b may take several appointments. Req 5c depends on access to a retail setting.
- Who you will talk to: Req 5a often means many short conversations. Req 5b usually means fewer but more detailed conversations. Req 5c may mean helping walk-in customers one at a time.
- What you will gain: Req 5a builds quick communication and fundraising skills. Req 5b builds trust, follow-up, and service selling. Req 5c builds product explanation and in-store customer service.
- Recordkeeping: All three options need a cost sheet. Choose the one where you can realistically track money, supplies, or time clearly.
| Option | Best for Scouts who want to… | Main challenge |
|---|---|---|
| 5a | work with a troop or event | stand out in quick customer interactions |
| 5b | run their own small service sale | manage quality and customer satisfaction |
| 5c | learn how retail selling works | explain products clearly in the moment |
Your cost sheet matters
The requirement says to keep a record (cost sheet). That means you should track the numbers behind the sale, not just whether someone bought something. Your counselor will likely want to see what was sold, what it cost, what money came in, and what the result was.
Sales Project Cost Sheet Resource: Sales Project Cost Sheet — /merit-badges/salesmanship/guide/sales-project-cost-sheet/One more decision check
Before choosing, ask yourself:
- Do I have access to this kind of sale?
- Can I complete it safely and honestly?
- Can I track the money, effort, and results clearly?
- Will I have a real chance to use the techniques from Req 1 through Req 4?
Once you choose, commit to doing that one path well.