A sales cycle is the full length of time it takes to turn a new prospect into a signed customer, measured from first contact to the moment a deal closes. Most teams quote it in days or weeks. An SDR-led motion might run 30–60 days, while a complex enterprise deal can take six to twelve months. The cycle is not a fixed number; it is a function of where the deal enters your pipeline, how many people must approve it, and how much discovery and proposal work it needs before a signature.
In plain English
The sales cycle is the clock on every deal. It starts at first contact and stops when the contract is signed. Longer cycles mean slower commission and a bigger quota against the same number of touches. Shorter cycles mean you can move more deals through the same pipeline in a year.
Why it matters to you
Cycle length decides how much pipeline you need and how fast you see results. A rep selling a short cycle feels momentum quickly; an enterprise rep waits months between closed-won outcomes. Ask about the average cycle before you accept a role — it tells you how patient you must be and how much activity feeds your forecast.