We should first comment that there are as many different definitions of the following terms as there are interested business parties to establish the relationships involved. We simply want to define the most commonly accepted interpretations. They are independent business people, who usually receive their compensation as a percentage of sales in a defined geographic area. Agents and representatives often serve as 'regional managers' for a manufacturer.
Agencies vary in size from one person operations to large staffs with multiple offices.
Some agencies specialize in direct sales to end user accounts while others are structured to service and manage dealer or distriibutor sales levels. Typically, dealers are resale outlets that buy and resell products. They earn their compensation in the form of mark-ups or profits on the goods they buy and resell. They also buy products for resale.