 Are You Ready
to Own and Operate a Business?
By
Kathleen
Gage © 2003 - 2005
How often has
someone thought of starting a business based solely on the fact they think
it will be easier than working for someone else. Fact is, owning and operating
a business can be one of the most grueling experiences you will have. Granted,
there are many advantages, but unless someone has actually run a business
there is much to consider before you make that decision.
The following information will help you operate a business more professionally.
With today’s technology there is no reason you cannot have the look
of a large company even if you are working off your kitchen table. If you
have a home based business it is suggested you have a room dedicated to your
business. This helps you to stay focused and there are some major tax benefits
in doing this.
Professionalism
-
Choose voicemail
rather than an answering machine. There is a major difference in the perception
to the caller.
-
Toll free number.
Check with your local telephone company to find out if this is available
to you if you will have a lot of clients/customers from outside your calling
area.
-
Have a separate
business phone line. You do not appear very professional if your children
answer the phone.
-
Email. Avoid
using free services due to limitations and perceptions.
-
Dedicated fax
line. A small business will appear as such if the fax number and phone number
are the same.
Running an office
-
Stay organized.
The more you can keep yourself organized the easier it will be to respond
to customer’s requests in a timely fashion.
-
Color file folders.
A great way to organize your file system. Each color indicates a category.
-
Dedicated file
cabinets. Separate personal papers from business.
-
Form letters.
Don’t reinvent the wheel with every letter you write. Keep form letters
on a disc or your hard drive.
Financial end of running the
business.
There will be many costs to running a business. The following are some of
the investments you will need to consider.
-
Medical insurance
-
Separate phone lines
-
Taxes
-
Marketing material
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Office supplies
-
Products
-
Service fees
-
Accountant
-
Financial Planner
-
Bookkeeper
-
Keep excellent records
-
Keep all receipts
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Advertising
Things you will need if you want
to stay competitive
-
Business license
-
Incorporate
-
Bookkeeper
-
Financial planner
-
Marketing material
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Business cards
-
Letterhead
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Envelopes
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Folders
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Letters of referral
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Bio sheet
-
Product or service sheet
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Web site
Professional
organizations
-
Which ones are
most beneficial for you to join? To get the biggest benefit from any
organizations you need to get involved. Use the monthly meetings to network.
-
Dues and fees.
How much are the annual dues and cost for monthly meetings?. Figure that
in your budget.
-
Conventions.
Are there any conventions you need to go to? What is the time and cost
investment? Talk to others who have gone to find out if it will be worth
the investment.
-
Network. Most
of your business will come from referrals.
Qualifying the
buyer
Paperwork
-
Invoices
-
Contracts
-
Service agreements
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Letters
Manage professional
image
-
Responding to requests by providing
what the customer needs. If you are not the person for the job, who can you
refer (that’s why networking is so important)
-
Follow-up. Do your follow-up in a
timely fashion
-
Develop a good relationship with
the client
-
Return calls as soon as possible
-
Send information in a timely
fashion
-
Priority mail is often less expensive
than first class. And it can be more impressive to your client.
-
Keep in touch
after the fact. A mistake a lot of people make in doing business is they
do a job for a client and then seem to forget the client. It is easier to
get repeat business than it is to find new business, and yet, so often business
owners and salespeople (which is what you are if you own a business) will
look for the new customer and forget about their existing clientele
About the Author:
| Kathleen Gage
is a keynote speaker, author and business advisor specializing in marketing
and promotions. Access Gage’s’s FREE eBook about how to gain visibility
on the Internet with Street Smarts Internet Marketing at
http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/free-ebook.htm
|
|
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