Start-up
Tips for Home-Based
Secretarial Services by
Lisa Freeman
What
Services Should I Offer?
Your skills will help determine what services you can offer. For example,
if your typing speed isn't all that high, but you have a good eye for
design and enjoy page layout, you could specialize in Desktop Publishing.
On the other hand, if you've got a good typing speed without as much page
layout experience, you may wish to offer transcription services.
Regardless of what services your business provides, you will need to have
a good command of the English language as well as fairly thorough
knowledge of a major word processing package.
Take a look at the service list below... just remember, you don't need
to offer ALL of these services to have a successful business.
Word Processing (term papers, correspondence, reports, etc.)
Resume writing
Desktop publishing (newsletters, brochures, flyers, business cards,
etc.)
Database maintenance
Mail services (mailing list maintenance, bulk mail, etc.)
Bookkeeping/Accounting
Tax preparation
Transcription (legal, medical, etc.)
Graphic design
Notary service
Fax service
What
Kind of Equipment and Software Do I Need?
Obviously, your basic
equipment and software requirements will be a good computer and a printer,
and a major word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or
WordPerfect. If you anticipate needing other equipment or software, it may
be best to have the funds available to purchase it, but not to actually
make the purchase until you need it for a client project. For example, if
you wish to provide transcription services, you will need a transcriber.
However, transcribers come in mini, micro, and standard sizes. Until you
have your first transcription client, there is no way to know which size
machine you will need.
With regard to printers, many service owners start out with a bubble
jet printer, as they are significantly less expensive than laser printers.
If you already own a bubble jet printer, there's no need to purchase a
laser until either your volume of work or type of work demands it.
However, if you don't already own a printer, give serious consideration to
purchasing a laser -- prices on small office laser printers have dropped
quite a bit in recent months.
Fax equipment is another item that you can save significantly on in the
beginning. Most people find that, at least at first, their internal
fax/modem is all they need for receiving faxes and sending faxes of
documents out of their word processor.
What
Kind of License Do I Need to Operate a Business?
Licensing
requirements for business vary from state to state, and even town to town.
To find out what they are in your locality, call the nearest Small
Business Administration, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) ,or
Small Business Development Center for information. All of these
organizations are government run, and all offer free help in starting your
business.
Do
I Need to Have a Business Telephone Line?
No, it's not an
absolute necessity, but it goes a long way in building credibility in your
customers' eyes if you have a separate line for receiving business calls.
This can actually be accomplished very inexpensively. Most telephone
companies offer "Ring Mate" or "Ring Master" service
which allows you to have two telephone numbers on one line. With this
service, each number has a distinctive ring so you can tell which line the
call is coming in on. The advantage, however, to installing a completely
separate business line is that you will be given a free listing in the
yellow pages, and will be eligible to purchase additional yellow pages
advertising.
I'm
Not Real Comfortable with Inviting Strangers Into My Home; How Should I
Handle Client Meetings?
Most
home-based secretarial service operators have found that meeting with
clients in their homes is not a problem. Some ideas to help you improve
your safety while meeting with new clients include:
Meet with clients in a public location, such as the library or a
fast-food restaurant.
Place a pair of men's shoes where the client will see them upon
arrival to give the impression that a male family member is in the
house.
Have a friend or family member check in with you by phone at a
prearranged time.
Get a large dog with a loud bark.
Lisa Freeman is a
writer and web designer who publishes the
Florence Family Fun
blog.
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