The following tips are from an article we contributed to Compute magazine. These are ideas that we all should know, but many times forget. It constantly amazes us how quickly a basic tenent of business can be shoved by the wayside in the heat of daily transactions.
If we all try to keep these simple principles in mind, they may keep us on the straight and narrow in our pursuit of home office bliss.
1. Buy an answering machine. This will allow you to give your attention to a client and not the telephone. Be sure your message is done in a professional manner and includes business name, telephone number and hours of operation.
2. Be sure to have a separate telephone line for business. This will avoid your family using the same line and busy signals to prospects and clients. Keep your personal calls separate and insure your business line is always answered in a professional manner.
3. Read, read and read some more. You will constantly be learning about your business. Reading will allow for additional knowledge, change and growth.
4. Buy a fax machine. This will allow you to give your clients prompt responses and in many cases save on postage and telephone costs. It will also avoid having to leave your office to go and fax something at $1.25 or more per page.
5. Have an identity package professionally done. Your logo, letterhead, business card, envelope and brochure will be the first impression a prospect or client has of you. To insure the impression is a good one, have your business package done by a professional designer. The cost is worth it.
6. If possible set up your office in a separate room of your home. This will allow you to close the door at the end of the business day and allow better separation of your personal and business life.
7. To project a professional appearance be sure your home is always neat and clean-nothing lying about. In addition be sure your yard is well kept. Remember, first impressions count.
8. Be sure your business name is descriptive of what you do. Business names that don't relate to your services can hurt a business. Avoid using just initials, that's fine when you get to be the size of AT&T, but remember, in the beginning no one knows you.
9. Make up a business plan. This will help you research, define and outline your market. It also avoids starting a business in a field that may be overcrowded.
10. If possible, be sure to have at least six months worth of living expenses in reserve. This will allow you to concentrate on getting your business up and running without worrying about paying the bills.
11. If possible, buy a copy machine. This avoids having to go out every time you need to make a copy. Also, it allows you to give a client a copy on the spot. This can go a long way towards enhancing your image as a real business.
Copyright DeFiore Enterprises 2002
Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com
luxury cleaning services Lake Forest ...Which one are you? An effective IT project manager, able... Read More
1. Outsource what takes you too long to doWhen you... Read More
What would You do with $1,000,000With $1 Million would you:?... Read More
Do you know exactly what actions you need to do... Read More
So how do you eliminate your competition without bloodshed? You... Read More
Seven Questions to Improve Your Business, Your Relationships, and Your... Read More
If you're a business owner, you know that repeat business... Read More
Seven Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and... Read More
I'm sure you've seen it happen every year: your business... Read More
Skilled workers of every age have prized their tools. I... Read More
1. Combine Emotion and LogicConsumers buy because the want to... Read More
Every event you hold can be extremely successful. Apply these... Read More
Let's put to rest the fallacy that success, in sales... Read More
The Ten Commandments of Goal Setting While it's good to... Read More
Whether you are self employed or you work for someone... Read More
Email etiquette is the key to help calm down anxious... Read More
My husband and I were enjoying our dinner meal one... Read More
Creating a website is one thing, making it better is... Read More
So many people I worked with said they got more... Read More
Did you know that there is one critical difference between... Read More
Counselling non-performing team members is a tough part of any... Read More
Ever lost a sale you thought was in the bag?... Read More
1. Admit there is a problem.The very first step in... Read More
If you have a business on the Internet you should... Read More
Leadership, leadership development and leadership training are "Hot" issues in... Read More
no-contract cleaning service Winnetka ...Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More
When sending mail to clients and potential clients, make your... Read More
1. Make a clear, specific commitment to what you want.... Read More
The 2004 election is over--at least in the minds of... Read More
How much is your data worth to you? In this... Read More
1) Prepare a realistic business plan.Think of this as your... Read More
Please don't think I am calling you a "moron" to... Read More
The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004... Read More
In Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen's original "Chicken Soup... Read More
Let's put to rest the fallacy that success, in sales... Read More
What is Choice Theory (CT)? CT is a theory of... Read More
Sometime soon you will be attending some training. It may... Read More
10. Procrastination Condemnation - Lose the Labels! All those things... Read More
Every event you hold can be extremely successful. Apply these... Read More
Counselling non-performing team members is a tough part of any... Read More
While some new business owners face the issue of not... Read More
Studies have proven that there is one reason why people... Read More
Most people have at least one favorite quotation from a... Read More
Google is the pre-eminent search engine (SE) with no close... Read More
"Vision is the spectacular that inspires us to carry out... Read More
Do you run a business that seems to run you?... Read More
You're busy with your business today, aren't you?You're pushing your... Read More
Gas prices continue to go through the roof and increased... Read More
The lack of strong boundaries is one of the chief... Read More
If you're a business owner, you know that repeat business... Read More
Top Quick Tips |