Hello Is Anyone There

Hello, Is Anyone There?


Angela worked at an apartment complex when she first discovered her new career. From her success at her current occupation, she knew she had the demeanor and the professionalism to start this other business. She also knew there was a huge market for the service she would be providing. The best part was that she would be able to work from home.

She also knew there was a huge market for the service she would be providing. The best part was that she would be able to work from home.

Angela's apartment complex used an answering service to field calls after hours. After seeing how much money the complex paid for this, Angela made the change and opened her own answering service business.

One great aspect of the answering service business is its varied levels of hours worked, tasks performed, and business volume. You can choose clients who need only lunch hour or weekend service. You can also choose clients who need you 24/7. Some of your clients simply want a cheerful, professional voice greeting callers; others will want callers to assume they are reaching their actual business office. Your business can start with simply taking messages. Then you can progress to taking orders by phone, setting appointments, paging employees, or even taking surveys.

The easiest way to get started is to install separate lines and label the phones for each of your clients. Be sure to check with your local phone company for the maximum number you can have. For more than ten, you may want to rent a switchboard. Plan carefully when installing these, as they can be costly to move if you change your mind. Switchboards offer the benefit of servicing over 100 lines, room for an additional operator if you decide to hire help, and a security switch for privacy. Don't worry about learning how to run your new equipment. Most phone companies offer classes.

Other supplies include a message rack, tons of pens and message pads, and a time clock to punch the time the call came in. Due to the nature of the work, liability insurance might be a good investment.

The best form of advertisement is yellow pages and word of mouth. When you are just starting out, visit the offices of potential clients in person. Offer incentives like three months free with a 12-month contract. Offer additional incentives for clients who refer you to new customers, too.

Finding clients should not be hard. Small businesses especially would rather their customers speak to a real person after hours. Also, many consumers would rather call the next number in the phone book than leave voice mail. Explain the value of your service to potential clients, and you'll soon have more than enough work.

Angela couldn't be happier with her new career. She works from home, yet still deals with the public and professionals. If the answering service business sounds good to you, why not give it a try? You might just find your calling.

*Editor's Note*

Along the same lines you could offer to accept and forward any mail to them. Provided of course that they pay postage costs. This could be good for internet businesses that don't post their address on the internet (i.e. Their home address) or if they want to have another address so it looks like they have more than one office. Those documents of a time-sensitive nature can be opened, scanned, and emailed to the client.

Helpful Resources:

http://www.sba.gov/hotlist/license.html

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html