Ten Easy Steps To Organize Your Business
By Stephen R. Renfrow, Wed Dec 7th

1. Obtain the proper equipment for your business. A cordlessphone enables you to catch up to Jr. If you use a headset, makesure it's comfortable. Make sure your chair is comfortable. I'vegone through 3 because of backaches. Chances are you have aModem. Do you have Phone Answering software? Utilize it whenyou're not in, your outgoing msg. should be professional (arekids screaming in background?).

2. Make it easy to record basic message information. You canhave Contact Mgr. software running in the background. The phonerings, answer and click on your icon to bring it up. Startmaking notes on who, when, where, etc. for follow-up. Haveplenty of spare printer cartridge ink or refills. Don't run outof ink. You may need a hardcopy of something immediately.

3. Have an organized system for your goals - Event Control. Oncewritten, your daily goal system should be prioritized. If youhave to delegate, mark to whom and put a due date on it. Amisunderstood topic itself, it deserves special attention. Formore info, mailto:Autobot@HomeBizNet.nu?subject=goals

4. Make good use of customer information for follow-up. Utilizeyour Email along with your Contact Mgr. software. Follow-up iskey to sales, customer service and backend sales. Keep good infoon each of your clients. This information should be keptstrictly confidential and handy. Knowing all about your clients'business will make you more effective on the phone. (Hi Jim, howis that Project A marketing campaign coming along?) For moreinfo visit http://post-master.net/rs/hbn

5. Price your services competitively, keeping in mind your ownmonthly expenses. Add your expenses up on an annual basis likethe basic monthly phone charges, equipment, office supplies anddivide the total by 12 to determine a monthly overhead cost.Obviously, the revenue you generate must exceed this number eachmonth to make a profit.

6. Contract for your services formally. Put together a standardcontract for both you and your client to sign. The "Business"section of your local library will probably have some standardcontract forms that you can amend for your use. We utilize LegalForms Software. Forms are valid in all 50 states. The contractshould have a minimum length to it, like 6 or 12 months withoptions to renew it at expiration. You need to plan on a certainamount of business and income and you can't do that without aminimum service contract length.

7. Select a business name that is descriptive but not limiting.If you are not incorporating, you can use your name in thecompany title if it's simple and easily pronounce-able, such as"Marge Dean's Services" or, better yet, "Marge Dean'sTelemarketing Services" which encompasses

more tasks in apotential client's mind. Keep it simple and open.

8. Select the type of business you want to be. Incorporationcarries the most prestige but it isn't always practical for asmall business. You can always start as a sole proprietor. Apartnership will be necessary if you have someone else sharingthe profits and expenses of the business with you. Additionallyyou can form a International Business Company (IBC) and haveyour Trust own it. Everything becomes anonymous and provides youand your beneficiaries benefits for life. In essence you ownnothing (on paper). Yet I travel the world on my DebitMasterCard with no Social Security Number (as I do not have one,nor do I want to incorporate, due to religious reasons).

9. Obtain enough supplies to launch your business. Bewell-equipped with the basics: pencils, pens, note paper, paperclips, rubber bands, staplers and this type of office needsshould be purchased in quantity. You achieve a savings by highervolume purchasing and also avoid possible work stoppage becauseyou are out of supplies constantly. You do have bookkeepingsoftware right? Does your Contact Mgr. software have a calendar?Order business stationary and envelopes along with businesscards. Remember, you are trying to create a positive,professional image. If you wish, hire a graphic artist to designa logo for your business. This should appear everywhere -Website, bus. card, letterhead and envelopes. Shop around forprinters. There are often "specials" and prices have really comedown. A color laser printer is now < $1000.

10. If your business outgrows your house, shop around for a goodlocation. Don't consider moving out of your "home" office unlessyou've redone your expense calculation, divided it by 12 andseen that your new monthly expenses can be eclipsed by yourrevenues. Consider out- sourcing some work to othersub-contractors working at their home.

If you outgrow your home office and decide to find an outsideoffice, consider sharing a space with other professionals in abuilding, where business needs like a photocopier, fax,receptionist, etc. can be shared among the occupants. You'dstill have your own private office, but it will save dollars tocombine other resources. Shop for office furniture to get thebest price possible. Check the newspaper for notices aboutbankruptcy auctions and Sheriff's sales where you can oftenobtain nearly new, higher quality equipment for little money.

After all, a penny saved is a penny earned.

About the author:Stephen R. Renfrow, a Freelance Writer and Director of the HOMEBIZ NETWORK http://homebiznet.nu Always give them more than theyexpected! Tools/Tips/Secrets/Help including proven Biz Opps Homeof "Business On A Disk" CDRom - All You Need to Succeed ***Understand and Master Financial Freedom ***