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Home-Based Answering Service

 GETTING STARTED |  TYPES OF HOME-BASED ANSWERING SERVICES |  HOW TO OBTAIN CLIENTS |  YOUR "HOME" OFFICE | TEN EASY STEPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR BUSINESS | THE ART OF NETWORKING | MARKETING YOU MUST DO | ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR SUCCESS | START-UP COSTS AND HOW TO FUND THEM | FINANCIAL AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

HOW TO OBTAIN CLIENTS

The closer you are to a large metropolitan area, the greater your potential for income in a home-based answering service. However, small towns are also in need of your services as many of the businesses may be sole proprietorships who spend the bulk of their day outside their office and away from the phone.

This is a good place to start. Virtually anyone that works away from their business might have need for an answering service. Salespeople, repair services, people on call like towing services, survey organizations and firms who might use the computer-based automatic dialing system are all potential clients you can contact to offer your phone services.

The phone book, the local newspaper, the small "Pennysaver" type publications and community bulletin boards are all places where you can find the type of business most likely to be interest in your service. This will give you a solid local list to begin your prospecting.

In addition, here is a short list of those companies that might be interested in the phone sales service which you set up on a computer basis to automatically dial a pre-set number of calls:

Amway Mary Kay Magazines Auto Dealerships Portrait Studios Vitamin Companies Avon Real Estate agencies Insurance Agencies Coin Dealers Remodelers CPA firms Roofers Decorators Stockbrokers House painters Tupperware

The businesses that can utilize your ability to advertise for them using the phone are substantial, and include:

Retail stores Credit agencies Restaurants Wedding services Modeling schools Furniture stores Employment agencies Collection agencies Financial Services Hotels Dance schools Carpet cleaners Car washes Video stores Travel agencies Pet services

You’ll probably start out with a few message service contracts, requiring only a few lines, but you could easily work your way up to dozens of lines and services.

Remember to ask you early clients for referrals to others whom they may feel could use your service. Your existing clients are the best source for leads!

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