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If you began on a part-time basis, you could
have a family member or friend answer your phone and set up
appointments for you. If you do begin part-time, and working out
of your home, you might look into the advantages of a professional
telephone answering service.
Another idea for saving on costs might be to rent unused space
from a business already established. These businesses might be
sales and distribution offices, suburban insurance agencies, quick
print or copy shops, and repair service shops. Look around; many
businesses have had to take what was available at the time, and
would be more than happy to lease or share their vacant space.
Keep in mind though, that you'll do much better with an office of
your own, and you should move into one just as soon as you can
afford one. Proper facilities that convey a professional image
should be number one on your list of priorities.
Your business image is projected by your address and the
appearance of the building in which you locate. Your reception
area will set the mood of professionalism and efficiency. The
reception area should be inviting - walls painted in light pastel
colors, wall prints, floor lamps and wall-to-wall carpeting. It
should also feel comfortable while being functional. Comfortable
modern chairs and sofa; perhaps a floor planter or two, reception
desk and ash trays all help to achieve this effect.
The main office need have only a desk and a comfortable chair,
facing the door, a chair beside or in front of the desk, and a
file cabinet. A print or two on the walls, and perhaps a bookcase
are the only "extras" you might use to dress up your office.
Your second office equipment will be for testing your
applicants. You can inexpensively build a table along the length
of two walls, partition into cubicles and have an electric
typewriter, an adding machine and make a headset connected to a
dictaphone/recorder, and another set up for testing short hand
capabilities. Later on, you'll probably want to have a word
processor and a computer.
Ideally, you should also have a sales office and a storage
room. The sales office will be where you greet and talk with
employers who drop in to look you over to find out more about your
business. Mainly, this office will be where your people will work
from when calling prospective clients and selling your services by
phone. The storage room needs only shelves to hold various forms,
mailing pieces, envelopes and business records.
One way to hold your start-up costs to a minimum is by leasing
your office furnishings and equipment. Whatever you do, remember
that you're projecting an image, so don't settle for less than the
best. This is absolutely imperative in regard to any equipment
used for testing your applicants. You might be able to work out
an arrangement with the business department of a local college, or
business school, to send your applicants to them for testing on
their machines. Such an arrangement, even at a cost of $5 to $10
per test, could save you several thousand dollars in start-up
costs.
The first person you hire should be either an experienced
manager or someone you can quickly train to assume those duties.
It's best to hold out for a person with at least one year
experience as a bona fide personnel manager.
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