What You Need to Start an Answering Service
Starting an answering service is an ideal business for an entrepreneur with good customer skills and a pleasant voice. What you need to start an answering service is business telephone answering equipment and business cards.
Entrepreneurs, who already have a business venture that is compatible with an answering service, like a dictation transcription service, can easily incorporate an answering service into the existing venture.
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Location
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To start an answering service, the first necessity is a business location that is accessible to small business owners. A commercial location on a busy street in proximity to a central business district will increase your answering service's exposure and revenue. Advertising and marketing programs targeting small business owners in proximity to your answering service will likely help to generate more profits.
Technology
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Advances in communication like text messaging, email and paging are ideal features that can be incorporated into an answering service. Searching the Internet and utilizing web-based communication technology like email, is as popular as browsing the telephone book. A cell phone and a computer with Internet access are important tools for an answering service.
A website is also a necessity for any business. An answering service website functions like an electronic brochure, providing information about your business 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Business Plan
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No business venture should be entered into without a realistic business plan. The costs involved with start an answering service are relatively modest; however, a business plan that identifies in detail the type and costs of the answering service equipment to be purchased or leased is important.
Most answering service ventures operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so the business plan for your answering service should also identify how much revenue can be generated from the venture.
Leasing vs. Purchasing
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Telephone answering service equipment is available for lease or outright purchase. One of the advantages of leasing answering service equipment is the relative ease in upgrading the system. Purchasing, a commercial telephone system for an answering service that is easily upgraded may be more cost effective than leasing.
The start-up cost required to purchase answering service equipment is greater than the up-front cost of leasing, so a good credit score is of particular importance if you are considering leasing equipment.
Compatible Business Services
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Starting an answering service without offering other business services may not generate sufficient income to achieve financial viability. Therefore, business services that complement your answering service should be considered.
Examples of services compatible with an answering service include a courier service or event planning services. Other business services that complement an answering service are word-processing, private postal services or errand services. These additional business services can provide your clients with services generally provided by a fully staffed office.
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