How to Start a Home-Based Word-Processing Service

A word-processing service is a great home business for those who are comfortable with computers and good at managing documents and organizing in general. Word processors are much more than typists. Over the last few years, they have grown to become something between a secretary and a personal assistant.

Instructions

1. Get a top-notch computer system. Make sure you have enough memory (at least 80G) and enough RAM (1GHZ or more) to support different processing programs. You will also need fast Internet access to keep in contact with clients.

2. Make sure you have basic office equipment, including a printer, scanner, fax machine and voice mail. You will also need a complete word processing software program, such as Microsoft Word. If you don’t have one pre-installed in your computer, there are lots of free alternatives available for download on the Internet, such as Open Office.

3. Decide what services you will offer. People with word-processing businesses do everything from typing documents to transcription to desktop publishing. Others expand into resume writing or database maintenance, depending on their background and capabilities.

4. Advertise your business. At a minimum, you will need business cards or brochures to share your phone numbers and the services you offer. A website may be a good idea too, especially if you’re looking to work with clients not located near you. If you want to offer desktop publishing and design, it may be a good idea to create a few mock-up samples of newsletters or other items you plan on offering, so prospective clients can see what you can do.

5. Find out if you need a business license in order to run a business from home. This will depend on the laws of your county and state, but you can check general regulations by contacting your local Small Business Administration or Small Business Development Center, depending where you live.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you start working with clients, make sure you keep copies of everything you do so you can put together a portfolio.

• Before you can start a home business, ask yourself if you have the right personality for it. Working from home can be lonely and the income can be unstable, so you need to know that you will be able to deal with these and other issues before you take the plunge.